JAPAN — Countries in Asia Pacific have agreed to help establish next generation high-speed broadband networks by 2020, in an attempt to overcome the ‘digital divide’ between rich and poor nations in the region.
This accord was mentioned in a declaration adopted by telecommunications and information ministers from the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum at the end of a two-day meeting last Sunday in Okinawa, Japan.
The declaration, to be submitted to the APEC summit scheduled for mid-November in Yokohama, Japan, was posted on the Web site of the Japanese internal affairs and communications ministry.
It said: “We recommend that the TEL (APEC Telecommunications and Information Working Group) works toward achieving the ambitious goal of access to next generation high-speed broadband by 2020 to expand and improve ICT (information and communications technologies) infrastructure for knowledge-based economies in the APEC region.”
“We acknowledge that the digital divide in the APEC region remains an obstacle to accessing the full benefits offered by ICT,” the document said.
“We recognize that enhancing opportunities to access information through initiatives such as infrastructure development need to be a priority,” it added.
The ministers welcomed that APEC economies have “largely” achieved their goal of ‘universal Internet access by 2010’ in terms of infrastructure, the document said. The goal was set in 2000.
“We reaffirm our commitment toward achieving the goal of universal access to (current-generation) broadband in the APEC region by 2015,” it added.
Internet broadband subscriptions have increased from 0.2 per 100 inhabitants in the region in 1999 to 10.8 in 2009, an APEC document said.
But access to the Internet varies between APEC member economies, Kyodo News Agency said.
It said the broadband penetration rate stands at 0.7% in Indonesia and 2.8% in Peru, while it reaches 27.1% in the United States and 24.9% in Japan. — AFP
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
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October –
Monthly Observances:
Industry and Commerce Safety Month
National Statistics Month
Local Government Month
Consumer Welfare Month
Cooperative Month
National Quality and Productivity Improvement Month
National Health and Wellness Tourism Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Elderly Filipino Week
Week 2: National Health Education Week
Local Government Week
National Mental Health Week
October 17-23:
National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty
October 18 – 24:
United Nations Week
Last Week:
Nurses’ Week
Consumers’ Protection Week
Week of the 4th Sunday:
Barrio Farmers’ Week
Daily Observances:
First Monday (Oct 4): Universal Children’s Day i
n the Philippines
Oct 5: National Teachers’ Day
Oct 10: Local Government Day
Third Thursday (Oct 14): Conflict Resolution Day
Oct 21: Tenants’ Emancipation day
Oct 24: United Nations Day
Oct 29: National Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day
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