ROLE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND

COMMUNICATIONS IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT:

OUR EXPERIENCE

ROLE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND

COMMUNICATIONS IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT:

OUR EXPERIENCESandro M. Radicella

Aeronomy and Radiopropagation

Laboratory

Bringing men togetherBringing men together

““Transport of the mails, Transport of the mails, transport of the human transport of the human voice, transport of voice, transport of flickering pictures - in this flickering pictures - in this century as in others, our century as in others, our highest accomplishments - highest accomplishments - still have the single aim of still have the single aim of bringing men together.”bringing men together.” [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, French aviator and writer (1900 - 1944)]

Technological innovationTechnological innovation

Technological innovation is essential for human development.

From the printing press to the computer, people have devised tools for facilitating learning and communication.

Technology is not inherently good or bad, the outcome depends on how it is used.

Information and communications

technology

Information and communications

technology Information and communications technology

(ICT) involves innovations in: microelectronics, computing (hardware and software), telecom-munications and opto-electronics micro-processors, semiconductors, fibre optics.

These innovations enable processing and storage of enormous amounts of information, plus rapid distribution of information through communication networks.

The ICT domainThe ICT domain

The role of ICTThe role of ICT

Information and communication technology is a basic infrastructure necessary for economic and social development of a country.

This is even more so as information related economic activities are growing.

Information and communication technology support the central nervous system of complex societies, transmitting and processing information and commands among the various parts of such societies.

Internet plays a fundamental function in ICT role

Benefits from ICTBenefits from ICTBenefits from ICT could be obtained in:

EducationEducationJob training Job training Health careHealth careFood securityFood securityEnvironment managementEnvironment managementGovernment efficiencyGovernment efficiency

Specifically in Science and Technology because:

*Speed-up *Speed-up dissemination dissemination of scientific results of scientific results world-world- wide through scientific wide through scientific

knowledge knowledge sharing and sharing and exchangeexchange

* Allows to set up of * Allows to set up of Virtual Virtual Labs for Labs for communications and communications and remote remote instrument instrument controlcontrol

Rapid evolution of ICTRapid evolution of ICT

Predictions indicate: doubling of computing power every 18 –24 doubling of computing power every 18 –24

monthsmonths doubling of communications power every 6 doubling of communications power every 6

monthsmonths huge reductions in costs huge reductions in costs massive increases in speed and quantitymassive increases in speed and quantity.

In 20012001 more information was sent overover

a single cable in a seconda single cable in a second than in 1997 1997 was sent

over the entire Internet in a monthover the entire Internet in a month.

Growth of Computer UseGrowth of Computer Use

Trends of ICTTrends of ICT

The economic impact of ICT (1)

The economic impact of ICT (1)

The economic impact of ICT (2)

The economic impact of ICT (2)

Internet growth in developing and emerging

countries

Internet growth in developing and emerging

countries

The digital divideThe digital divide Uneven distribution of Internet users in the world.

Limitations in developing countries are due to: outdated public telephone network arbitrary high cost of the services.To beat the problem: Solutions based on the most advanced techniques with accessible costs. Radio technologyRadio technology represents in many cases the solution.

The Internet users distribution

The Internet users distribution

ICT and collaborative research and innovation

ICT and collaborative research and innovation Research and innovation is

increasingly collaborative between institutions and countries thank to ICT.

From 1995 –97, scientists in the United States coauthored articles with scientists from 173 other countries; scientists in Brazil with 114, in Kenya with 81, in Algeria 59

A Premise for Action at the Abdus Salam ICTP

A Premise for Action at the Abdus Salam ICTP

The growth of the ICT poses the challenge of providing developing countries with an adequate way to be linked with the rest of the world to avoid the risk of being cut out from main stream of information flow.

The academic community is the obvious starting point for these efforts that will permeate to the rest of society.

It is recognized that the underlying problem is the lack of sufficient well qualified human resources able to handle the new systems and technologies.

The action at the CentreThe action at the Centre

To contribute to the expansion of ICT in developing countries the Abdus Salam ICTPAbdus Salam ICTP :

Carried out Intensive Training ActivitiesIntensive Training Activities for scientists from developing countries

Established a Programme of Training Programme of Training and System Development on and System Development on Networking and RadiocommunicationsNetworking and Radiocommunications with the collaboration of the United United Nations UniversityNations University.

Both radio technologyradio technology and computer networkingcomputer networking have been used to facilitate the access of ICT to academic institutions in developing countries.

Why radio technology?Why radio technology?

Radio represents a powerful tool to Radio represents a powerful tool to leap-frog the communication leap-frog the communication technology gap between developed technology gap between developed and developing world.and developing world.

Training Activities (milestones)

Training Activities (milestones)

1989 -1989 -1st College on Theoretical and Experimental Radiopropagation Physics ( first of a series of biannual Colleges on the same topic)

19911991-2nd College on Theoretical and Experimental Radiopropagation Physics ( with scientific and financial support from URSI)

19931993-3rd College on Theoretical and Experimental Radiopropagation Physics ( first with financial support from URSI and ITU/BDT)

1993 to 19961993 to 1996- Activities cosponsored with ITU/BDT

19971997- ICTP-URSI-ITU/BDT Workshop on the use of Radio for digital communications in developing countries

19981998- 1st ICTP-URSI-ITU/BDT School on the use of Radio for digital communications in developing countries ( its 5th yearly edition in 2002)

The new ProgrammeThe new Programme

Objective of the Programme of Training Programme of Training and System Development on Networking and System Development on Networking and Radiocommunicationsand Radiocommunications :To provide technical assistance and technical assistance and trainingtraining to academic and scientific institutions in developing countries requesting: help to establish small area computer

networks and their connection to the Internet

Main Projects in Africa (1)Main Projects in Africa (1)

1.1. Pilot project: computer network for education and research at the Obafemi Awolowo University of Ile-Ife, Nigeria with the use of spread spectrum radio technology.Successfully completed by June 1996, 2.2. Intensive Training, in Trieste, with support of the World Bank, of 26 academic network managers and 16 network engineers representing 26 Nigerian Universities, December 1996.3.3. Follow up training activity for the NUNetNUNet of Nigeria in Ile-Ife and Abuja, Nigeria, 6 - 27 October 1997. Staff from all the 40 Nigerian Universities were trained in computer networking with the use of radio links.

Main Projects in Africa (2)Main Projects in Africa (2)

4.4. Workshop on the use of Radio for Computer Networking at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, 31 August - 11 September 1998. Supported also by the United Nations University (UNU) , the University of Cape Coast (UCC), and other local organisations. A basic Radiocommunications Training Laboratory has been implemented at the University of Cape Coast for this purpose. 5.5. Training Activity on Networking and Radiocommunications in Trieste,14 September- 4 December 1998,supported also by the United Nations University . Participants were 14 scientists from Nigeria (7), Morocco (3), Angola (1), Senegal (1), Cote d’Ivoire (1), Romania (1).

Projects in RomaniaProjects in Romania

1.1. Pilot project for the establishment of a full Internet Connectivity between the National Institute for Material Physics located at the Magurele Physics Platform and the node of the Polytechnic University of Bucharest, Romania , successfully carried out during July 1997.

2.2. Seminar on Networking and Radiocommunication carried out in Bucharest,Romania, 13-17 December 1999, co-Organized with the University of Bucharest (CREDIS) and financed by the World Bank, followed by new seminars in 2000 and 2001.

About our efforts in Romania

About our efforts in Romania

“In Romanian academic environment, the ICTP seminaries on networking and radio-propagation had a powerful impact, due to the traditional connections established between ICTP and the institutes from Magurele Platform of Physics. More researchers from different institutes participated to different ICTP seminaries. The “Abdus Salam ICTP Programme of Training and System Development on Networking and Radiocommunications” was highly appreciated as an important source of expertise, offering multiple solutions in technological domains as telecommunications and information technology, with high potential to reduce the gap between the communication infrastructures of developed and developing countries.”

From a Report by Dr. Andrei Ioachim, Romanian National Institute for Physics of Materials (NIPM), January 2003

Other activitiesOther activities

Since 2000 the group has been involved in Training Activities and Technical Assistance in the use of radio for computer networking in Benin Benin, PeruPeru, SudanSudan and VenezuelaVenezuela.The group created also the S&T S&T CollaboriumCollaborium Initiative.

Thank you for your attention

Thank you for your attention