Access to the World Wide Web
14 August 2000 at 1:08 pm
It has been reported in recent weeks that the Internet is growing at an explosive rate.
There are now 1.5 billion web sites – far more than the number of people worldwide that are connected.
US philanthropy web site PPN Online reports that with only 5 percent of the globe’s population wired to the net, a panel of experts has advised the United Nations to step in to address the problem.
‘A panel of experts has told the organisation that it should designate $2 billion to help poor countries get the technology infrastructure for Internet access. The panel recommends the UN invest $500 million of its own money to provide those countries that are not wired with Internet access by the end of 2004. These funds should be supplemented with $1.5 billion from the developing nations themselves, private industry and other grants.
‘The panel said developing nations can take part in the global economy, but they must embrace computer technology immediately or risk falling too far behind to catch up.
The UN will consider the report later this year as a major part of September’s Millennium Summit with industrialised nations, which is attended by their Presidents and Prime Ministers.
Check out the United Nations web site at www.un.org
