VOA慢速英语2018 最不发达国家互联网使用范围扩大（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.

在21世纪，如果不使用互联网、智能手机或其它数字设备，可能会难以忍受。

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

一项新的报告显示，电子银行、网络营销以及其它网络活动不再仅限于富裕国家的人们。

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.

这份报告来自于国际电信联盟，这是联合国旗下的一家机构。报告指出，世界上最贫穷国家的数亿人现在正在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，全球所有47个最不发达国家在提升公民接入互联网方面取得了进展。有超过60%的当地人可以使用3G网络。3G这一术语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年年底，最不发达国家约有7亿人已经同移动电话服务提供商签订了手机套餐。这些地区80%的人口生活在移动蜂窝网络的服务范围之内。

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.

鉴于这一进展，国际电信联盟赞扬了数字技术的增长。它表示，全球最不发达国家正在逐步实现一个目标，那就是在2020年前实现联合国可持续发展和廉价接入互联网的目标。

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，数字连接可以为世界各地的人们提供宝贵的知识和信息。

“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：“它能让农民在种植作物时获得相关信息以及实时天气状况；它能为社区提供线上教育；它让微型和中小型企业得以同大型企业展开竞争。”

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，普遍和廉价的互联网接入可以帮助最贫穷国家在教育、健康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.

虽然该调查结果听上去前途一片光明，但是该报告认识到，数字技能缺乏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、行业领袖以及教育工作者共同努力，提高最不发达国家的数字技能。

I’m Jonathan Evans.

Words in This Story

mobile – adj. of or related to something that can be moved

access – n. permission or ability to enter or use something

network – n. a group of computers; a group of radio or television stations

range – n. the space included or covered

universal – adj. including or covering all

affordable – adj. low-priced; having a cost that is not high

pattern – n. something designed or used as a model

enterprise – n. a business or company