Framing the challenges

At a ministerial round-table discussion on Day 1 of WTIS-15, ministers and deputy ministers shared the ICT challenges and successes of their countries. Many mentioned the cost of ICT services as perhaps the most critical limitation to connecting larger segments of their respective populations.

“In order for ICTs to play a very important role in SDGs, we have to work on lowering the cost,” said Joao Bernardo Vieira, Guinea-Bissau’s Minister of Transport and Communications. He added that Goal No. 1 of the SDGs (No Poverty) could be strongly advanced if basic digital financial services could reach the extreme poor — and that Goal No. 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) could be greatly facilitated through mobile data applications. Dr Vieira also stressed the importance of the government’s role in fostering ICT innovation. He said governments should create incentives, help mobilize capital, and limit regulation for ICT innovators.

Tonga’s Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni laid out some of the challenges he faces in a Pacific Small Island Developing State. “Providing central services is difficult. Which one is most important? Roads, health — or ICTs?” asked Mr Sovaleni. “ICT development competes with other more basic and pressing development needs.”

This was a familiar challenge for many in attendance. But Mr Sovaleni offered some advice: “It’s very important to link the ICT indicators to the other development goals,” he said. “Having the link to SDGs will help us [government officials] tap into those development resources.”

Zambia’s Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications, James Kapyanga, said his government had to create a seat at the president’s office to deal specifically with ICTs in order for ICTs to vie for funding amid the other pressing development needs. “If you don’t create that seat, ICTs only get lip service,” he said.