Chapter 4Table 2: Broadband ICTs and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)End Poverty& HungerGrowing evidence suggests that broadband can boost GDP incomes, helpingcombat poverty and hunger 5 . A number of studies have found that ICTs are a majordriver of economic growth, as well as improved productivity 6 , reduced transactioncosts and job creation 7 .The World Bank (2009) found that a 10% increase inbroadband penetration may boost economic growth by between 0.43-1.38% 8 .Further country case studies suggest an even stronger impact of fixed and/or mobilebroadband in individual countries, depending on their economic structure 9 .UniversalEducationGender EqualityChild HealthMaternal healthHIV/AIDSEnvironmentPartnershipBroadband-powered applications and content can be powerful levers for achievingbroader education goals – see Chapter 5. Many Governments and NGOs are nowproviding schools with PCs to foster a sound primary education – for example, the iSchoolprogramme in Zambia is transforming learning through interactive ICT content – see Box9. A number of countries (e.g. Turkey, Lebanon and Uruguay) are providing students andteachers with laptops as a tool for improving education. In Singapore, the ‘NEU PC PlusProgramme’ offers new laptops bundled with broadband service to low-income studentsand people with disabilities. The Education Support Network (EsNET) of OneWorldAfricais training primary school teachers in the use of ICTs to improve educational outcomes 10 .Intel (2013) has estimated that closing the global digital gender gap could add US$13-18billion to global GDP 11 . Various studies have reported that men and women are using ICTsdifferently, with men generally using ICTs more and using more sophisticated apps – forexample, in a selection of Arab countries, men use ICTs more extensively for e-commercethan women 12 . For mobile telephony, the GSMA (2010) has estimated that closing themobile gender gap could increase revenues for mobile operators by US$ 13 billion 13 .The Millennium Villages have equipped Community Health Workers (CHWs) with mobilephones to improve access and quality of healthcare services. ChildCount+ is a communityhealth platform aimed at registering patients, monitoring nutrition, and promptingimmunizations to improve child survival and maternal health 14 , which tracks vital signs suchas weight, body mass index, white cell count etc. and issues automated SMS messages toprompt CHWs to provide treatments or take other action. ChildCount+ helps CHWs registerchildren under five to monitor their health status 15 . A project funded by UBS helps provideMobile Phones for Integrated Health and Early Childhood Care and Development in Kenya 16 .ChildCount+ has added support for maternal health by registering all pregnant mothersand providing support for antenatal care, as well as the launch of a software module inGhana, aspiring to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV 17 . Hospitals connected viabroadband networks are also enabling remote diagnosis and support for maternal health.For example, WE CARE Solar in Nigeria provides healthcare workers and midwives withmobile phones and reliable lighting using solar electricity to facilitate safer deliveries.ACT 2015: Crowdout Aids 18 is a movement led by UNAIDS and civil society partnersto develop a global community of activists to drive an online conversation about HIV/AIDS and encourage Governments to respond, by providing tools for young peopleto take action in their communities. ICTs can be used to bring information aboutHIV, treatments and access to confidential medical records closer to patients 19 .The ICT sector has been estimated to contribute 2-2.5% of GHG emissions, includingradio communications systems and equipment – however, ICTs could enable energyefficiency across other sectors. ICTs have the capacity to deliver carbon savingsfive times greater than the sector’s own total emissions – equivalent to more than7.8 Gt by 2020 or 15% reduction of global emissions, for only a small increase in ICTemissions 20 . Smart electricity grids that adjust rates for peak energy usage could saveUS$200-500 billion per year by 2025, according to the McKinsey Global Institute 21 .The benefits of new technologies, especially ICTs, should be made available incooperation with the private sector 22 . In conjunction with public sector policyleadership, the private sector has driven expansion in the markets for fixed andmobile broadband. Many National Broadband Plans focus on the importanceof PPPs for expanding access to broadband networks and services – in 2013,more than six out of ten Plans include reference to the role of PPPs 23 .46
In terms of health, broadband andICTs are having real impact on thedelivery of healthcare services inunderdeveloped and rural areas,leading to improved response timesin emergency situations, reducedisolation, and better training andequipment for healthcare workers.Broadband and ICTs are helpingachieve real advances in healthcare(Featured Insight 7). On a nationalscale, broadband can help ensurethat health systems or networks nolonger work in isolation, and canhelp connect up these systems tonational repositories and ministerialdatabases to provide nationaldigital health records. Governmentsand health agencies are able tocreate accurate and reliable healthrecords for growing numbers ofcitizens, leading to improved careand higher life expectancy. Evenmore importantly, ICTs may beengendering a whole new approachto healthcare by enabling peopleto be better informed and engagein prevention through betterhygiene, rather than treatment.A Price Waterhouse & Coopersstudy estimated in 2013 thatmobile health could potentiallysave 1 million lives by 2017 inSub-Saharan Africa and couldgenerate $400 billion of savingsin developed countries in 2017 24 .Efficient cross-sector collaborationbetween health and ICTs isparticularly important in thedevelopment and scaling ofmHealth. The cooperation signedbetween ITU and WHO in 2012to support countries in thedevelopment of mHealth projectsand strategies around Non-Communicable Diseases (“BeHe@lthy, Be Mobile) is an initiativewhich is already encouraging thiscross-sector work to develop(see Featured Insight 8).Featured Insight 7:Broadband as a Catalystfor Better HealthICTs and broadband are changingthe world in ways we could not haveimagined even ten years ago, whileinnovation and progress continue toaccelerate. Broadband is bringingtechnological advances to the serviceof all humanity, and putting peopleat the centre, through the use ofinnovative real-life applications infields such as healthcare.In the 21st century, and in shaping thepost-2015 development agenda, wecannot ignore the vital role that ICTsand broadband will play in improvingthe lives of every single person onthe planet. Clearly, we all recognizethis – so ICTs need to play a centralrole in the post-2015 developmentprocess. This is crucial, becauseso much development dependson healthcare-related goals andtargets – and ICTs and broadbandwill play a gigantic role in achievingthese. Without the power of ICTs, itis extremely difficult to combat HIV/Aids, malaria and other diseases.Broadband services are enablinghuge advances in the provision ofhealthcare services worldwide – andespecially in the developing world,where the gap between healthcareavailability and healthcare provisionis widest. Key benefits which canbe achieved through access to ICTsinclude:• Improved access to health adviceand emergency services;• Training for healthcare workers,especially in remote areas;• Better telemedicine, patientmonitoring, patient information andmanagement of records; and• The tracking of epidemics, diseasesurveillance and data collection.ICTs have the potential to savemillions of lives a year. Assmartphones become morewidespread, a growing numberof healthcare apps will beChapter 447
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