Development of digital societies key to APAC growth: Research reports

• GSMA, ITU, ICANN and iSOC share findings at Digital Societies Policy Forum
• Independent reports share common conclusions and recommendations

NEW research reports produced by the GSMA, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and the Internet Society (iSOC) show that the development of digital societies have the potential to help solve key challenges faced by Asian countries.
 
These challenges range from access to essential services and enhanced disaster management to improvement in service delivery and the efficient utilisation of limited resources, GSMA said in a statement.
 
The reports, developed independently by each organisation, share common conclusions and recommendations on the potential of digital and mobile technology to advance national economies and markets, as well as overcome challenges arising from rapid population growth and increasing rural-urban migration faced by Asian countries.
 
These findings were shared at the ‘GSMA-ITU Digital Societies Policy Forum 2015’ which recently took place in Bangkok.
 
“With the development of high-speed mobile broadband technologies and the increasing availability and affordability of smartphones, mobile technology is well-suited to deliver the required connectivity and content for a digital society,” said Chris Zull, the GSMA’s spectrum director for Asia.
 
“Today’s wireless networks are able to cover a wide area with greater efficiency at lower costs than many other technologies, particularly in emerging countries with underdeveloped fixed network infrastructure and low levels of urbanisation,” he added.
 

The ‘GSMA-ITU Digital Societies Policy Forum 2015’ is one of the first events jointly organised by the GSMA and ITU, and supported by ICANN and iSOC.
 
It assembled over 100 policymakers, regulators, industry and other stakeholders from the ICT sector to discuss issues related to digital societies in the Asia Pacific region, as well as examine the emerging national plans to build digital societies, framed around these new research reports and policies.
 
To download the new GSMA report Building Digital Societies in Asia, go here.
 
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