According to a document with the catchy title "Directions for Development and Use of Open Source Code Computer Programmes in Bodies and Institutions of State Administration" the [Croatian] Government says it needs to develop, prepare and procure open-source software.

Basically it feels that proprietary software leads to too much dependence on suppliers, which can damage the market competition.

France plans to offer 1.2 million of the country's poorest citizens a computer with broadband Internet access for a daily fee of €1 (US$1.28), to ensure that they have access to the increasing number of government services available online.

The French government has set ambitious targets for making public services available over the Internet, but is concerned that almost half the population still lacks regular access to the Internet.

The digital divide between nations remains wide: a person in a high-income country is over 22 times more likely to be an Internet user than one in a low-income nation. There are signs, however, that information and communication technology (ICT) diffusion is slowly becoming more equal, according to UNCTAD´s newly released report: The Digital Divide: ICT Diffusion Index 2005.

There is an immense information and communication technology (ICT) gap, a “digital divide”, between developed and developing countries. A person in a high-income country is over 22 times more likely to be an Internet user than someone in a low-income country. Secure Internet servers, a rough indicator of electronic commerce, are over 100 times more common in high-income than in low-income countries. In high-income countries, mobile phones are 29 times more prevalent and mainline penetration is 21 times that of low-income countries. Relative to income, the cost of Internet access in a low-income country is 150 times the cost of a comparable service in a high-income country. There are similar divides within individual countries. ICT is often non-existent in poor and rural areas of developing countries.

At the Microsoft Government Leaders Forum Africa 2006, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and former US President Bill Clinton highlighted the critical role information and communication technology (ICT) and public-private partnerships play to create change and a strong, vibrant future across Africa and developing countries. During his keynote, Gates highlighted Microsoft's long-term approach to investment in Africa, including collaborations between Microsoft and local and global organisations such as the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). Through these partnerships, together with Microsoft's existing Partners in Learning and Unlimited Potential education programmes, the company hopes to deliver the benefits of ICT training to more than 45 million people in Africa by 2010 and help governments create sustainable economic growth.

In Africa, the channels of communication are underdeveloped or inappropriate due to numerous factors. This paper outlines the prospects for fiber optic technology in Africa and looks at some fiber optic networks in Africa, examining how fiber optics applications are being used to enhance technological and economic development.

This report shows where we stand in 2006 in achieving these goals. The challenges the Goals represent are staggering. But there are clear signs of hope. The data on the following pages and other evidence suggest that providing every child with a primary school education is within our grasp. The handful of countries in sub-Saharan Africa that are successfully lowering HIV infection rates and expanding treatment demonstrate that the war against AIDS can be won. Step by step, we see that women are gaining in political participation that will one day result in their full equal rights. Developed countries have confirmed their commitment to the Goals through increased aid and enhanced debt relief. Collectively, the developed and developing countries mustered the political will to find a solution to the destruction of the ozone layer – a demonstration that we can work together on global environmental challenges.

Scientists from 17 countries in sub-Saharan Africa have come up with a plan of action for applying satellite technology to a wide range of development issues.

Among the applications is telemedicine, in which large hospitals are connected via satellite to remote clinics where terrestrial communication systems are non-existent or damaged.

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) announced on Wednesday the creation of an ambitious new initiative, Business Action to Support the Information Society (BASIS).

This project will lend business expertise and experience to the emerging global dialogue that is shaping the agenda on Internet governance and information and communications technologies (ICTs), particularly in multi stakeholder discussions at the United Nations and following the UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), a press release by ICC stated.

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) announced recently the creation of an ambitious new initiative, Business Action to Support the Information Society (BASIS). This project will lend business expertise and experience to the emerging global dialogue that is shaping the agenda on Internet governance and information and communication technologies (ICTs), particularly in multi stakeholder discussions at the United Nations and following the UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).

Daan Boom: ADB recognises the importance of information and communication technology (ICT) to fight poverty and foster development in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2002, the ADB approved a sector policy encouraging innovations in ICT and learning technologies. Despite the fact that millions of people do have access to ICT and the Internet, for billions it is still out of reach. That needs to be changed. The development community needs to ensure that all the benefits ICT can bring are accessible to as many people as possible, particularly in the developing world.

There is a need to link up the thousands of communications technology initiatives littered across the developing world, but is another UN technocracy the right answer?

Reporters Without Borders has condemned a ruling by an administrative court attached to Egypt's council of state upholding an information and communication ministry decision in mid June 2006 that the authorities can block, suspend or shut down any website liable to pose a threat to national security.

How do you bring Internet access to remote villages in Africa? And are people's lives going to improve once they can get online? The GSM Association, a trade group that represents mobile phone operators in 213 countries, has a plan for the first question and responds with a resounding yes to the second.

AT&T launched a $100 million initiative to provide computer equipment, Internet access and training to 50,000 low income families. The three-year project, called AT&T Access All, is a partnership between AT&T and its charitable foundation with Habitat for Humanity and One Economy Corp., a nonprofit that brings technology to underprivileged families.