‘Affordability and a lack of digital skills are becoming the key causes of digital exclusion for millions of people’.
In our connected world, progressively there are infinities of possibilities
in terms of contents, technologies and wealth awaited or created. But it
remains certain barriers which have to be removed. Today, Connectikpeople has captured
a report commissioned by Huawei; this report from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) shows
that, ‘as the issue of broadband network access is getting resolved in many
countries, a range of new, more 'human' challenges, such as affordability and a
lack of digital skills are becoming the key causes of digital exclusion for
millions of
people’’.
people’’.
Connectikpeople has observed that, the report is based on research carried
out by the EIU amongst more than 200 senior industry, political and policy-making
figures worldwide.
Among
Key Findings, captured by Connnectikpeople, we have:
- Income and affordability are the most serious contributors to the digital divide today (63%), followed by a lack of digital skills and the ability to use digital technologies (56%)
- Who should fund the digital divide remains the biggest point of contention between government and industry leaders (30%), followed by disagreements on the need for enhanced IT skills (17%) and the role of competition and regulation (15%)
- Digital skills: a person's ability to access, adapt and create knowledge using digital tools: was cited as'very' or'somewhat important' by 99% of respondents, while 100% of respondents believe digital skills will become more important for people and businesses over the next three years.
- Partnerships, such as the private sector working with public sector subsidies (49%) or formal Public-Private Partnerships (41%), are considered the best approaches to leading solutions to the digital divide. Only 17% of respondents think the private sector alone is best suited to leading the challenge of the digital divide.
If interested, a full copy of the report can be downloaded from: http://www.huawei.com/ilink/en/download/HW_314193
