UN convenes first-ever conference on Internet technology for development

The first-ever United Nations conference on ways to use wireless Internet technology for development gets underway tomorrow at the world body's New York Headquarters.

The conference, organized by the UN Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Task Force and the Boston-based Wireless Internet Institute, will bring representatives of developing countries together with leaders from information technology (IT) enterprises and international institutions to explore broadband wireless potential for supporting development.

The ICT's Task Force Vice-Chairman Talal Abu-Ghazaleh is scheduled to deliver welcoming remarks from UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Pat Gelsinger, Chief Technology Officer, Intel Corporation, will be the keynote speaker.

The morning session will include a debate on wireless Internet deployment scenarios, presentations of case studies and panels on "Technology Primer and Roadmap" and "Regulatory Landscape and Trends."

In the afternoon, brainstorming workshops involving field practitioners, regulators, IT vendors and international development specialists will suggest policies to accelerate the adoption of wireless Internet broadband connectivity.

Participants are expected to examine the development impact of wireless technology developments, as well as practical deployment issues, including spectrum policies, local regulations, the role of incumbent telecom operators, and alternative business models to support both the deployment and operations of wireless infrastructure networks.