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Chapter 12: Infrastructure and the Digital Divide
In this Chapter:
The Digital Divide: A Challenge to e-Government
Those without a point of access to the Internet or the knowledge in how to use it cannot share in the benefits of e-Government. A widely accessible and affordable communications infrastructure is one of the critical success factors for delivery of government services online. However, as outlined in the previous chapter, the world can be divided into the information rich and the information poor. Therefore, ICT access and e-Government must be closely linked: many of the most successful e-Government initiatives include, or are launched with in conjunction with, measures to expand access. In addition, the availability of e-Government services that save citizens and businesses time and money can drive demand for ICT access, boosting infrastructure development.
According to a July 2006 UCTAD report, the digital divide between nations remains wide: a person in a high-income country is over 22 times more likely to be an Internet user than one in a low-income nation. UNCTAD also found, however, that there are signs that ICT diffusion is slowly becoming more equal.
The digital divide exists not only between countries and regions but also within a country’s borders, most commonly between rich and poor, between men and women, and between urban and rural areas. Urban areas tend to receive a disproportionately large share of public and private ICT investment in relation to the rest of the country. Usually, urban areas have at least a basic communications infrastructure and therefore are able to take advantage of ICTs, while rural areas tend to lack the infrastructure. Often ICT service providers do not have an incentive to invest in rural areas. The digital divide may correlate not only with income but also with cultural attitudes towards technology. Given the centrality of ICTs to both education and economic opportunity, those without access to ICTs are likely to fall further behind in a vicious cycle.
The digital divide has many facets, including disparities not only in access but also in education and e-Literacy. Many factors contribute to the digital divide, including the level of commitment to education and IT training, the policy environment for investment in science and technology, and the telecommunication regulatory framework. Three issues of special concern to the digital divide challenge are e-literacy, disability access and gender equity, discussed in Chapter 13: Equity Issues. The recommendations for overcoming these issues also pertain to overcoming the digital divide. This chapter focuses on issues relating to ICT infrastructure development.
Lack of ICT infrastructure within governments also poses a barrier. Developing countries that heavily depend on paper-based systems face two challenges: automating internal records and processes, while also making information and services publicly available online. However, these twin challenges present an opportunity: to re-design inefficient processes before they are computerized.
- The Digital Divide: A Challenge to E-Government
- Infrastructure Development and e-Government Projects
- Additional Resources on the Digital Divide
The Digital Divide: A Challenge to e-Government
Those without a point of access to the Internet or the knowledge in how to use it cannot share in the benefits of e-Government. A widely accessible and affordable communications infrastructure is one of the critical success factors for delivery of government services online. However, as outlined in the previous chapter, the world can be divided into the information rich and the information poor. Therefore, ICT access and e-Government must be closely linked: many of the most successful e-Government initiatives include, or are launched with in conjunction with, measures to expand access. In addition, the availability of e-Government services that save citizens and businesses time and money can drive demand for ICT access, boosting infrastructure development.
According to a July 2006 UCTAD report, the digital divide between nations remains wide: a person in a high-income country is over 22 times more likely to be an Internet user than one in a low-income nation. UNCTAD also found, however, that there are signs that ICT diffusion is slowly becoming more equal.
The digital divide exists not only between countries and regions but also within a country’s borders, most commonly between rich and poor, between men and women, and between urban and rural areas. Urban areas tend to receive a disproportionately large share of public and private ICT investment in relation to the rest of the country. Usually, urban areas have at least a basic communications infrastructure and therefore are able to take advantage of ICTs, while rural areas tend to lack the infrastructure. Often ICT service providers do not have an incentive to invest in rural areas. The digital divide may correlate not only with income but also with cultural attitudes towards technology. Given the centrality of ICTs to both education and economic opportunity, those without access to ICTs are likely to fall further behind in a vicious cycle.
The digital divide has many facets, including disparities not only in access but also in education and e-Literacy. Many factors contribute to the digital divide, including the level of commitment to education and IT training, the policy environment for investment in science and technology, and the telecommunication regulatory framework. Three issues of special concern to the digital divide challenge are e-literacy, disability access and gender equity, discussed in Chapter 13: Equity Issues. The recommendations for overcoming these issues also pertain to overcoming the digital divide. This chapter focuses on issues relating to ICT infrastructure development.
Lack of ICT infrastructure within governments also poses a barrier. Developing countries that heavily depend on paper-based systems face two challenges: automating internal records and processes, while also making information and services publicly available online. However, these twin challenges present an opportunity: to re-design inefficient processes before they are computerized.