This file was uploaded as a supplement to: Benefits of Internet to Rural Communities: a Sri Lankan initiative based on inexpensive solutions (original) (raw)

Issues in Internet Adoption and Rural Empowerment in Sri Lanka

Issues in Internet Adoption and Rural Empowerment in Sri Lanka, 2015

Internet adoption is a key factor for public sector development such as rural empowerment and other government based socioeconomic services. The government has to increase internet adoption to empower rural people since the majority of the people in developing countries belong to rural communities (Zhao 2008). In Sri Lanka, internet adoption has remained at a mere 21.9% in 2013 according to the World Bank Report. As such, Sri Lankan rural communities lag behind in internet adoption. The purpose of this study is to identify the issues hindering internet adoption among rural communities in Sri Lanka. The objectives are to determine the relationship between internet adoption and infrastructural facilities, the adopter characteristics of rural communities, the characteristics of technology and affordability. Based on the Five Stages of Innovation- Decision model designed by Everett M. Rogers(2003), this study identifies the issues of Internet adoption among rural communities in Sri Lanka. The survey research method was used to obtain data from 350 respondents in Bibile, Monaragala district. The results of the study show that there is a strong significant positive relationship between internet adoption and infrastructural facilities, affordability, adopter characteristics and technology characteristics. Some issues in internet adoption among rural communities in Bibile are a lack of infrastructural facilities, problems of affordability and low computer and English language skills, negative attitudes, relevancy, needs towards internet adoption, and a lack of knowledge about benefits and usage of the internet. The public organizations such as government and non-governmental bodies must introduce public policies for ICT development, develop infrastructural facilities in rural areas, improve the socioeconomic condition and computer and English language skills of the rural communities. It should also introduce island wide projects to change the attitudes, behaviour and knowledge of rural communities in order to increase internet adoption among rural communities in Sri Lanka. Therefore, this study recommends that efforts must be made to address the issues hampering internet adoption by providing proper internet facilities in order to empower the public sector which includes rural communities. KEYWORDS: Internet adoption, Rural empowerment, Digital divide, Sri Lanka, Public sector

Use of Internet in rural areas of Zambia

Access to information and, more importantly, the internet is not evenly distributed in this world. But if they had it, would people in rural Africa want to use the internet? How would they use it and benefit from it? Will internet influence culture and how can communities prepare themselves when the internet comes in their village? To support the rollout of internet in more rural areas in Zambia and to improve the effectiveness of ICT in rural environments, a clear view on the adoption and use of ICT and services was needed. This study aimed at providing this knowledge. Interviews in rural Zambia taught us how people use the internet and the benefits they experience. We also spoke about their expectations and what they think is needed when the internet is introduced in a community. The study showed that people and communities in rural Zambia do benefit from ICT both socially and economically. Basically, they use the internet for the same purposes as people in Western countries, such as to communicate, to search for information and to buy things. However, internet is even more important in rural areas because of lack of alternatives, such as telephone lines, libraries, newspapers, roads in good condition, and public transport. When introducing the internet in a new community, first of all, sensitization should take place. Then training is needed on how to use a computer and the internet. Next to that, proximity is important, having internet at home or at work would naturally enable a lot of people to use internet more often and benefit more from it. Most participants feel that the internet can have a positive impact on their culture; however, more African content should be developed and placed on the internet. This paper is not about technical aspects of introducing the internet in rural areas. It’s about cases of real people and how internet changed their lives. Internet empowered them and helped them to build a more sustainable future with better education, easier communication and new economic activities.

Issues in internet adoption: a study among Sri Lankan rural communities

E Bangi, 2013

Internet user percentage in Sri Lanka has lingered at a mere 13.1% in 2011 according to an Annual report by Department of Census and Statistics in Sri Lanka. The aim of this paper is to identify the issues hindering rural internet adoption in Sri Lanka. This paper will report results of descriptive statistics, mean score for the dependent variable and independent variables and results of correlation analysis regarding the relationship between internet adoption and infrastructure facilities, adopter characteristics of rural communities, technology characteristics and affordability. A survey using questionnaire was used to obtain data from 400 respondents in Bibile, Monaragala district. The results show that internet adoption among the rural communities was low due to lack of infrastructure facilities, problem of affordability and low in computer skills. The mean scores for affordability, infrastructure facilities and computer skills, have high effect with internet adoption. The variables, viz. adopter characteristics (needs, relevancy, attitudes, English language skills), technology characteristics (ease of use, perceived benefits) have average effect with internet adoption. From the correlation results adopter characteristics and technology characteristics have strong significant positive relationships with internet adoption. There is a strong significant negative relationship between internet adoption and infrastructure facilities, computer skills and affordability. The government or non-government organizations should introduce ICT policies; improve infrastructure facilities, socioeconomic situation and computer skills in order to increase internet adoption among rural communities in Sri Lanka. Therefore, this study suggests that efforts must be made to address the issues hampering the adoption of the internet among the rural communities.

A Case Study on Internet Adoption Among Rural Communities in Sri Lanka

2014

ISSUES RELATED TO INTERNET DIFFUSION: A CASE STUDY ON ICT RELATED PROJECTS IN SRI LANKA., 2013

Internet user percentage in Sri Lanka has lingered at a mere 13.1% in 2011 according to an Annual report by Department of Census and Statistics in Sri Lanka. The aim of this paper is to identify the issues and problems of internet diffusion among rural communities in Sri Lanka. This conceptual paper is based on literature review. Reasons for Sri Lanka to experience a very low internet usage, due to social, economic, political, cultural and moral circumstances: no clear policy framework for facilitating the use of the Internet, lack of knowledge about the benefits of the new information technology, lack of motivation to use the Internet, economic problems, English Language barriers, attitudinal problems and inadequate infrastructure. ‘E- Sri Lanka’, ‘Horizon Lanka project’, ‘Virtual Village project’, ‘Kotmale Community Radio Internet project’ are ICT related projects in Sri Lanka. These ICT related programs are based in specific rural areas and there are experimental programs still trying to establish in other rural areas. There should be powerful and effective programs to empower rural and semi urban communities with ICT and English language literacy, skills and attitudinal motivation to access internet for socioeconomic development purposes. Keywords: Rural Communities, issues, Digital Divide, internet diffusion, ICT related projects,

BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IN SRI LANKA: ISSUES IN INTERNET ADOPTION AMONG RURAL COMMUNITIES

BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IN SRI LANKA: ISSUES IN INTERNET ADOPTION AMONG RURAL COMMUNITIES, 2015

The Internet was introduced to the Sri Lankan information and communication system in 1990. However the Internet is still an innovation in Sri Lanka when compared with developed and other developing countries. The problem is, why Sri Lankan rural community is lagging behind in Internet adoption? The aim of this study is to identify the issues hindering Internet adoption among rural communities in Sri Lanka with a view to recommend the solutions to overcome these issues in order to bridge the digital divide. The objectives are to determine the relationship between Internet adoption and infrastructural facilities, the adopter characteristics of rural communities, the characteristics of technology and affordability. Taking into consideration the objectives of this study, several hypotheses are postulated. The hypotheses are formulated to test the relationship between Internet adoption and above mentioned variables. Based on the Five Stages Innovation- Decision model designed by Everett M. Rogers (2003), this study identifies the issues of Internet adoption among rural communities in Sri Lanka.

A CASE STUDY ON INTERNET ADOPTION AMONG RURAL COMMUNITIES

A CASE STUDY ON INTERNET ADOPTION AMONG RURAL COMMUNITIES IN SRI LANKA, 2014

Sri Lankan internet user percentage has lingered at a mere 18.3% according to World Bank Report, 2013. The aim of this paper is to identify the issues hindering Internet adoption among rural communities in Sri Lanka. This paper also will report results of correlation analysis regarding the relationship between Internet adoption and infrastructural facilities, adopter characteristics of rural communities, technology characteristics and affordability. A survey using questionnaire was used to obtain data from 400 respondents in Bibile, Monaragala district. The data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 20.0). From the correlation analysis all the nine variables have strong significant relationship with Internet adoption. There is a strong significant negative relationship between Internet adoption and infrastructural facilities, computer skills and affordability. The results show that Internet adoption among the rural communities was low due to lack of infrastructural facilities, problem of affordability and low in computer skills. Therefore, the government and non-government organizations should introduce ICT policies, infrastructural facilities and effective Island wide projects to change the attitudes and behavior of the rural communities in Sri Lanka. With proper infrastructure, better financial backing, English language skills and computer skills, the rural communities can easily connect to the internet for their development activities. Therefore this study suggests that attention should be given to the variable having effects on internet adoption among the rural communities in Sri Lanka. Keywords: issues, internet adoption, rural communities, Sri Lanka, ICT policies

Access of ICT benefits for underserved rural communities in developing countries Case Study From Nepal Rajendra Poudel

Policy-makers and governments in developing nations can implement more effective policies and frameworks by gaining a better understanding of the factors that support stakeholders and partners to extend the benefits of information communication technology (ICT) to rural communities. The aim of this paper is to answer the framework to follow for extending access to ICT benefits in underserved rural areas of a developing country. It is based on the experience of Nepal's wireless project, where the researcher has worked as a technical team member and social worker for the past number of years. It is conceptually grounded on previous documentation of the Nepal wireless project and local tele-centre operators including end-users and team members who have been involved in the project since its start. Three hundred surveys were carried out among villagers, twenty-five policy-makers were interviewed, three focus groups were used for discussion among end-users, and one formal discussion was held with a professional from an aid agency. This framework will be important for designing future rural ICT projects in Nepal and other similar developing countries. To achieve maximum benefits from the ICT access, parallel incentives should be given to establish small ICT-based business enterprises in rural areas that can become potential users of the modern ICT. This study found that existing infrastructure and human skill is enough to run many small-size businesses to support ICT access in rural areas. From the research it has been identified that available local resources, including human skill, have not been wisely utilised. To see a rapid impact in the rural economy, simultaneous focus should be placed on the utilisation of local resources by sharing ICT infrastructure from national to local level. Local government itself should become the first users of ICT and provide applications for the local people. Frequent revision of national policy related to the use of ICT tools and applications will help upgrade public demand, which will ultimately show the impact in the national economy. Many smallsized businesses -such as tourism, animal husbandry, diary product, small agro farming -should utilise ICT applications and tools. Major initiative must be taken by the government and the government itself should become an ICT user. Local content and localisation is a stronger factor that helps to extend the ICT benefits in rural areas of Nepal.

Enhancing the livelihoods of the rural poor through ICT : a knowledge map - Sri Lanka country study

2008

In Sri Lanka, literacy regarding modern Information Technology (IT) is still at a very early stage. In a country with a 93 percent literacy rate, IT literacy rates are nine percent for the urban population and three percent for the rural population. Utilization of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in rural livelihoods development is almost non-existent. However, there is a growing interest among the government of Sri Lanka, the donors and Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs). It seems likely that, during the next five to ten years, a considerable number of people, including those living in rural areas, will adopt ICTs. This is mainly due to: (i) donors' willingness to invest; (ii) continuity of state support toward the ICT policy since its inception, irrespective of the political parties coming into power; and (iii) the rapid expansion of the telecommunications networks in Sri Lanka, especially in rural areas. Participants in this study suggest that more attenti...

This file was uploaded as a supplement to: Benefits of Internet to Rural Communities: a Sri Lankan initiative based on inexpensive solutions (original) (raw)

Related papers