Overview

The differential between countries in access to and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) — the digital divide — has long been a significant concern of Governments and the international community. Over time, its nature has changed. The gap in access to basic telephone services, once very substantial, is now significantly diminished and expected to shrink further in the next few years. In its place has come a gap in access to the Internet and, particularly, in access to broadband services. The digital divide in broadband capacity and quality leads in turn to a divide between countries and regions in the extent to which individuals, businesses, economies and societies are able to take advantage of new ICT innovations and applications.

الموضوعات ذات الصلة: Economic and Social Development