Global trends of information and communication technologies expansion

In the article the long-term trends in expansion of the major information and communication technologies (ICTs) are considered over the period of XX — the begining of XXI centuries. Innovation waves of informatization are presented. Competition and complementarity of different ICTs are analyzed, as well as the possibility of the “overcoming” scenario of the catching-up development. The specificities of the major ICTs’ global diffusion and the “digital divide” dynamics are characterized. Issues of the world information space' self-ogranization and countries' international communicative openness are covered.

informatization, information and communication technologies, diffusion of innovations, Internet, telephone, international openness