Bayaarma Bazar, Department of Education, Ulaan Bataar, MONGOLIA. artand@magicnet.mn
Gregg Boalch, Curtin Business School, Curtin University of Technology, Kent St, Bentley, WA, 6100, Australia. Phone +61 8 9266 7246 Fax: +61 8 9266 3076 boalchg@cbs.curtin.edu.au
Internet, Information Technology, Diffusion, Developing Countries
Rapid development of the Internet has facilitated access to information as well as communication between individuals and groups both within and outside the country at relatively low costs. However, due to variety of reasons a majority of organisations and individuals in developing countries are not able to get Internet connection, and this causes an increase in the information gap between Western and Developing countries.
A study was undertaken in an attempt to gain an understanding of the current status of development of the Internet and to identify key factors that affect successful rollout and use of the Internet in developing countries.
This paper represents some of this results of this study into Internet Rollout and use in some 30 developing countries.
It defines the criteria used for selection of target cultures as developing countries, examines the generic components of the rollout and use of Internet technologies, and summarises the published experiences of Internet rollout and use within these target countries.
Based on the above, the paper then proposes a model to represent the diffusion of Internet technology in developing countries, the sequential process of diffusion, the main players in the diffusion process and the factors affecting the diffusion process, all at a national level.
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