Another face of the poverty
DIGITAL DIVIDE

DEFINITION
The new information and communications technologies
are among the driving forces of globalisation. They are
bringing people together, and bringing decision makers
unprecedented new tools for development. At the same
time, however, the gap between information
‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ is widening, and there is a
real danger that the world’s poor will be
excluded from the emerging knowledge-based global
economy. (Kofi Anan, 2002)
Hundreds of alternatives ways to define the digital
divide

RESULT & CAUSE OF POVERTY
Lack of adequate infrastructure and lack of
knowledge are two major obstacles that impede
mass connectivity.
Poverty: non or lack access to necessary resources to
live (standard human dignity)
Technology → Information
Online communications (Internet ): information,
education, civil & political empowerment

THE GLOBAL DIGITAL DIVIDE

INTERNET USERS IN THE WORLD (2011)

WORLD INTERNET PENETRATION (2011)

SUMARY OF THE GAP
All of the developing countries of the
world own 4% of the world’s computers.
97 % of adolescents live in developing world.
75 % of the world’s 700 million telephone sets can be found in the 9
richest countries.
High percentage of developing country residents live in rural
areas. The proportion can rise to as much as 85 percent of the population in
the least developed countries and is estimated at 75 percent overall in Asia.
Rural access to communication networks in developing countries
is much more limited than in urban areas.

DIMENSION OF THE PROBLEM

MULTIPLE SOLUTION
Problematic: The term “Digital Divide” access requires
only purchase and installation of technology.
But: multiple dimensions → it is not only money and
technology that matter
Eliminating the digital divide requires more than the
provision of access to technologies. (can contribute
but isn’t sufficient for development)
Socio + Economic development + ITC

IT ARE CAPABLE OF ALLEVIATING POVERTY?
Telephone (line & mobile... Still expensive in rural
areas)
Radio (& Television)
Public address system (Asia, more localized than
radio, but less simple and inexpensive)
Computers and the Internet
(http://practicalaction.org/video/view/dryingvegetabl
es)

TELEPHONE AND RADIO...
Research on poor communities suggests
that the telephone and radio remain
the most important (direct access) ICT
tools for changing the lives of the poor

WHY INTERNET?
Telecentre
School (“one laptop for children”)
Small business
Internet in one mean of communication &
commerce
It’s a very useful gadget

WHY INTERNET?
But it will become in
THE MEAN OF
COMMUNICATION &
COMMERCE
All of the developing countries of the
world own 4% of the world’s computers.
97 % of adolescents live in developing world.