NEWS: ICT, Global: ICT can be the new telecoms sector, according to India’s Telecom Regulatory Authority Chairman Nripendra Misra. Phenomenal growth in ICT is possible and a key catalyst is the increasing important role of convergence.

NEWS: Nigeria, Africa:  A joint public/private-sector initiative to empower all Nigerians by making computers available throughout the country has been warmly welcomed by Intel, the global semiconductor design and engineering player. The initiative, known as Computer for All Nigerians (CANI), has been singled out by Mark Beckford, General Manager, Emerging Markets for Intel Corporation.

In the traditionally strident and forceful tones of the GSM Association, Gabriel Solomon, the Association’s Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs, reviews the part played to date by mobiles in bridging the digital divide. Gabriel Solomon then demonstrates that even greater growth can be achieved by removing regulations and restrictions. This upbeat commentary on the digital divide ends with a warning to impose a realistic price structure if emerging markets are going to develop to their full potential.

You want to bridge the Digital Divide? But how can the have-nots of telecoms compete with the more advanced markets? Form your own company and compete, that’s how. Hungary’s Magyar Telekom and Allround have been voted Best Revenue Assurance Project at the World Billing Awards 2006...

Africa must set off on the global information highway - or be left on the wrong side of the digital divide. This powerful message dominated one of Africa’s largest ICT events - ICTe Africa 2006. Piet van Niekerk, an journalist and analyst covering the ICT sector based in South Africa reviews proceedings at Nairobi exclusively for Developing Telecoms

It seems only natural that we start our analysis of the Digital Divide with one of the giants of world telecoms. Dr Klaus-D Kohrt, a vice-president of Siemens Communications, explains the role of wireless technology - and makes some predictions.

Bridging the digital divide has long been at the top of every socio-economic development agenda, and more and more studies and reports are confirming that universal access to mobile communications is the most effective way to achieve it. Making it happen in practice depends on facing the affordability challenge in its three dimensions: total cost of ownership of mobile communications, the cash barrier faced by users to get and stay connected, and the regulatory environment.