CHAPTER ONE
1.
INTRODUCTION
The Ethiopian Government has made the development of Information and
communications technology one of its strategic plan priorities. ICT in Ethiopia at
present is at the early stage of development. The major indicators pointing to the low
level of ICT Development are:
a) The absence of appropriate legal and regulatory frameworks.
b) Limitations in telecommunications infrastructure and low level of internet
services penetration.
c) Lack of organized data and information resources, and poor accessibility to those
that exist.
d) Lack of skilled human resources coupled with low ICT literacy.
e) Under developed private sector.
These constraints present the Government with real challenges, but also opportunities,
for all accelerated development of ICT in Ethiopia. Thus, the Government of Ethiopia
recognizing the importance of Information and Communication Technology
development has adopted this ICT policy and strategy.
The scope of Ethiopia’s ICT policy covers knowledge and information as a tool for
development & ICT as a sector or industry. A part from being as enabler of socioeconomic development, ICT also supports Ethiopia’s on-going process of
democratization and good governance. The major areas of ICT application in the area
of democratic governance include on-going programs such as civil service reform,
justice reform and decentralization. ICT promotes democratic governance by enabling
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