Our policies and alliances bring broadband meaningfully to the “forgotten five billion."
First Asia, then the World
“Meaningful Broadband is Digital Divide Institute’s new model for bridging the digital divide with far-reaching implications throughout Asia and the rest of the developing world.”
— Andrew Harris, Senior Telecoms Analyst, The Economist Intelligence Unit
 Philippines Ramps Up! | |
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Already one of the most ICT-savvy nations in the world, Philippines begins its march into broadband this year, under President Aquino’s leadership. DDI-Philippines will help. Read the five domains of innovation that could bring high-speed internet meaningfully to all 93 million Filipinos. |
| The Indonesian/Silicon Valley Connection | |
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No longer using Singapore as their bridge to Silicon Valley, Indonesia’s ICT stakeholders now have their own ties to the Valley’s foremost innovators. One of these power players happens to be an Indonesian billionaire: Dr. Sehat Sutardja, whose company, Marvell Semiconductor, has chips in smart devices that are revolutionizing Asia. |
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Pictured here (Nov 8), Dr. Sutardia and co-founder Weili Dai hosted Minister Hatta Rajasa, the architect of Indonesia’s economic reforms. Two weeks earlier, Sutardja hosted DDI’s Dr. Craig Warren Smith for a four-day marathon of discussions. Smith and Ilham A Habibie, chairman of Indonesia’s Meaningful Broadband Working Group, also visited IT professors at Stanford and UC Berkeley and they chatted with top execs of Google and HP. The outcome: a plan to tap Silicon Valley’s next-generation innovators to bring meaningful broadband to Asian mass markets. |
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| The Taiwan Factor | |
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Atop global supply chains, Taiwan's Device-makers Do Biz with DDI. Last week in Taipei, Digital Divide Institute led a delegation representing two ASEAN nations. These discussions led to proposals for how Taiwan-made tablets, PCs and netbooks could bring “meaningful apps” to low-income users in Asia. Read More. |
| “Broadband for All” Gains Political Traction | |
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DDI Helps Asia’s Intergovernmental Agencies Reach Broadband Targets. Though Asia’s intergovernmental agencies have put “broadband for all” onto their lists of top causes since 2008, few took notice since their proclamations were not tied to specific action plans. |
But now, the cause has gained political traction and is being operationalized through new reports shown here from ITU, APEC, ASEAN, ADB --and Digital Divide Institute is advising each of them. Read More. |
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| Indonesia Signs On | |
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$9.2 Billion Meaningful Broadband Plan Announced. Top leaders of government, business and academia sign declaration for massive deployment of “meaningful broadband” to fulfill goals of the government’s new Master Plan. |
Chaired by Ilham A Habibie, leader of Digital Divide Institute in Asia, it includes a $3.4 billion network to give broadband access to the masses, combined with a $4.9 billion plan for devices and apps. Read More |
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News Wrap |
Broadband You Tube Channel : Yes, there is a channel devoted to broadband-for-all. International Telecommunications Union's Broadband Commission’s videos can be seen here. The Channel was recently filled with fresh content from big thinkers expounding on innovations in technology and public policy needed to bring broadband meaningfully to all seven billion users. One of DDI’s favorite broadband gurus whose views are in the mix is Robert Pepperwho heads public affairs for Cisco Systems in Washington. Check out his views about the need to release of 700 megahertz spectrum, once meant for local TV stations, to produce a “digital dividend” that can lower costs and boost quality of broadband content delivered to the masses. And, while you are at it, check out Pepper’s recent talk at the Barcelona blowout. ” -- Craig Warren Smith |
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What is digitaldivide.org |
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Events |
March 9, Bangkok, DDI Chairman Craig Warren Smith speaks at UNESCAP Expert Group seminar on Asian Economic Integration.
April 23, Bandung, Digital Divide Institute launches Indonesia Meaningful Broadband Research Group at Institute of Technology Bandung.
May 3, Jakarta, DDI Chairman Craig Warren Smith moderates "Asia Pacific Infrastructure Conference," ICT Track.
Broadband policy is like an iceberg. 95% is hidden beneath the surface. To alter broadband’s course, we must go deep.
