The internet and technologies such as mobile telephony allow developing countries to leapfrog steps in their development of infrastructure. A poor land line telephone system in the Philippines, for example, is being rapidly bypassed by mobile phones with internet access. Globalization has drastically improved access of technological latecomers to advanced technologies and, to the extent that technological upgrading is important for development, it provides a unique opportunity for low-income countries to raise per capita income. Research shows that improved access to technology imports is improving the demand for skilled labor in many low-income countries. The African Development Forum conducted a conference in 1999 on the challenge to Africa of Globalisation and the Information Age.
Full documentation is available online.
A report in the online journal devoted to internet issues, First Monday, examines how Thai culture has been preserved on the internet. The United Nations agency, Unctad, has published a report, Globalization, technology transfer and skill accumulation in Low-income countries that may be downloaded from its website.