"I think we will all agree that ICTs and Broadband in particular, cannot be an end in themselves - we want fast and efficient communication as solutions to fast track socio-economic transformation in our societies," said Rwanda's President Paul Kagame  at the first meeting of the recently launched Broadband Commission for Digital Development this July in Geneva, Switzerland. The Commission is jointly run by Unesco and the ITU, the United Nations agency for information and communication technology.

The recommendations adopted during the meeting will be compiled into a final report that will be presented to the UN Secretary General, September 19, ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York. It is said that  the Broadband Commission is to argue that expenditure on broadband technology is a key way to deliver on the UN’s eight Millennium Development Goals.

The commission has been established only in May 2010, but it aims high, judging by what the members of the Commission say. According to the co-Chair Hamadoun Touré, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), “The global deployment of broadband networks will be as powerful a transformational force for the 21st century as the progressive installation of electricity networks was in the first decades of the 20th century.” He added: “Just as connection to the power grid is now seen as a basic element of social and economic empowerment, so ubiquitous connectivity to broadband networks will be vital to the ongoing development of every nation worldwide.”

Hopefully so.

Photo by the author

Although major reports are to come next month, let's take a look at what the Commission has outlined as benefits that broadband Internet can bring in different fields of life. I will copy their list of positive developments below (in italic), and add some more ideas I was thinking of (in bold).

Infrastructure and industry

In the electricity industry, broadband networks can show consumers and suppliers how much power is being used in real time, and where. This means that demand and supply can be stabilized as power is delivered or stored on “smart grids”. And in “smart buildings” energy is saved through constant monitoring of heating and lighting. The manufacture and distribution of goods can be tracked using broadband networks, which are also the foundation for cloud computing that offers rapid scalability of resources for businesses — as well as flexible access for individuals.

- Developing new, creative businesses online.

 

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Education

Through e-learning, broadband improves access to digital resources, extending education to more people of all ages, at all levels of need, including in previously deprived communities. It also helps in training teachers and in linking databases to improve administration.

-Learning new skills through online manuals.
-Learning and practicing foreign languages has never been so easy, and possible in a number of different ways (online textbooks, quizzes, chatting, listening different programs and contents...)

Research

Using broadband, it is now possible for universities and research institutes of all kinds to share vast amounts of data worldwide, and for students to read books in libraries on the other side of the globe. This speeds up work in countless fields, including medicine and agriculture that have an especially important impact on the lives of people in the poorest regions.

- Easily comparing data from different sources.

Environment and emergencies

One particularly important area of research involves monitoring Earth’s environment, through sensors on the ground or data collected by satellite. Broadband networks ensure that data are transmitted swiftly to show, for example, the effects of climate change, crop shortages, or impending natural disasters. Broadband helps again by supporting emergency communications and medical assistance.

Transport

Safety on the roads is improved too by broadband delivering real-time information to traffic control systems and individual drivers. It helps to streamline traffic flows, cut fuel consumption and minimize accidents, and it becomes much easier to integrate all types of transport efficiently.

- Getting practical information: Which road to take and which to avoid, prices of fuel and toll..

Lifestyle

At the same time, videoconferencing removes the need for travel, and with a broadband connection, people will increasingly be able to work away from the office and on the move. Whether through a mobile device or at home, they can also enjoy a huge range of content produced by the publishing, music and video industries, for which broadband has become a leading delivery system.

- Meeting new people.
- Learning about other ways of life.
- Diversified ways of entertainment.

Health care

Network-based monitoring of chronic medical conditions and low-cost remote consultation and intervention will be increasingly favoured by medical professionals, particularly those serving remote communities or ageing populations. Telemedicine, as it is known, will give many more people a better chance of health.

- Learning healthy habits related to food, drinks, sports, medication, cosmetics

Democracy and culture

By putting information online, local and national governments can not only keep citizens up to date with what is happening; they can also offer immediate and interactive access to services, such as applying for licences or registering to vote. Citizens themselves have a powerful platform on which to create spaces for sharing ideas and for expressing the creativity of their particular cultures.

- Expressing political opinions and sharing information.
- Pointing out negative trends such as corruption, biased media reporting, unjustified government policies... 

- Coordinating activities in tense political situations, such as protests and alike.

- Strenghtening connections within a community (be it ethnic, language, interest or something else based on).

- Empowering social movements
- Enjoying various forms of culture, including old and rare.

You are more than welcome to add some more ideas. It would be interesting to see what a number people from different parts of the world and with so different backgrounds can think of.