Handbook on ICT in Developing Countries: Next Generation ICT Technologies is the second volume of the Handbook of ICT in Developing Countries. The first volume was on the potential implementation and service delivery of the forth-coming 5G networks. Here the focus is on the new technologies and services enabled by 5G networks or broadband Internet networks including artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, augmented reality, Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous driving, blockchain solutions, cloud solutions etc. Some of these are already globally experiencing growth in the existing networks and all of them are expected to grow substantially in the future.
Examples: currently, 5% of global organizations have fully adopted AI, but the penetration is expected to increase rapidly before 2025. IoT with 20.35 billion devices connected in 2017 is estimated to show 75.44 billion devices connected in 2025. The expected growth is based on delivering of new value to businesses and citizens.
It is, however, not obvious that this growth will also occur in developing countries. Currently, the digital divide between developing countries and developed countries is widening. This is mostly due to the lack of infrastructure and low level of awareness by the businesses and citizens of the value made possible by the new technologies for developing countries.
The book discusses the potentials of the new technologies for developing countries and the need for market interventions that will facilitate the demand and supply side of the market. It is designed for a broad audience including practitioners, researchers, academics, policy makers and industry players and influencers. The language and approach to the handbook is a combination of the academic writing style and professional reviews.
Gyamfi, Albert: - Dr. Albert Gyamfi obtained his PhD from Aalborg University, Copenhagen, Denmark. Where he conducted a study to investigated the usage of Web 2.0 applications on Knowledge Management Processes, using the Ghanaian Cocoa Sector as a case. He earned his Masters degree in Management Information System from the University of Ghana. He's currently pursuing Masters in Computer Science Degree, at the University of Regina in Canada, with a research focus on Knowledge-based System approach to Internet of Things (Smart Cities, Smart Factories and Smart Agriculture) with keen interest in 5G technologies. He also has a general interest in the theoreti- cal foundations of Information Systems, with specific focus on knowledge management systems and knowledge-based cognitive systems.
Skouby, Knud Erik: - "Prof. Knud Erik Skouby is professor and founding director of center for Communication, Media and Information technologies, Aalborg University, Copenhagen - a center providing a focal point for multi-disciplinary research and training in applications of CMI. Has a career as a university teacher and within consultancy since 1972. Working areas: Techno-economic Analyses; Development of mobile/wireless applications and services: Regulation of telecommunications. Project manager and partner in a number of international, European and Danish research projects. Served on a number of public committees within telecom, IT and broadcasting; as a member of boards of professional soci- eties; as a member of organizing boards, evaluation committees and as invited speaker on international conferences; published a number of Danish and international articles, books and conference proceedings. Editor in chief of Nordic and Baltic Journal of Information and Communication Technologies (NBICT); Board member of the Danish Media Committee. Chair of WGA in Wireless World Research Forum; Dep. chair IEEE Denmark. Member of the Academic Council of the Technical Faculty of IT and Design, AAU."
Williams, Idongesit: - Dr. Idongesit Williams is a Post-Doctoral Research fellow at Aalborg University. He holds a Ph.D in Information and Communication Technolo- gies, specializing in telecommunication and Internet infrastructure devel- opment and policies. He has for 7 years worked as a Lecturer at Aalborg University Copenhagen where he taught Internet Governance and Economics. Currently, he is involved in EU projects. His current project is on the pro- motion of digitization in the Baltic Sea region. In addition to his core area of specialization, he has conducted research into other areas involving the diffusion and adoption of ICTs in organizations and by Individuals. He has published widely with more than 40 publications on research areas ranging from Public Private Partnerships in the development of Broadband infras- tructure, ICT business modeling, Knowledge management and organizational learning, Gender, ICT, digitalization in the EU and entrepreneurship among others. He has served as Special issue guest editor to journals. He is also a consultant for SMEs on the development of requirement specifications and use cases for IT based services.
