From Rural Village to Smart Village Digital Connectivity for Development

This book investigates how the rise of information and communications technologies is transforming life for Indigenous communities and those living in rural and developing areas. The global reach of the internet and the proliferation of mobile phones, broadband and social media have created an interconnected global village of communicators able to access and share information almost instantaneously. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has further increased reliance on online services for access to education, health, and ecommerce, especially in rural areas. This book provides an essential overview of the impacts of digital technologies including recent case studies and research, and key policy issues for planners, policy makers and researchers to consider concerning ICTs in rural and developing regions. It concludes by examining policy solutions and strategies to help to address barriers in availability, affordability, and digital skills, in order to make universal access to the electronic means to create, locate and share information a reality. Written by renowned international expert Heather E. Hudson, this book will be ideal for researchers or students of communications and development, and for practitioners and policy makers working for governments, consultancies, international organizations and development agencies.