What is it?

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is an umbrella term that includes any communication device or application, encompassing radio, television, cell phones, computers, network hardware, satellite systems, and the various services they provide like video conferencing and distance learning. ICT also covers analog technologies such as paper communication, but its modern focus is on digital technologies that store, retrieve, manipulate, process, transmit, or receive information electronically.

ICT extends traditional information technology (IT) by stressing the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications (telephone lines and wireless signals) with computers. This convergence allows voice, data, and video to travel over a single cabling or link system, creating large economic incentives for merging telephone networks with computer networks.

Examples of ICT include personal computers, smartphones, digital television, email, robots, and enterprise software. The field is constantly evolving, with new technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR) driving growth. ICT is not just about hardware; it also encompasses the skills and frameworks needed to manage these technologies, such as the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA).

ICT is a critical enabler of modern society, affecting everything from business operations and government services to education and personal communication. It has become a key driver of economic growth and social development, particularly in bridging the digital divide between developed and developing nations.

Key Facts

ICT stands for Information and Communication Technology, a broad term that includes all technologies used to handle telecommunications, broadcast media, intelligent building management systems, audiovisual processing, and network-based control and monitoring functions.
The term ICT became popular after a 1997 report to the UK government by Dennis Stevenson, and was later adopted in the UK National Curriculum in 2000.
Global spending on ICT was estimated at US$3.8 trillion in 2017, growing to over US$6 trillion in 2022.
The world's technological capacity to store information grew from 2.6 exabytes in 1986 to 5 zettabytes in 2014.
Two-way telecommunication networks exchanged 281 petabytes of information in 1986, rising to 100 exabytes by 2014.
The ICT Development Index (IDI), published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), ranks countries by ICT access, use, and skills. Denmark and South Korea often top the list.
ICT is a key tool for achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In education, ICT must be fully integrated into pedagogy to be effective; combining ICT with writing-to-learn strategies improves literacy and math outcomes.
UNESCO promotes ICT in education to ensure equity, access, quality learning, and efficient education management.
The ICT sector accounts for a significant share of value added in OECD countries, with South Korea, Sweden, and Finland leading.

Full Explanation

Components of ICT

ICT encompasses three main categories: hardware, software, and services. Hardware includes computers, servers, networking equipment (routers, switches), telecommunications infrastructure (fiber optics, cell towers), and end-user devices like smartphones and tablets. Software ranges from operating systems and enterprise applications to specialized tools for data analysis, communication, and content creation. Services include cloud computing, technical support, consulting, and managed IT services.

The convergence of previously separate technologies is a defining feature of ICT. For example, a smartphone combines a telephone, camera, GPS, web browser, and media player into one device. Similarly, Voice over IP (VoIP) allows phone calls to be made over the internet, replacing traditional telephone networks. This integration reduces costs and enables new services like video conferencing and real-time collaboration.

ICT in Business and Economy

ICT is a major economic sector and a driver of productivity across all industries. Businesses use ICT for communication (email, instant messaging), data management (databases, analytics), customer relationship management (CRM), supply chain management, and e-commerce. The rise of cloud computing has allowed companies to scale IT resources on demand, reducing capital expenditure.

ICT spending is a significant part of corporate budgets. On average, 75% of IT budgets are recurrent costs for maintaining existing systems, while 25% go to new initiatives. The largest cost categories are personnel (34%), hardware (33%), software (16%), and external services (17%). The US federal government's IT budget was nearly $82 billion in 2014.

ICT and Global Development

The United Nations has recognized ICT as essential for achieving development goals. The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), endorsed by the UN General Assembly in 2001, aims to build a people-centered, inclusive information society. ICT can improve access to education, healthcare, financial services, and government services, especially in remote or underserved areas.

However, a digital divide persists between high-income and low-income countries. The ITU's ICT Development Index tracks progress, showing that while almost all countries have improved, the gap remains wide. Initiatives like universal broadband access and affordable smartphones aim to close this gap.

History

The roots of ICT lie in the development of telecommunications and computing in the 19th and 20th centuries. The telegraph (1830s) and telephone (1876) were early communication technologies, while the first electronic computers emerged in the 1940s. The term 'information technology' (IT) was coined in the 1950s to describe the application of computers to store and process information.

The phrase 'information and communication technologies' began appearing in academic research in the 1980s, reflecting the growing integration of computers and telecommunications. The abbreviation ICT gained prominence after a 1997 report to the UK government by Dennis Stevenson, which led to its inclusion in the UK National Curriculum in 2000. However, by 2012, the Royal Society recommended discontinuing the term in British schools due to negative connotations, and from 2014 the curriculum used 'computing' instead.

Globally, ICT became a focus of international policy. The United Nations established the Information and Communication Technologies Task Force and an internal Office of Information and Communications Technology. The ITU began publishing the ICT Development Index in 2009, and the WSIS process linked ICT to the Millennium Development Goals.

The 21st century saw explosive growth in ICT capacity. The world's technological capacity to store information grew from 2.6 exabytes in 1986 to 5 zettabytes in 2014. Two-way telecommunication networks exchanged 281 petabytes in 1986 and 100 exabytes in 2014. Computing power, measured in MIPS, grew from 3.0 × 10^8 in 1986 to 6.4 × 10^12 in 2007.

Why it matters

ICT is fundamental to modern life. It enables global communication, drives economic innovation, and provides access to information and services that improve quality of life. From online education and telemedicine to e-government and digital banking, ICT has the power to make services more accessible and efficient.

For students, understanding ICT is essential for future careers. Almost every industry relies on ICT, and digital skills are increasingly required for employment. Learning to use ICT tools responsibly and effectively is a key part of education, and initiatives like UNESCO's ICT in education program aim to ensure equitable access.

ICT also poses challenges, including privacy concerns, cybersecurity threats, and the digital divide. As technology evolves, society must address these issues to ensure that ICT benefits everyone. The ongoing development of AI, IoT, and 5G networks will further transform how we live and work, making ICT literacy more important than ever.