adminABUJA. – Delegates participating at the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation annual forum here have called for the implementation of policies, regulations and partnerships that are aimed at bridging the digital divide.This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the two-day forum held in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.
“We, the delegates at the 11th CTO annual forum held in Abuja, on the theme of ‘Innovation Through Broadband’, conscious of the need to ensure ubiquitous and safe access to Internet for all, aware of the advances in broadband globally and the benefits it has brought to people and communities,” read the communiqué.
It added: “Concerned with the persisting wide gaps in global Internet access, particularly broadband access, including gender gaps, also concerned with the persisting gaps in global broadband affordability, recognising that universal affordable broadband access will be best achieved through forward looking policies, facilitating regulations and innovative partnerships.”
The forum resolved to: “Further develop, adopt and implement policies, and establish regulatory environments that encourage investments in affordable, safe and equitable broadband, promote local initiatives and innovation to advance entrepreneurship; commit to work with regional and international organisations to ensure continued harmonisation of national regulatory frameworks.”
The forum also agreed to facilitate research for solutions and applications on the adoption and use of the Internet to unleash the transformational power of broadband, create particular broadband services and applications for women in order to bridge the gender gap, actively promote the use of specific broadband services and applications to support youth.
Meanwhile, most of the speakers at the event stressed the need for a collective effort to find ways to accelerate universal access to affordable broadband Internet connectivity for all.
More than 2 000 participants from Asia-Pacific, Africa, Europe, North America and the Caribbean attended the forum that the CTO organised in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology and Nigerian Communications Commission.
“We are tackling one of the most important issues facing Commonwealth countries, which is how to ensure that affordable broadband connectivity is made available across all of our member states,” Professor Tim Unwin, Secretary-General of the CTO, said.
In his address, Minister of Communication Technology Omobola Johnson re-emphasised the need for greater support for ICTs. He said technology was the fastest vehicle government could inform and empower the public. Joseph Musuni, principal secretary of the Kenya Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology, called for infrastructure development, regulation and consciousness. – CAJ News.
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