In a Euromonitor blog post entitled "Global Digital
Divide Persists But Is Narrowing" (2011), where according to trade
sources, it is reported that developed countries are currently having higher
digital connectivity as compared to developing countries. However, the author
claims that the growth rate of internet accessibility in developing countries
will be higher than developed countries. As a result of this trend, it has
impacted the "economic, social, political and cultural" aspects of
both developed and developing countries.
Personally, I am quite skeptical towards the conclusion the author has made regarding developing countries’ prospective growth in digital connectivity being faster than developed countries. He mentions that according to International Telecommunications Union, “the total number of fixed broadband users in developing regions rose by 253.5% between 2005 and 2010” but “in developed regions it rose by 109.7%.” However, this only shows an overview. By over-generalising the situation, developing regions seem to have higher broadband penetration’s growth rate than developed regions due to certain major developing countries’ swift growth, but it does not reflect that not all developing countries are able to experience higher growth rate than developed countries.
Personally, I am quite skeptical towards the conclusion the author has made regarding developing countries’ prospective growth in digital connectivity being faster than developed countries. He mentions that according to International Telecommunications Union, “the total number of fixed broadband users in developing regions rose by 253.5% between 2005 and 2010” but “in developed regions it rose by 109.7%.” However, this only shows an overview. By over-generalising the situation, developing regions seem to have higher broadband penetration’s growth rate than developed regions due to certain major developing countries’ swift growth, but it does not reflect that not all developing countries are able to experience higher growth rate than developed countries.
Firstly, to gain access to the digital world, a country
needs to construct the essential IT infrastructure. However, most developing
countries lack the hefty funds needed to build them. This is because some
developing countries are currently surviving on extremely low GDP per capita.
According to the World Bank Group (n.d.), Afghanistan, a developing country
located in South Asia, is only achieving a low GDP per capita of US$678
currently. Similar to Afghanistan, Bangladesh has only attained a GDP per
capita of US$829. In contrast, USA, a modern developed country, has achieved a
high GDP per capita of US$53,143. Thus, developed countries have ample funds to
invest and widen their current IT network. On the other hand, with the
country’s economy in jeopardy, it will be difficult for certain developing
countries, such as Afghanistan and Bangladesh, to produce the funds required to
shape the country’s IT infrastructure and increase growth of digital
availability.
Secondly, even though basic IT infrastructure has been established in the country, the people living in the developing countries may not possess prior knowledge in using the newly acquired technology. For example, Wakefield (2010) has mentioned that there are concerns raised in Hungary over internet usage being too complicated for the Hungarian citizens to comprehend due to absence of “national e-inclusion policy” when the country started investing in fibre-optic cables infrastructure. As the IT technology may feel alien to the citizens living in some of the developing countries, it will take time and effort to educate them regarding usage of IT. Thus, this will stifle the growth of digital connectivity in the country.
Lastly, a breach in national security can also slow down the
growth rate of digital connectivity. Unfortunately, wars and internal strife
are common in developing countries located in certain parts of the world. For
example, African developing countries, such as Mali and Mozambique, experienced
internal conflicts in recent years. As the country will prioritize protecting
itself first, funds will be directed to strengthen the country’s defences
instead of improving citizen’s quality of life, such as provision of internet
access. In worst case scenario, the amount of existing IT usage in the country
can shrink due to destroyed IT infrastructure in the conflicts.
In conclusion, due to the situations that some developing
countries are experiencing, these countries may face a formidable journey when
attempting to achieve an increased amount of digital connectivity. Therefore,
it is difficult to assume that all developing countries will attain faster
growth rate in accessibility and usage of internet than developed countries.
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References
Global digital divide persists but is
narrowing. (2011, February 11). Retrieved September 04, 2014, from
http://blog.euromonitor.com/2011/02/global-digital-divide-persists-but-is-narrowing-1.html
Wakefield, J.
(2010, March 19). World wakes up to
digital divide. Retrieved September 05, 2014, from
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8568681.stm
World Bank
Group (n.d.). GDP per capita (current
US$). Retrieved September 05, 2014, from
http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD/countries?display=default
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