THE IMPACT OF ICT ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN SOLOMON ISLANDS: THE PFNET CASE (original) (raw)
Related papers
The Impact of ICT on rural development in Solomon Islands: The PFNET case (2004)
This research carried out in 2004 examines the impact of Internet on lives of grass-roots people in Solomon Islands using PFnet as a case study. There were two broad aims of the project. The first was to investigate issues related to differential access and utilisation of Internet services. Within this broad aim, the researchers examined the main issues affecting community uptake and appropriation of Internet services, reasons for low usage by women, and reasons for differences in utilisation amongst the five email stations. The second broad aim was to find out the impact of the Internet services on sustainable rural development in the remote and rural Solomon Islands. Within this broad aim, the researchers examined the issues of whether the Internet has improved the lives of rural people, which groups in the communities have benefited most, whether it has brought about environmental awareness and sustainable resource management, whether it has improved the well-being (including health and security) of people in the PFnet project communities and whether it has in any way contributed towards peace-building and reconciliation after the ethnic conflict.
Internet development as a change driver in rural areas: Potentials and pitfalls
Agricultural growth is the key to rural system changes that include changes in both economic infrastructure and social conditions. The potential for rural areas to benefit from these changes is a persistent question. This paper examines data for the rural Greece concerning the internet subscription and internet access of households, farms and firms. In addition the present study examines the potentials and pitfalls of internet development in Northern Greece, and explores the factors that influence patterns of internet subscription by the population of the selected areas. The paper also presents data on aspects of digital infrastructure, including points of internet presence, internet service providers and digital subscriber lines, which suggest that there are major shortcomings in most Greek rural communities. Results showed significant relation between internet development and six separate prospective and desirable changes: (a) capacity for communication, (b) rural system change, (c) increased productivity, (d) social change, (e) demand for services by home‐based rural businesses and (f) change in recreation. In the end, internet is not a ‘quick fix’ solution for rural development, and the desired improvements will be limited to a fraction of rural places.
How ICT can play a role in the development of poor remote rural areas
We are students Medicine at Erasmus University Rotterdam and in context of our Minor International Health & Tropical Medicine we travelled to Zambia for six weeks. We visited Macha, a small rural village, and Lusaka, the capital. We worked in hospitals and did research to the presence and quality of ICT and Internet specifically.
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.
Use of ICT in Provision of Information to Rural Women for Sustainable Development©
Asian Journal of Education and Social Studies
Information and Communication Technologies are critical tools in disseminating of information for Socio-Economic Development. Every person globally strives to have access to this vital information. However most women in rural areas have limited access to this information. This study therefore was set to find out how ICTs could be used to empower rural women of Keiyo South Constituency, Elgeiyo/Marakwet County through provision of information for sustainable Development. The objectives of the study were to; assess the information needs for rural women; find out how use of ICT could influence socio-economic status of rural women and challenges in accessing this information for sustainable Development. The study was informed by Harris Info-Mobilization theory. The study adopted a qualitative research design. The target population was 3070 women in Keiyo South. Stratified sampling was used to divide the constituency into divisions and locations and purposive and snowball sampling techni...
The study evaluated the impact of access and use of ICTs in the lives of users at Mmaphashalala Kitsong Centre. The study was a descriptive case study which employed the use of questionnaires, interviews and unobtrusive observations. The study was guided by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Sustainable Livelihood Framework. Findings revealed that some users acquired some ICT skills which they learnt from the Kitsong centre. Findings further showed the varied use of ICTs among different age and gender groups. The outcomes of using the ICTs offered through Kitsong Centre included: income and employment generation; information sharing and enhanced communication; advertising and marketing; educational research and entertainment. The individual motivational factors which influenced the users to use the centre are reduced travelling distance, cost savings and training. The study concludes and recommends that awareness and good marketing of ICT services should be done. This study could be helpful to the government of Botswana and the private sector on how they can improve on their telecenter/Kitsong centre initiatives. It could also be beneficial to the entrepreneurs who wish to start on the business of Kitsong centres.
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