Broadband Policies for Latin America and the Caribbean
A Digital Economy Toolkit
This joint initiative by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the OECD seeks to encourage the expansion of broadband networks and services in the region, supporting a coherent and cross-sectorial approach, to maximise their benefits for economic and social development. Drawing on a wealth of experience from LAC and OECD countries, the Toolkit outlines the main policy objectives in this area and provides guidance for their measurement, an overview of developments in the region, and a compilation of good practices in several areas related to broadband policy making.
This comprehensive volume encompasses a wealth of areas including digital strategies, regulatory frameworks, spectrum management, competition and infrastructure bottlenecks, broadband access, affordability, sector taxation, inclusion, convergence, regional integration, education, skills, business uptake, entrepreneurship, local content, e-health, digital government, consumer policy, and digital security and privacy.
Also available in: Spanish
Preface
Digital technologies are profoundly changing our economies and societies. Broadband networks are essential in enabling this transformation. By reducing the cost of accessing information and by expanding the means for sharing knowledge, these networks can empower people, encourage greater civic engagement and improve the delivery of public services, as well as helping to create opportunities for new goods, services, business models and jobs. Nonetheless, these opportunities come with challenges, the first of which is to ensure that everyone has access to this extraordinary tool.
Also available in: Spanish