| Title |
Empirical analysis of the current digital divides since 2010 |
| ID_Doc |
79283 |
| Authors |
Nielsen, MM; Rohman, IK; Lopes, NV |
| Title |
Empirical analysis of the current digital divides since 2010 |
| Year |
2018 |
| Published |
|
| DOI |
10.1145/3209415.3209493 |
| Abstract |
As part of a larger study, this research paper answer two key research questions: How are we performing better in bridging the digital divide? What are the trends and most influential factors in digital divide? To answer these two questions, the paper uses ITU data for 209 countries between 2010 and 2015. The descriptive statistics show that the key reason for the persistent digital divide seen between regions, countries and socio-economic groups is a financial one! A deep dive correlation analysis finds direct causation between the variable tested, i.e. physical access to the internet (i.e. input factor) and use of internet and internet-based services (i.e. output factor). Mobile infrastructure is found to initially provide better value and faster roll-out of physical access to internet infrastructure, but may not be a long-term solution as the actual use of Internet-based services will lead to increased demand for high-quality bandwidth. The relative cost of internet access is a key challenge to bridge the digital divide between lower income and high-income countries. By comparison, there is only a limited digital divide between low- and high-income groups and rural and urban areas in high-income countries. Findings indicate that once roughly half of a population has physical access to the internet, actual use of Internet-based services reach a tipping point and will automatically increase, thus lending support to Technology Acceptance Models. |
| Author Keywords |
Digital divide; ICT; access; IT skills; use; income; cost; GDP; gender; education level |
| Index Keywords |
Index Keywords |
| Document Type |
Other |
| Open Access |
Open Access |
| Source |
Conference Proceedings Citation Index - Science (CPCI-S); Conference Proceedings Citation Index - Social Science & Humanities (CPCI-SSH) |
| EID |
WOS:000515826000076 |
| WoS Category |
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications; Computer Science, Theory & Methods; Public Administration |
| Research Area |
Computer Science; Public Administration |
| PDF |
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