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	UHF spectrum for IMT: bridging the digital divide

	Introduction

	Mobile communications for all

	Spectrum for IMT

	Conclusions


	WRC-07 Resources

	WRC-07 ITU

Thursday, 28 August 2008

1. Introduction
It’s well recognised that there are still significant differences between developed and developing countries, with regard to infrastructure in general – and more specifically to the availability and affordability of new communication technologies. This difference is articulated as the so called ‘Digital Divide’ .

The Digital Divide is a symptom of wider range of general problems facing parts of the developing world, but equally digital communications can offer at least part of the solution for these societies. Closing the technology gap can play a role in bridging the wider divide between the developing and the developed regions. In the words of the former Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan: “There is a tremendous yearning, not for technology per se, but for what technology can make possible.”

Global mobile penetration approaches 50%

At mid-2007, global mobile penetration stood at approximately 46% – and this usage of public mobile communications cancontribute tremendously to reduction of the Digital Divide. This high penetration figure would not have been achievable without thecurrent harmonization of spectrum for 2G and 3G systems such as GSM and UMTS.
Addressing the needs of the remaining half of the world’s population, however, will require low cost mobile devices and cost effective wide-area coverage solutions. Low cost devices are on the way, but to provide cost effective coverage solutions there is a need to secure enough resources in the lower spectrum range.
The right decisions taken at WRC-07 would give IMT the opportunity to further this success and reduce the digital divide.

The experience from developing regions shows that mobile communications already provides connectivity and services to improve the life of billions of people. The numbers speak for themselves. There are already three billion mobile users, connected to networks covering more than 80% of the global population.

It’s the availability of terrestrial mobile services that stands to have the leading impact on social and economic development. Indeed, services that can leverage the benefits of mobile phones – such as micro credit – are already being acknowledged as important factors in attaining greater social freedom and release from poverty. Indeed, Prof. Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for their work to stimulate economic and social development ‘from below’ using tools such as micro credit.

Mobile services are offered by a range of providers as sustainable businesses without the need for state aid. As such they are helping to boost local economies, deliver important social services like healthcare and education, improve democracy and generally raise standards of living.

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