The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has organized an expert consultation dedicated to bridging digital divide across Asia and the Pacific. In fact, despite broadband internet is incredibly impacting the poorest areas of this region, enlightening local people as to brand new opportunities of economic growth and literacy, more than 96% of people is reported not to be connected with high-speed, reliable and affordable internet connection. UN ESCAP is leading an initiative, also known as the Asia Pacific Information Superhighway (AP-IS), with the objective of beefing-up internet regional infrastructure in order to improve access to the net for better prices. Indeed, as far as broadband connectivity is concerned, rural areas suffer of undeniable discrepancies comparing to urban markets, where telecom carriers ordinarily focus their business. To support countries in their struggle to develop a consistent and cohesive network, UN ESCAP is collaborating with Bhutan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, Azerbaijan, Philippines, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the World Bank Group; these partnerships encompass sub-regional policy analysis and regional internet mapping aiming at fostering AP-IS initiative. Participants to UN-led consultation concluded that AP-IS success depends on further investments and policy reforms. Furthermore the outcome of the consultation backed the call for an amendment to the Asian Highway and Trans-Asian Railway agreements as to realize ICT infrastructure along transport networks; following this path it will be possible to economize on construction time and costs, resulting in a win-win situation for governments and the private sector. The gLAWcal Team LIBEAC project Thursday, 9 October 2014 (Source: UN ESCAP) This news has been realized by gLAWcal—Global Law Initiatives for Sustainable Development in collaboration with the University Institute of European Studies (IUSE) in Turin, Italy and the University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy which are both beneficiaries of the European Union Research Executive Agency IRSES Project “Liberalism in Between Europe And China” (LIBEAC) coordinated by Aix-Marseille University (CEPERC). This work has been realized in the framework of Workpackages 4, coordinated by University Institute of European Studies (IUSE) in Turin, Italy.

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