VOA慢速英语2018 2020年落后国家实现互联网普遍接入（在线收听）

Internet Use Expanding in Least Developed Countries

It can be difficult to live in the 21st century without using the internet, a smartphone or other digital device.

身处21世纪，如果不使用互联网、智能手机或其它数字设备，你可能会寸步难行。

A new report shows that electronic banking, internet marketing and other online activities are no longer just for people in rich countries.

一项新报告显示，电子银行、网络营销以及其它网络活动不再是发达国家人民的专利。

The report comes from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), an agency of the United Nations. It notes that hundreds of millions of people in the world's poorest countries are now using the internet and mobile technology.

该报告出自联合国下属机构——国际电信联盟。报告指出，世界上最贫穷国家的数亿人口现开始使用互联网和移动技术。

The ITU said that all 47 of the world's least developed countries are making progress in increasing Internet access to their citizens. And more than 60 percent of the people there are able to use a 3G network. The term 3G means the third generation of wireless mobile telecommunication technology.

国际电信联盟表示，所有47个最不发达国家在提升公民接入互联网领域取得进展。超过60%的当地人可以使用3G网络。“3G”是指第三代无线移动通信技术。

The report said that by the end of 2017, about 700 million people in the least developed countries had signed up for a plan with a mobile phone service provider. In those areas, 80 percent of the population lives within range of a mobile cellular network.

报告指出，截至2017年底，在最不发达国家中，约有7亿人与手机移动服务商签订了上网合约。在这些地区，80%的人生活在移动蜂窝网络的覆盖范围内。

Given this progress, the ITU praised the growth of digital technology. It said the world's least developed countries are on their way to meeting the UN's Sustainable Development Goal on universal and affordable Internet access by 2020.

考虑到这一进展，国际电信联盟对数字技术的发展给予了高度评价。该机构表示，全球最不发达国家力争“在2020年前实现联合国可持续发展和价格合理的互联网接入”目标。

Jennifer Ferguson-Mitchell is with the ITU. She told VOA that digital connectivity can provide valuable knowledge and information to populations around the world.

詹妮弗·弗格森 - 米切尔（Jennifer Ferguson-Mitchell）就职于国际电信联盟。她对美国之音表示，数字连接能够为全球各地的人们提供有价值的知识和信息。

"It gives farmers access to information on crops, when to plant their crops, weather patterns that are happening. It provides access to online education to communities...It can make micro- and small- and medium-sized enterprises be able to compete with larger businesses."

她说：“数字连接能让农民在耕种时获得相关信息及实时天气状况；还能为社区提供线上教育；也可让微型及中小型企业与大型企业展开竞争。”

The ITU said universal and low-cost internet access can help the poorest countries move forward in fields like education, health and trade.

国际电信联盟表示，普遍和低成本的互联网接入可以帮助最贫穷的国家在教育、卫生和贸易等领域取得进展。

While the findings sound hopeful, the report identified the lack of digital skills as a barrier to information communication technology and Internet use in poor areas.

虽然该发现听起来振奋人心，不过该报告指出，缺乏数字技能是贫困地区使用信息通信技术和互联网的障碍。

The ITU called on policy makers, industry leaders and educators to work together to increase digital skills across the least developed countries.

国际电信联盟呼吁政策制定者、行业领袖及教育工作者共同努力，提高最不发达国家的数字技能。