Developing countries and information and communication technologies (ICTs) : from digital divide to digital opportunity to closing the reality gap

Information and communication technologies (lCTs) and in particular the Internet could have great implications for developing countries. The implications of ICTs for developing countries could be seen as evolving through three phases - encompassing the digital divide viewed as a threat, the digital opportunity providing developing nations with a means of hastening development and a third phase identifying a reality gap between what was planned and what has resulted based on the empirical evidence emerging from initiatives by international agencies to address the digital divide and digital opportunity. Developments in India and Africa will highlight progress made in developing countries.