For the past 3 years, Nokia Siemens Networks has been a sponsor of LECG‘s global research study into “useful connectivity”: metrics that encompass internet usage and skills as well as basic broadband infrastructure.
According to the authors, the LECG Connectivity Scorecard also recognizes that the primary driver of productivity and economic growth is the ability of businesses to use ICT effectively. As the authors write on the FAQ page, the LECG study gives business – and those measures related to business infrastructure and usage – the weight that economic statistics suggest it should be given.
Professor Len Waverman, Dean of the Haskayne School of Business at University of Calgary (and Fellow at London Business School) is the lead author of the report [pdf, 800MB]. Unlike many of the broadband indices, LECG looks beyond the plumbing. During the press briefing [available], Professor Waverman suggested that countries can readily improve their raw infrastructure scores through direct investment, such as economic stimulus.
Productive use of the infrastructure, “Useful Connectivity,” is a different and tougher area. How well can countries make use of their infrastructure; how to capture the level of interaction between the telecommunications infrastructure and the users. Raw scores of broadband lines, computers, advanced wireless network adoption and existence of corporate data networks are said to be important, but the authors point to the need to examine the human skills relevant to using the networks and technologies. Improving scores in these areas requires longer term adjustment of elements in national skills and education and economic policy. For example, the proportion of graduates employed and private sector researchers are among the data points considered.
The authors have made their data available to encourage discussion of the tough issues that go beyond a simplistic examination of which country wins top rankings. That honour belongs to Sweden this year, despite it failing to win a first place ranking in any single category. In aggregate, it scored a 7.95, which might indicate implying that it can improve by about 25% to be best in class in every category. Canada, the UK and Australia were clustered together at 7.02, 7.03 and 7.04 – Canada taking the number 9 spot this year in the weighted rankings.
The NSN/LECG Connectivity Scorecard is a serious piece of work.
There is much more analysis to be done and thanks to the transparency of the research, the NSN/LECG Scorecard provides an opportunity to contribute thoughtfully to the development of national digital economic policies. On Tuesday June 8, The 2010 Canadian Telecom Summit will be looking at issues in respect of development of Canada’s national digital strategy.
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