INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT: DIFFUSION AND APPLICATION OF ICT
Chapter 2
2.4. Spread and Quality of ICT Access in Azerbaijan in the Focus of Regional Situation
Lack of reliable regional statistics prevents the country from having a complete picture of the readiness of specific regions in Azerbaijan for wide-range usage of ICT. However, results of a survey carried out during August and September 2003 in seven regions of the country-Ganja, Mingachevir, Alibayramli, Shaki, Guba, Lankaran, Barda, Nachichevan and Baku partially provides the necessary data.
The main ICT equipment are concentrated mostly in Baku. The survey clarified the differences between the capital and the regions, both in relationship to the steps needed for readiness of for the spread of ICT and in observed problems. The differences in spread and quality of ICT are explained by differences in business development, level of employment and income per capita. According to data from the State Statistics Committee, four Internet hosts are available for every 1,000 people. But according to this survey, only 0.15 Internet hosts are available for each 1,000 people in the regions outside of Baku. This would indicate considerable lag in the outlying regions of the country as compared to the capital in terms of Internet access.
There are also considerable differences between Baku and regions of the country in distribution and access to ICT in such fields as education, public health, entrepreneurship and social welfare.
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