Broadband fights poverty and inequality
Broadband is a transmission system that ensures better access to global data networks and permits managing data exchange in a more extensive and faster way. It is a driving force for the competitive growth of a country, both in terms of technological development and new jobs.
Still a long way to go
In Italy, the road towards the development of broadband access is still long. To date, according to data published by Ernest & Young, optical fibre only reaches 14% of Italian municipalities with the biggest percentage in the Campania region (40%) and the lowest in the Abruzzo region, with only 2% of towns and cities covered. Our country then is still far from joining the 5 most “broadband ready” group which, according to The Media Institute is made up of the United States, South Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom and France.
Broadband and social challenges in Africa
Globally, it is interesting to note that broadband access is increasingly a major tool for overcoming poverty and social inequality. At the moment the countries with the highest percentage of individuals with broadband access in relation to the total population are mainly European, while Asia is mobile-access leader.
Africa’s future also travels on broadband, a decisive factor for economic take-off and the digitization of the continent. Nigeria ranks highest among the countries investing in broadband access, recently followed by Rwanda and Tunisia. The development of broadband access in these countries is not accidental. In fact, these three countries have a high propensity for development in the service sector, banking, information technology and logistics system, telecommunications and international transport. Such areas require advanced communication systems and a large access network available in major towns and cities such as Lagos, Kigali and Tunis.
