The role of the information and communications technology sector in expanding economic opportunity

ICT has become the foundation of every sector of every economy. At the macro level, various studies have shown significant, positive impacts on GDP from information technology, telecommunications and mobile telecommunications investment in both developed and developing countries. In developing countries, particularly among low income individuals and small enterprises, some factors impact the role of ICTs. In response, large ICT companies have begun to broaden their collaborative strategies to include actors outside the "business ecosystem" as traditionally conceived such as government agencies, non- governmental organisations, microfinance, institutions and social entrepreneurs to increase the value of their technologies and enhance their economic opportunity impacts.