A strong, UN-based digital bridge.

• Author: Ulibarri, Eduardo

The United Nations plays a key role in overcoming one of the major challenges and harnessing one of the greatest opportunities facing humankind today--bridging the digital divide, both among and within countries.

The importance of open, accessible, and relevant communications for fostering national development, social fulfillment, and human dignity is undeniable. The more communicated a society is, the more opportunities it will generate. Here lies the urgency of opening the gates of information and communication to the largest possible number of people. Any platform and any media are relevant for this task. However, the key of the contemporary equation lies in widespread digital connectivity, which means upgrading information and communication technology (ICT) in the developing world to the level already enjoyed by most developed countries.

This is the real meaning of bridging the digital divide. The task is not just an issue of resources and technologies, nor of hardware and software. It is also a matter of wise priorities, good policies, intelligent leadership, transparent decision, and population involvement.

The good news is that the United Nations is already working hard towards bridging the digital divide, and is willing and capable of doing more. The bad news is that the challenge is immense, and final success depends on a variety of actors and factors which include national and local governments, public organizations and private enterprises, and technical improvements, as well as political will and freedom.

In order to expand its role and to make greater inroads, the United Nations needs to work on Iwo tracks--maximizing its direct impact and leveraging the power of all relevant stakeholders, from both the supply and demand ends of the communication continuum.

There is mounting evidence that the digital fracture is correlated with three major sets of issues:

* Economic development, which condition the ability of each country--or region therein--to put in place and constantly upgrade the necessary connectivity.

* Public and private investment initiatives, which determine the use of available resources and their allocation to critical drivers such as education, digital infrastructure, and relevant services.

* Political conditions, which either foster or hinder the possibilities of people, groups, and enterprises to freely seek and share information, opinions, and other forms of expression.

It is clear that bridging the digital gap is...