Information communication technology infrastructure
From Mongol Studies Online Reference
Information communication technologies (ICT) in Mongolia face unique challenges. Because Mongolia is sparsely populated and a significant portion of the population still lives a nomadic lifestyle, it has been difficult for many traditional ICTs to make headway into Mongolian society. Wireless technologies have had greater success and mobile phones are becoming increasingly common, even in rural areas. Wireless Local Loops are another technology that has helped Mongolia increase accessibility to telecommunications and bypass fixed-line infrastructure. Other problems relating to the ICT infrastructure include poverty and the fact that Mongolia is a landlocked country. Mongolia relies on fiber-optic connections with its Chinese and Russian neighbors and a significant portion of the population is still too poor to afford mobile phones.
[edit] Constraints
Mongolia is the most sparsely populated independent country in the world.[1]
[edit] Initiatives
Citizens Information Service Centers (CISC) have been established in Ulaanbataar and six Aimags that are equipped to allow nomadic rural populations to receive internet access.[2]
Many libraries and schools provide internet access, including some mobile providers that travel between rural populations.
The Asian Development Bank has an initiative to develop ICT technologies to "boost access to high-quality education for disadvantaged and remote populations in Mongolia, through a grant assistance approved for US$1 million."[3] The goal is to take advantage of newer technologies to improve access to information for about 10,000 students at 36 schools.
[edit] References
- ↑ United Nations Population Division. "The World at Six Billion." Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations Secretariat. New York, 12 October 1999. Accessed 16 June 2008.
- ↑ Bayasgalan. "Surfing the Internet from a 'Ger'?" IT4Dev.net. No date. Accessed 19 June 2008.
- ↑ "Using ICT to Improve Rural Education in Mongolia." Asian Development Bank. Adb.org, 2008. Accessed 6 July 2008.
