E-learning education concept, online learning with webinars, video tutorials and internet lessons
Internet access has become an important aspect of modern life. The Internet is no longer just a realm of entertainment, but a gateway to access basic public services, education, and economic opportunity. However, in the United States alone he over 40 million people do not have proper access to broadband her Internet. In the EU, which is considered the world’s most advanced region in terms of digital access, around 11 million citizens (2.4% of the EU population, rising to 7.6% for those considered at risk of poverty) face the same problem. I’m in pain.
This digital inequality is a cause for concern. In the US, the National Education Association highlighted that a quarter of US students lacked access to distance learning at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the UK, the Royal Geographical Society said households without internet access were missing out on significant savings and opportunities, warning of the growing need for computer skills. These examples highlight the multidimensional impact of the digital divide on education, employment, and economic well-being.
In a panel I moderated last year, AT&T’s Beth Fujimoto highlighted three distinct but related challenges to achieving digital equity.
availability: Internet providers and telecommunications companies fail to provide the infrastructure needed for high-quality broadband access. Networks are particularly poorly served in many rural areas, but cities also have problems, for example in serving apartment complexes in some areas.
affordable price: Even when infrastructure is available, it may be too expensive for some households, especially as the cost of living crisis strains people’s finances in both the US and Europe. Lack of competition in some regions has also led to higher prices.
Approved: Many people may be intimidated by technology or simply don’t realize how much easier their lives can be when they have access to the Internet. In some communities, language barriers make adoption issues even more difficult to overcome. Overcoming these challenges requires concrete interventions, ranging from improving infrastructure, making internet services more affordable, increasing digital literacy, and breaking down barriers to technology adoption.
In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission’s efforts to publish detailed maps of broadband access across the country and the Biden administration’s Affordable Connectivity Program aim to expand internet access and make it more affordable. , is an example of a targeted effort. A similar strategy is being adopted in Europe, where the European Commission’s Gigabit Infrastructure Act and various state subsidies support internet access for low-income citizens.
Additionally, addressing barriers to adoption often requires locally tailored, community-led programs, such as digital literacy initiatives tailored to the needs of specific groups. In the UK, for example, the charity Age UK has helped thousands of older people get online. The charity also employs specialist advisors in 120 stores across the country. In France, the National Family Allowance Fund launched a digital skills program to support vulnerable people in accessing online services.
But pursuing digital equity is not just a regional challenge, it is also a global imperative. Research shows that lack of internet access is a much more serious problem in many developing countries. For example, in countries like South Africa and India, as many as 70% of people struggle to connect to the internet.
Importantly, Internet connectivity is now a necessity in schools, hospitals, homes, workplaces, and indeed throughout society. Without this access, disadvantaged people will be left behind in the digital age. Everyone, regardless of economic status, must have access to the basic tools to participate in this new world.
