Editorial for the Special Section on Rural and Remote ICT: Broadband Rural, Regional and National Impacts

Abstract

The rapidly increasing digitalization of businesses and everyday life, combined with increased uptake of information and communication technology (ICT) enabled services such as Cloud Computing, Big Data Analytics and E-Commerce, puts high demand on local, national and global network infrastructures. High-speed, affordable and reliable broadband services have become a critical success factor for socio-economic transformation of any economy and society. Many broadband initiatives are underway at local and national levels, defining and rolling out future-proof broadband infrastructures needed for a digital age