What is the digital divide?

A possible definition of the digital divide is inequality when it comes to accessing Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and/or the Internet, an issue of such relevance that even the UN, as early as 2016, has warned that universal access to the network of networks is “the key to development” .

A digital divide that is far from uniform between different social groups, with notable differences in access and skills in using these technological tools according to geography, gender, socioeconomic status, age or cultural background.

A demonstration of Telefónica’s commitment to bridging the digital divide is its global leadership in the field Reference for digital inclusionwhere the operator remains at the top of the ranking which analyzes how inclusive companies promote a more inclusive digital economy and society. A document prepared by the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA).

But what are the types of digital divide?

What types of digital divide are there?

Despite the initial idea that the problem of the digital divide was one of lack of access to both technological tools and the Internet or even difficulties in coverage, accelerated implementation has not been accompanied by the same level of widespread adoption or use of technologies.

Today, the challenge is not only to connect, but also to enable all groups and communities to take full advantage of the possibilities offered by technological progress.

Precisely from this statement that “it’s no longer just a matter of coverage, but of achieving effective connectivity”we can see that we face two different types of digital divide: that of coverage or access and that of use.

Let’s look at the characteristics of each.

Coverage or access gap

According to data from the ITU (International Telecommunication Union, on whose birthday Internet Day is commemorated) in 2023 two thirds of the world’s population – 67% to be exact – will access the Internet: 5.4 billion people.

A figure that represents a 45% increase over 2018, which in millions of people is about 1.7 billion.

Broadband coverage has made significant progress in recent years, reaching 95% worldwide by 2023. In comparison, electricity grid deployment is only 91%. The digital gap in access or coverage has therefore decreased dramatically, and telecom operators have managed to reduce it to 5% globally.

However, as mentioned earlier, the difference by geographic region is still notable. For example, in Europe it is 2%, while in Latin America this number triples to 6%.

Closing the coverage gap

To close the coverage gap that still persists, innovative strategies are needed to access remote, remote or hard-to-reach areas, taking into account the particularities and specific characteristics of each region.

For example, infrastructure sharing and innovative partnerships are no longer a novelty, but rather a trend, new models that not only help close the coverage gap further, but also serve to improve the conditions for sustainable investment.

To this end, the promotion of various innovative partnership models, as well as the sharing of infrastructure, networks or spectrum, is of great relevance.

We could summarize by saying that the future in this field consists of cooperation without losing sight of the heterogeneity of each case, knowing that the objective is the same: sustainable, efficient and accessible achievement. connectivity for the entire population.

Source: GSMA. “The State of Connectivity in 2023“.

Usage lag

Within the usage gap, we could introduce the nuance that there is a part of the population that is able to use the Internet, but does not have sufficient knowledge to be able to make the most of its use: the so-called quality of use. gap.

But focusing simply on the usage gap, we could summarize it, despite its many edges, as having different approaches depending on intensity or typology.

The different types of usage differences are:

• Rural-urban. The lower use of technology and connectivity in rural environments results from the late arrival of access to connectivity in some non-urban areas. There are also regional differences; for example, the internet access of the rural population in Europe is 89% (2023 data) compared to 65% in Latin America (2020 data).
• Generational. The very development of new technologies in recent decades has inherently brought with it an age gap. If we break this down by region, there is also a difference: compared to 8% of Latin Americans over 74 who access the Internet daily, 65% of Europeans between 65 and 74 do.
• Gender. The digital gender divide perpetuates certain stereotypes and exclusions derived from the lower rates of women in STEM careers and professions, an inertia that initiatives such as Girls in ICT Day or the Day of Women and Girls in Science i want to fight
• Skills. Technological advances can provide support to overcome specific difficulties. For example, AI can help describe the environment or read texts using voice assistants to support blind people.

Source: GSMA. “The State of Connectivity in 2023“.

The opportunities for economic growth and social well-being offered by connectivity and new technologies make digital transformation a priority in all countries. In the digitization process, one of the biggest challenges is therefore to achieve full digital inclusion. Know Us Compass.