The Key to Social and Economic Development? Broadband Adoption

[Commentary] Two Asian nations -- Korea and Singapore -- have managed to leapfrog multiple stages of economic development and have transformed into economic miracles. This comes as no accident, in part, because both have taken a planned approach to technological development, starting with national broadband plans, which has led to increased broadband adoption, and successive waves of economic growth.

A new report by the UN Broadband Commission and Cisco shows that Korea and Singapore are the most notable examples of a statistically significant trend; Countries that embrace national broadband plans have increased broadband adoption. The data show that the introduction of a broadband plan accounts for 2.5 percent higher fixed broadband penetration and 7.4 percent higher mobile broadband penetration. This is based on a thorough examination of broadband adoption data from 2001 through 2011.

For policymakers thinking about how to jumpstart their economies, there are 5 basic takeaways:

1. Develop a national broadband plan to set a strategic vision for how information technology will drive your country's knowledge economy;
2. Get buy in from both public and private constituencies;
3. Ensure the plan is balanced between the supply of high-speed Internet and demand driving adoption;
4. Implement rules and regulations that ensure a competitive broadband market;
5. Finally, regularly monitor progress toward broadband targets and ensure implementation and follow through.