What Does Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Mean?
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is the convergence of computing, telecommunication and governance policies for how information should be accessed, secured, processed, transmitted and stored.
In some parts of the world, ICT is used as a synonym for information technology (IT), but the two terms can have slightly different meanings when used in different contexts. For example, in the United States the label IT is used when discussing technology in terms of business operations — while the label ICT is used more often in the context of education and government.
ICT has become an umbrella term in many parts of the world as digital communication links replace analog links — and the demand for professionals who have the knowledge and skills to manage the convergence of these links grows.
To that end, ICT employees can expect to work in positions where the focus of their job includes improving digital literacy, data literacy and using emerging technologies to optimize legacy communication channels. This includes researching how emerging technologies such as augmented (AR) and virtual reality (VR) can support traditional technologies and communication theories.
