Leland initiative : Africa global information infrastructure gateway project (project no. 698-0565) -- best practices for policy accommodation, technology transfer, and end - user applications of the Internet in the developing world

Coordinated by USAID, GII activities fall under three major strategic objectives: (1) to promote policy reforms that will encourage the development of telematics technology and reduce barriers to open connectivity; (2) to strengthen local telecommunications infrastructure; and (3) to achieve the broad-based use of information technologies by the public and private sectors to meet the challenges of development. This paper reviews issues and obstacles in each of these SO areas, examines potential solutions, and summarizes some of the activities conducted by other groups involved with telematics in the developing world. The following topics are covered: (1) the policy environment (telecommunications industry ownership and regulation; ownership and regulation of electronic information; promotion of information technologies; and technical training); (2) telecommunications infrastructure (Internet connectivity options; availability and cost of telematics equipment; maintenance of physical infrastructure and of human and organizational infrastructures); (3) end user issues (awareness and adoption of Internet technologies); and (4) crosscutting issues (donor coordination and cultural constraints). Includes bibliography (pp.43-49) and a glossary of terms.