International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Deputy Secretary-General, Malcolm Johnson, will share the latest research and trends in broadband implementations, when he keynotes at IFIP WITFOR 2016 in Costa Rica in September this year.

Mr Johnson will explore the impacts of national broadband plans, highlighting policy measures that have helped to improve broadband penetration, while also sharing tried and tested best practice strategies that help optimise outcomes for those nations.  

WITFOR (World Information Technology Forum) 2016 is IFIP’s global event focused on advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It brings together hundreds of senior policy-makers, ICT experts, representatives of NGOs and GOs, researchers and private sector organizations to discuss strategies for using ICT to solve the challenges developing nations are facing.

With broadband internet access a proven driver of productivity and innovation, Mr Johnson observed that both ITU and the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development have long called for countries to have a National Broadband Plan, as part of a coordinated approach to policy-making.  

AT WITFOR he will provide research results showing how the introduction of a national broadband plan leads to an increase in fixed broadband penetration and higher mobile broadband penetration on average.

The number of countries with National Broadband Plans has steadily increased partly as a response to the financial crisis in 2008-2009 and the need to stimulus spending.

The regions of North America, South America and the Caribbean have been enthusiastic in their adoption of Broadband Plans, with the Americas having the highest proportion of countries with Broadband Plans after Europe.

During his keynote, he will identify the key policy measures that are most likely to impact broadband availability, as well as outlining a range of best practice strategies that countries should implement to optimise the success of their national broadband plans.

WITFOR 2016 will be held from 12-14 September 2016 in San José, Coast Rica. For more information or to register, please visit http://www.witfor2016.org/

ENDS