This document summarizes the effort of the Region of Extremadura in Spain to reach the Society of Knowledge. In 1998, when the Regional Strategy was launched, the Information Society was still the future. Under the leadership of the Government (Junta de Extremadura), the regional stakeholders decided to be The inventors of our future and to anticipate, through concrete actions, where they would like to be when all the potential of NICTs became real.

Nowadays, everybody knows that this potential is endless and one of the keys to success in the new Knowledge Society is to be permanently prepare to afford the challenge set by a world in continuous change. But we are actors of this change and nothing is written: the roadmap doesn't exists.

But experience does.

This study examining the impact the SAT-3 fibre optic submarine cable has had on telecommunications in four African countries has found that the potential of the cable has not been properly exploited. Instead, ownership of the cable by telecoms incumbents in the countries researched has reinforced their market positions.

The exercise focused on 27 of the 30 goals and outlines the situation in critical areas to the development of the information society in the region, in order to identify pending digital challenges.

A Caribbean ICT Stocktaking report was presented and there was an update on the e-LAC strategy. Several recommendations were made with respect to ECLAC's continuing involvement in this area-among them, that ECLAC should assist countries with preparing national e-strategies.

This article presents a model for dealing systematically with the different matters associated with policies for developing the infrastructure necessary to support a digital economy, identifying the roles of the State and the private sector in this respect.

The II Ministerial Conference about the Information Society eLAC2007, will be held next 6, 7 and 8 of February, 2008 in El Salvador. The region will evaluate the implementation of eLAC2007 and could adopt new goals and objectives.

Location(s)

Chile has launched a five-year strategy for developing an information technology society to contribute to the country's economic and social development.

Information and communications technology (ICT) has become a determinant feature of the world we live in, representing the backbone of societies around the globe including, of course, Egypt. Since its establishment in 1999, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) has worked steadfastly to unleash the potential of this sector.

The Global Information Society Watch 2007 report - the first in a series of annual reports- looks at state of the field of information and communication technology (ICT) policy at local and global levels and particularly how policy impacts on the lives of people living in developing countries.

Ghana's Information Communications Technology (ICT) sector has registered one of the most significant growth rates in Africa.

The Government of Ghana's (GoG) proactive policy and regulatory interventions, combined with support from the World Bank Group and other development partners, has resulted in a competitive and vibrant industry, with more than $ US$157 million private investment in the sector between 2000 and 2005 (Source: PPI Database).