Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for Rural Development: An Example from Rural Laos

摘要

This paper tries to link issues of rural development in poorer countries with the potentials that are said to be inherent to the application of information and communication technologies (ICTs). To do so, we start to discuss the most prevalent issues of rural development and how ICTs could contribute to it. We proceed in describing the challenges that need to be addressed if ICTs are implemented in rural areas. The empirical results from a survey in Lao P.D.R. will provide some on the ground insights from telecommunications utilization in rural areas of a least developed country. Conclusions will point at the implications of these qualitative and quantitative findings.