Exploiting information and communication technologies for rural development

Abstract

This paper examines how information technology (IT) might be exploited to promote rural development; it also considers how IT impacts on the rural periphery. The appropriate adaptation of this technology for indigenous development is considered and whether it may lead to greater centralisation or decentralisation. It is suggested that much can be learned from the Nordic telecottage experiments to date, particularly in relation to the big challenge of diffusing this technology to SMEs.