Assets and advantages of Mongolia
- > 96 % literacy
- Highly trained population with many scientists,
technicians and engineers
- Ability to adapt to technical change
- Presence of key decision makers who
see the importance of ICTs
- Young population ready to learn new skills
and languages
- Many well organized institutions of higher
learning in UlaanBaatar
- ICT 2010 Vision statement which is forward
looking. There is broad-based support for this. Most developing economies,
and especially smaller countries, do not have a national vision for how to
use ICTs, let alone a strategy
- Government support for ICT Vision 2010
- Unlike many countries, Mongolia offers
international telecommunications channels such as very small aperture terminal
satellites (VSAT), DirecPC, that allow private investors direct access to
the global Internet: VSAT.
- Liberalized market for the resale of
Internet services: there are 5 Internet service providers (ISPs) all operating
in a level playing field. No single ISP dominates by reason of monopoly or
control over access to the Internet backbone. Barriers to market entry are
limited to access to resources and know how
- Relatively low import duties on PC and
related hardware and software
- Government that does not interfere in
provision of Internet services or access to international bandwidth. However,
the Government does issue licenses
- Possibility of private sector to lease
direct satellite connections to the Internet or to data networks
- Awareness of the needs to move ahead
at many levels, including government
- Sufficient entry level technical and
business expertise to build intranets and ISPs. Much self-training and learning
using the Internet, etc.
- Entrepreneurial spirit is there in ICT
sector
- Growing tourism industry with global
appeal and world class attractions (Gobi, dinosaurs, diverse flora and fauna
an ecosystems, traditional living – Gers, herding, trekking, etc.). Opportunities
for winter tourism. 300 sunny days / year
- Awareness of Open Source solutions as
possible options for low cost network construction, if trained personnel available
- Potential for using solar and wind power,
especially in remote locations (Mongolia enjoys over 300 sunny days a year)