Pillar 3: ICT adoption

What does it capture? The degree of diffusion of specific information and communication technologies (ICTs).

Why does it matter? ICTs reduce transaction costs and speed up information and idea exchange, improving efficiency and sparking innovation. As ICTs are general purpose technologies increasingly embedded in the structure of the economy, they are becoming as necessary as power and transport infrastructure for all economies.

3.01 Mobile-cellular telephone subscriptions

Number of mobile-cellular telephone subscriptions per 100 population. | 2016

This indicator includes post-paid subscriptions, active prepaid accounts (i.e. that have been active during the past three months), and all mobile-cellular subscriptions that offer voice communications.

Source: International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

3.02 Mobile-broadband subscriptions

Number of active mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 population. | 2016

This indicator includes standard mobile-broadband subscriptions and dedicated mobile-broadband data subscriptions to the public internet.

Source: International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

3.03 Fixed-broadband internet subscriptions

Number of fixed-broadband internet subscriptions per 100 population. | 2016

This indicator refers to the number of subscriptions for high-speed access to the public internet (a TCP/IP connection), including cable modem, DSL, fiber, and other fixed (wired)-broadband technologies—such as Ethernet, LAN and broadband over powerline communications.

Source: International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

3.04 Fiber internet subscriptions

Fiber-to-the-home/building internet subscriptions per 100 population. | 2016

This indicator refers to the number of internet subscriptions using fiber-to-the-home or fiber-to-the-building at downstream speeds equal to or greater than 256 kb/s. This should include subscriptions where fiber goes directly to the subscriber’s premises or fiber-to-the-building subscriptions that terminate no more than two metres from an external wall of the building. Fiberto-the-cabinet and fiber-to-the-node are excluded.

Source: World Economic Forum calculations based on International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

3.05 Internet users

Percentage of individuals who used the internet from any location and for any purpose, irrespective of the device and network used, in the last three months. | 2016

Source: International Telecommunications Union (ITU).