Information and Communication Technology

(ICT)
What is ICT?

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is the use of computing and telecommunication
technologies, systems and tools to facilitate the way information is created, collected, processed, transmitted and
stored. It includes computing technologies like servers, laptop computers and software applications, as well as
the wired and wireless communication technologies that support telephones, the Internet, the Internet of Things
(IoT) and the metaverse. The goal of ICT is to improve access to information and and make human-to-human,
human-to-machine and machine-to-machine (M2M) communication easier and more efficient.

This broad label includes the infrastructure and telecom components that enable synchronous and asynchronous
communication across short and long distances. It consists of telecommunication and cloud computing services
as well — and the governance policies that support their use.

The importance of ICT cannot be overstated because it has become the foundation of modern society — driving
innovation, enhancing productivity and fostering global connectivity. 

History and Evolution of ICT

The concept of ICT can be traced back to the 19th century with the development of the telegraph and the
telephone. These two inventions revolutionized the way people worked and interacted socially by making it
possible for one person to communicate with another person in a different location in real or near-real time. 

In the middle of the 20th century, radio and television introduced the concept of mass communication, and by
the end of the century, the internet had become a mainstream tool for communication, commerce and
entertainment. Its use continued to grow rapidly in the following years, revolutionizing the way people work and
digitally transforming the way people communicate.

Year Technological Advancement

1837 Morse code and telegraph

1876 Telephone

1895 Wireless telegraphy

1
1927 Television

1947 Transistor

1951 UNIVAC I (First commercial computer)

1969 ARPANET (Foundation of the Internet)

1971 First email

1990 World Wide Web

1991 GSM (Global System for Mobile communication)

1994 Netscape Navigator (Widely-used web browser)

1998 Google

2001 Commercial 3G networks

2004 Facebook

2007 iPhone

2008 Bitcoin (First blockchain-based cryptocurrency)

2010 4G networks

2016 AlphaGo (AI system defeating world champion Go player)

2020 5G networks

2023 Zoom (350 million daily meeting attendees)

2
Today, broadband internet and smartphones have made it easier than ever for people to create, access, share and
consume information and in the future, ICT promises even more exciting developments. 6G networks will
provide faster and more reliable connectivity, generative AI systems like ChatGPT will change the way people
create and acquire information and emerging technologies like quantum computing and Web3 will inspire a
wide variety of new ICT tools and applications.  

Information and Communication Technology Basics

ICT is often used as a synonym for information technology (IT), but the two terms can have slightly different
meanings when used in different contexts. In the United States, for example, the acronym ICT is used in more

3
often in education because in that context, IT can also mean instructional technology. In some industries, IT
only applies to enterprise computing, while the broader label ITC encompasses both IT and communication
technologies.

Using IT and ICT interchangeably can lead to confusion, particularly in situations where the distinction between
the two is important. For example, a job posting that requires expertise in IT may be different from one that
requires expertise in ICT, as the latter may require additional skills that specifically support communication and
collaboration tools.

IT is often considered to be a subset of ICT that deals with the technical aspects of managing information, while
ICT is a broader term that encompasses both IT and communication technologies.

While IT deals primarily with computer hardware, software, and networking technologies, ICT includes not
only these technologies but also communication technologies such as telegraph, telephone, radio and television.

ICT Infrastructure and Systems

Information and communication technology includes a wide range of information, telecommunication and
support tools and services that work together to facilitate communication. 

This includes: 

 Hardware and software that supports the way information is created, disseminated, acquired and stored. 

4
  Infrastructure and electronics that enable communication between hardware devices.

 Protocols and interfaces that enable seamless communication and data exchanges between different hardware and

software components. 

 Tools for protecting sensitive information and ensuring the integrity of an ICT system. 

 Standards for protecting data in transit, during processing and at rest. 

 Governance policies for how information should be accessed, secured, processed, transmitted and stored.

 Workers who have the skills required to design, develop, maintain and support ICT systems.

ICT infrastructure includes information technology, telecommunication technology and the services they
support.

Centralized and Decentralized ICT 

When ITC architectures are centralized, the hardware, software and network infrastructure components that
support communication are located in a single location and users can only access these resources from that

5
location. This approach was cost-efficient during the early days of computing when the cost of wired
communication infrastructure was high and mainframes had limited processing power. 

Broadband internet made it possible to decentralize ITC architectures. Once data could be transmitted faster and
over greater distances, it became possible to store and access data remotely and run the same applications
virtually on multiple remote servers. This led to increased adoption of unified communication
systems (UCSs), cloud-based services and new types of collaboration tools. 

The increased bandwidth broadband provides has also inspired new ways to use peer-to-peer (P2P) network
architectures. In a P2P network, each node (or user) can act as both a server and a client and share information
with other nodes without the need for a central server. 

Today, this type of architecture is often associated with blockchain and cryptocurrencies, but it’s important to
remember that P2P also plays an important role in the Internet of Things by allowing IoT devices to
communicate with each other, share data and perform complex tasks that individual devices cannot handle.

Impact of ICT on Society 

ICT has reshaped the world’s economic landscape and workforce dynamics. 

E-commerce has created new opportunities for businesses and consumers alike, supporting globalization by
enabling transactions and interactions to occur across borders seamlessly. Smart cities are improving urban

6
living by leveraging IT and communication technology to improve transportation, public services and municipal
infrastructure. 

The combination of information technology and communication technology has had a lasting impact on society.
As technology and collaboration tools continue to advance, organizations are finding it necessary to continually
reevaluate their best practices for sharing digital information and governments are continually looking for ways
to reduce the digital divide. 

Digital literacy has become a necessary skill for everyone. The digital economy has introduced new types of
jobs, improved productivity and allowed employees to collaborate remotely from just about anywhere they can
connect to the internet. 

The environmental effects of ICT have also been profound. Data centers and electronic devices require
significant amounts of power to operate, and the rapid growth and constant evolution of technology has led to a
surge in e-waste as obsolete devices are discarded. This waste often contains hazardous materials that pollute the
environment and can harm human health.

As IT and communication technologies continue to advance and become more like a necessary utility than
something nice to have, individuals, organizations and governments need to recognize both the benefits and
challenges of ICT’s impact on society. Best practices for building a more connected, inclusive and
environmentally responsible world include:

 Supporting ESG (environmental, social and governance) initiatives.

 Prioritizing the development of affordable, repairable digital technologies.

 Investing in infrastructure and connectivity solutions that provide remote and underserved areas with access to ICT

services.

 Encouraging the development and adoption of open standards and robust data protection regulations like GDPR.

 Facilitating international cooperation and partnerships between governments and businesses.

 Developing new ways to educate people about ICT.

 Promoting the creation and dissemination of local content that reflects the values of users worldwide.

ICT Skills, Certifications and Job Opportunities

As the world becomes increasingly reliant on digital communication, the job market for ICT professionals
continues to expand. Individuals with the right skills and qualifications can look forward to a dynamic and
rewarding career in this ever-evolving field. To succeed in this industry, candidates must possess a combination
of technical skills and soft skills. 

7
The following jobs require candidates to have a strong foundation in both information technology and
communication technologies:

 Telecommunications Engineer: Designs, installs and maintaining communication systems and networks,

including phone, wireless and fiber-optic networks.

 Unified Communications Specialist: Focuses on integrating various communication technologies, such as voice,

video, messaging and collaboration tools.

 Network Architect: Designs, implements and sometimes manages data communication networks to ensure

optimal performance, reliability and security.

 VoIP Engineer: Specializes in designing, implementing and maintaining Voice over Internet Protocol systems.

 Wireless Network Engineer: Designs, deploys and maintains wireless communication systems, including Wi-

Fi networks, cellular networks and satellite communications.

 Radio Frequency Engineer: Works with long-range and short-range RF technologies that allow information to be

shared.

 IoT Solutions Architect: Develops and implements P2P wireless networks that allow Internet of Things

(IoT) intelligent devices to communicate with each other.

 Video Conferencing Engineer: Specializes in the design, implementation and maintenance of video conferencing

systems. May also be responsible for establishing video conference best practices that allow employees and

business partners to communicate securely.

 Telepresence Engineer: Designs and maintains telepresence systems that use high-quality video and audio

communication technologies to create immersive, lifelike meeting experiences for remote participants.

ICT Certifications

While college degrees are desirable, many times it’s possible to get a job in ICT by acquiring a certification (or
multiple certifications) that validates the candidate’s knowledge and competence. 

Popular certifications for information and communication jobs include: 

 Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Collaboration: Focuses on advanced collaboration and unified

communication skills, including voice, video and messaging solutions.

 CompTIA Network+: Validates the candidate has a solid foundation in networking concepts, including network

design, configuration, management and troubleshooting.

 CompTIA Security+: Certifies a professional’s knowledge and skills in IT security, including network security,

threat management and secure communication.

 Mobile Device Security Analyst (GMOB): Validates the candidates knowledge about the security aspects of

wireless communication technologies and mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets.

8
  Certified Wireless Network Professional (CWNP): Certifications: A suite of certifications that certify the

candidates knowledge about various aspects of wireless networking.

 Microsoft Teams Voice Engineer Expert: Candidates possess knowledge and expertise in telecommunication

technologies, along with hands-on experience using Microsoft Teams, Microsoft 365, and PowerShell.

ICT and Digital Transformation

As businesses were forced to adapt rapidly to ensure business continuity and maintain productivity during
COVID-19 lockdowns, digital transformation became a necessity rather than an option. 

Companies of all sizes suddenly had to rely on digital collaboration tools and services to keep their operations
running. Teleconference calls, screensharing apps and virtual meeting platforms like Zoom and Google
Hangouts quickly became essential tools for employees forced to work from home the pandemic.  

The need for communication and collaboration tools during the pandemic touched every sector of the economy,
including education, healthcare and e-commerce. 

 Online e-learning platforms experienced a surge in demand as schools and universities had to quickly transition

to remote learning. 

 Contact tracing, remote patient monitoring and telemedicine became integral components of healthcare delivery

during the crisis, allowing healthcare professionals to provide essential services while minimizing the risk of

infection and ensuring the safety of both patients and providers.

 E-commerce platforms thrived during the pandemic as consumers sought safe and convenient shopping

alternatives. The rapid growth of e-commerce led to an increased need for digital services that allowed businesses
to meet the increasing demands of their customers.

 Virtual events and conferences gained traction, enabling organizations to share knowledge and foster professional

connections during lockdown. 

The Importance of Cybersecurity 

As the world continued to embrace the digital transformation brought on by the pandemic, it quickly became
clear to individuals, organizations and businesses that cybersecurity was more important than ever.

In 2022, 47% of all U.S. businesses lost money because of a cyber attack. According to the “Hiscox Cyber
Readiness Report 2022,” each attack cost companies in the U.S. a median of $18,000.

The global annual cost of cybercrime is predicted to hit $8 trillion in 2023 and grow to $10.5 trillion by 2025,
according to Cybersecurity Ventures’ “2022 Official Cybercrime Report.” 

9
In the wake of COVID-19, popular attack vectors include:

 Phishing: Uses social engineering, spam and SMS text messages to trick the victim into revealing sensitive

information or gain network access to conduct other malicious activities.

 DDoS: Floods the target with excessive traffic and makes it unavailable to legitimate users to divert attention from

other malicious activities.

 Ransomware: Malicious software that encrypts a victim’s data and demands payment for the decryption key. This

type of attack vector can be delivered as a service.  

 Supply chain attacks: Targets third-party software and hardware vendors to gain access to a primary target’s

network and data.

 Cryptojacking: Installs cryptocurrency mining software on an unsuspecting users’ device and uses their computer

resources to to generate digital currency without the victim’s knowledge or consent.

To combat these types of increasingly sophisticated and expensive threats, ITC administrators should layer their
security efforts and follow these best practices to help ensure their information technology and communication
services run smoothly:  

 Implement firewalls and intrusion detection systems (IDSs).

 Use zero trust and require multifactor authentication (MFA). 

 Follow the principle of least privilege (PoLP)

10
  Encrypt sensitive data.

 Support cybersecurity awareness training. 

 Create a comprehensive incident and response plan. 

 Require all major stakeholders to review, test and help update the plan on a regular basis to keep up with the ever-

changing threat landscape.

Compliance and ICT 

Compliance is the process of adhering to the legal, ethical and professional standards that govern the use of
technology. 

As ICT continues to evolve, so does the need for businesses and organizations to comply with national and
international laws and regulations for ICT — or face legal penalties and reputational damage. 

Because cyber threats have become increasingly sophisticated, governments worldwide are mandating stringent
cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive data and maintain user privacy. 

As artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) applications become more sophisticated, new
compliance measures are expected to address intellectual property and copyright issues and help mitigate the
risk of identity fraud through generative AI. 

Governments and financial institutions have also introduced compliance measures specific to cryptocurrency
transactions to lower the risks that digital currency can be used for money laundering, terrorist financing and tax
evasion. Cyrpto compliance, which already includes Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering
regulations, is crucial for businesses that want to operate in the cryptocurrency space. 

ICT and Entertainment

The impact of ICT on the traditional entertainment industry is undeniable. The shift from physical to digital
media has led to new business models and revenue streams for IT and communication services and changed
consumer behavior. Examples include: 

 Streaming video services, such as Netflix and Hulu, have changed the way people consume movies and television

shows.

 Social media and content sharing platforms, like Facebook and YouTube, have redefined the way digital content is

created, consumed and monetized.

 Online gaming and betting platforms have introduced new audiences to online entertainment options.

11
  Advances in virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality have renewed interest in interactive

storytelling and the metaverse.

 Digital audio workstations (DAWs) have streamlined music production, making it more accessible to aspiring

musicians. 

The future of ICT: Opportunities and Challenges

As society ventures further into the 21st century, information and communication technology is expected to
continue evolving at an unprecedented pace and touch every aspect of people’s lives. 

ICT’s influence on business and management has been profound. From streamlining operations and enhancing
decision-making to enabling new business models and fostering global collaboration, technology has become an
integral part of both modern enterprises and small businesses.

The future of ICT is undeniably exciting, but it also demands a thoughtful and proactive approach to planning in
order to ensure technology’s impact on society is both positive and equitable. 

One of the most significant challenges facing ICT is the digital divide. Ensuring that all individuals, regardless
of their location or socioeconomic status, are digitally literate and have access to technology and the internet is
going to be essential for fostering inclusive growth and reducing inequality. This particular challenge is going to
require concerted efforts from governments, the private sector and civil society.

Data networking and cybersecurity have also emerged as important challenges. Protecting ICT infrastructure
from terrorists and IT systems from data breaches, while also ensuring the privacy of personal information, is
going to require resilient networks that are capable of supporting an ever-increasing demand for data. In turn,
this is going to require constant vigilance and significant investments in cybersecurity. 

In education, ICT has transformed the way people teach and learn. Artificial intelligence and e-learning
platforms that support virtual and augmented reality are expected to further revolutionize the educational
landscape. As the demand for tech and communications skills continues to grow, there will be a wealth of new
job opportunities in areas such as generative AI,  software development, data analytics, network engineering and
cybersecurity. Educating and preparing  workers for these emerging roles, is vital to ensuring that the benefits of
technology are shared widely and that all individuals are equipped to succeed in an increasingly digital world.

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues should not be overlooked, because technology’s impact on
society extends far beyond mere convenience and efficiency. For example, cloud computing has raised concerns
about data sovereignty and privacy, while the rise of artificial intelligence and automation has sparked debates
about job displacement and ethical decision-making. 

12
As people navigate the future of ICT, it is crucial for society to balance the need for progress with the protection
of individual rights and the well-being of ICT users.

Hypertext Markup Language

Hypertext markup language (HTML) is the major markup language used to display Web pages on the Internet.
In other words, Web pages are composed of HTML, which is used to display text, images or other resources
through a Web browser.

All HTML is plain text, meaning it is not compiled and may be read by humans. The file extension for an
HTML file is .htm or .html.

Techopedia Explains Hypertext Markup Language

New Web developers may mistake HTML for a programming language when it is actually a markup language.
HTML is used with other technologies because all HTML really does is organize documents. On the client side,
JavaScript (JS) is used to provide interactivity. On the server side, a Web development platform like Ruby, PHP
or ASP.NET is used.

When a Web developer builds an application, the work is performed on the server, and raw HTML is sent out to
the user. The line between server-side development and client side development is blurry with technologies like
AJAX.

HTML was never designed for the Web that exists today, as it is just a markup language with severe limitations,
in terms of control and design. Numerous technologies have been used to work around this issue – the most
significant being cascading style sheet (CSS).

The long term solution is (or hopefully will be) HTML5, which is the next generation of HTML and allows for
more control and interactivity. As with any development on the Web, the move to standards is a slow and
arduous process, and Web developers and designers have to make due with current and supported technologies,
which means that basic HTML will continue to be used for some time.

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet

13
What Does Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol Mean?

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is the language a computer uses to access the internet.
It consists of a suite of protocols designed to establish a network of networks to provide a host with access to the
internet.

TCP/IP is responsible for full-fledged internet data connectivity and transmitting the data end to end by
providing other functions, including addressing, mapping and acknowledgment. TCP/IP contains four layers,
which differ slightly from the OSI model.

The technology is so common that one would rarely use the full name. In other words, in common usage the
acronym is now the term itself.

Techopedia Explains Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol

Nearly all computers today support TCP/IP. TCP/IP is not a single networking protocol – it is a suite of
protocols named after the two most important protocols or layers within it – Transmission Control
Protocol and Internet Protocol.

As with any form of communication, two things are needed: a message to transmit and the means to reliably
transmit the message. The TCP layer handles the message part. The message is broken down into smaller units,

14
called packets, which are then transmitted over the network. The packets are received by the corresponding TCP
layer in the receiver and reassembled into the original message.

The IP layer is primarily concerned with the transmission portion. This is done by means of a unique IP
address assigned to each and every active recipient on the network.

In other words, when a message is sent, it is broken into many packets that must reach their destination. The IP
portion of the TCP/IP makes sure they arrive at the correct location by traversing different paths. Each packet is
forwarded through all gateway nodes on the network by checking the IP address of the receiver.

The TCP portion first ensures that the connection between sender and receiver is maintained from before the
first packet is sent to after the last one is reassembled. The TCP is then responsible for assembling all the
packets in the right order, requesting missing packets to be sent back, and then provides a confirmation to the
sender that the message was received correctly.

TCP/IP is considered a stateless protocol suite because each client connection is newly made without regard to
whether a previous connection had been established.

Common protocols of TCP/IP include the Hyper Text Transfer Protocol(HTTP) and Secure HTTP (HTTPS) to
handle communication between a web browser and a web server, and the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) to handle
transmission of data between computers.

TCP/IP models are divided in four layers:

 Application Layer: Handles the details of communication at the application level.

 Transport Layer: Establishes and maintains a data connection and exchange between two devices.

 Network Layer: Also known as the internet layer, it handles the movement of packets around the
network and across other networks.

 Physical Layer: It handles the physical parts of the communication between hosts within the same
network using wireless connections, ethernet cables, and so on. It is also called the data link layer or
interface layer.

Website

15
What Does Website Mean?

A website is a collection of publicly accessible, interlinked Web pages that share a single domain name.
Websites can be created and maintained by an individual, group, business or organization to serve a variety of
purposes.

Together, all publicly accessible websites constitute the World Wide Web.

Although it is sometimes called “web page,” this definition is wrong, since a website consists of several
webpages. A website is also known as a “web presence” or simply “site”.

Techopedia Explains Website

Websites come in a nearly endless variety, including educational sites, news sites, porn sites, forums, social
media sites, e-commerce sites, and so on. The pages within a website are usually a mix of text and other media.
That said, there are no rules dictating the form of a website.

A person could create a website of nothing but black and white photos of roses, or the word "cat" linked to
another Web page with the word "mouse." However, many sites follow a standard pattern of a homepage that
links off to other categories and content within the website.

The homepage (or simply “home”) represents the main page of the site itself. Frequently, the homepage is a sort
of “hub” from which all other pages can be accessed. An internal web page to which several other pages are
linked in a coherent structure (such as a specific category of topics) is instead called a “parent page.”

Every page is a single HTML document, and all of them are connected through hyperlinks (or simply “link”)
which can be combined in a navigation bar for ease of use.

The navigation bar is displayed on every page rather than just the homepage, and allows the user to quickly
move across the main website’s structure.

Another important section of most websites is the footer, which is another recurring section that is found at the
bottom of every page. Usually the footer contains external links pointing to similar websites and other external
resources, together with other vital info such as disclaimers, links to the terms of service, privacy policy and
contact pages, as well as the physical address of the company that owns the site.

Websites are hosted on servers, and require a web browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Internet Explorer to be
visited (either on a computer or mobile device).

A website can be accessed directly by entering its URL address or by searching it on a search engine such as
Google or Bing.

16
Originally, websites were categorized by their top-level domains. Some examples include:

 Government agency websites = .gov

 Educational institutions’ websites = .edu

 Nonprofit organizations’ websites = .org

 Commercial websites = .com

 Information sites = .info

Although these top-level domains extensions still exist, they say little about a website's actual content. In
modern days’ internet, the ".com" extension is by far the most popular domain, together with many other
country-specific extensions (.it, .de, .co.uk, .fr, etc.).

The first website was created in 1990 by Tim Berners-Lee, a British physicist at CERN. 3 years later, in 1993,
CERN announced that everyone could access and use the World Wide Web for free.

World Wide Web

The World Wide Web (WWW) is a network of online content that is formatted in HTML and accessed via
HTTP. The term refers to all the interlinked HTML pages that can be accessed over the Internet. The World
Wide Web was originally designed in 1991 by Tim Berners-Lee while he was a contractor at CERN.

The World Wide Web is most often referred to simply as "the Web."

Techopedia Explains World Wide Web

The World Wide Web is what most people think of as the Internet. It is all the Web pages, pictures, videos and
other online content that can be accessed via a Web browser. The Internet, in contrast, is the underlying network
connection that allows us to send email and access the World Wide Web.

The early Web was a collection of text-based sites hosted by organizations that were technically gifted enough
to set up a Web server and learn HTML. It has continued to evolve since the original design, and it now includes
interactive (social) media and user-generated content that requires little to no technical skills.

17
We owe the free Web to Berners-Lee and CERN’s decision to give away one of the greatest inventions of the
century.

18