ITU: ICT Statistics – More reliable data for better e-commerce strategies

• Improve the capacity of official data producers to produce internationally comparable statistics
• Get a better understanding of which concepts, variables and indicators to use for measuring and compiling data, including an internationally agreed core list of ICT indicators and the statistical operations best adapted to surveying ICT use

• Implement a methodological framework to deliver ICT statistical work throughout the different phases of survey planning and design, data collection, data processing and dissemination

• Review and improve the institutional aspects of producing ICT statistics, such as co-operation between data providers and users, and co-ordination among data producers
• Provide data producers with background information on the measurement of ICT in key areas, including the link between indicators, ICT policymaking and related international initiatives

• Offer national statisticians a week-long training course on measuring ICT access and use by household and by person
• Benefit from technical workshops, both regionally and nationally, to exchange experiences and discuss methodologies, definitions, survey vehicles and other issues

• Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development
• Broadband Commission
• UN Committee for the Coordination of Statistical Activities (CCSA)
• UNData

In 2009, the city of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago hosted statistics experts from the Caribbean region for a week-long training course on measuring ICT access and use by households and individuals. In 2011, the course was organized in Amman, Jordan for experts in the Arab region.

For both regions, the course was an opportunity to :

• get a better understanding of ICT statistics
• learn about the importance of measuring ICT in a harmonized way to optimize policy-making and tackle the digital divide
• understand the importance of quality and reliability when carrying out surveys and producing statistics

To help countries collect data more efficiently, the ICT Statistics programme provides regional and national workshops on ICT infrastructure and access indicators. The workshops are based on the ITU Handbook for the Collection of Administrative Data on Telecommunications/ICT, and on various administrative sources.

Participants learn about:

• indicators and definitions
• data sources and questionnaires
• databases
• dissemination and other relevant topics

Many previous workshops have been co-organized with other members of the Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development.

A key objective of this programme is to empower countries by providing better access to ICT statistics. To achieve this, ITU disseminates:

including data on :

• ICT service prices
• revenue and investment
• access to and use of ICTs by households and individuals

Examples of recent available online tools and reports:

ICT Facts and figures 2016

ITU Data visualisation tool

Measuring the information Society Report