Digital Divide in the Era of Digital Transformation-Bridging the Socio-Economic Disparities

1.Intrduction

In this age of Digital Transformation the access , affordability of the advantages of advance technologies is confined to a selective class of populace . Nearly 55 % of the population is still deprieved of basic net connectivity, what to say of advance technologies. It raises a few fundamental issues relating to grand objective and mission of the journey of Digital Transformation.

This continuous journey cannot be successfully carried out without inclusion of majority of people and thier participation. The current state of digital divide is a serous challenge in the saga of digital transformation.

In this Article , the entire gamut of digital divide has been examined and exposed. It is therefore adovated that There is urgent need for inclusive and afforadable digtal transformation by ensuring digital equity

2. Digital Divide Explained

A "digital divide" in the age of digital transformation refers to the growing gap between individuals or communities who have access to and can effectively utilize modern information and communication technologies (ICT), like the internet, and those who lack such access or the skills to use it, despite the widespread adoption of digital technologies across various sectors of society; essentially, it highlights the disparity between those who fully benefit from the digital era and those left behind due to limited access or digital literacy.?

Lloyd Morrisett, a founder of the Children's Television Workshop, first coined the term “digital divide” in 1996 “to describe the chasm that purportedly separates information technology (IT) haves from have-nots,” where the gap between them creates inequality (Eubanks, 2011).

Since the?mid-1990s, researchers have found?persistent differences in technology use by social category. The?United Nations defines?the?digital divide as the gap?between people who have access to and use Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs), including?Internet connectivity, Internet-enabled devices, and digital literacy skills, and those who do not have access to all three is crucial for communities to establish a strong and sustainable connection to the digital world.?

This is especially important as critical aspects of society, like education, workforce development, and innovation, are incresingly getting online. Internet connectivity is considered the foundation for participating in a digital society and a crucial element of digital human rights. Without a reliable, affordable, sustainable, and inclusive Internet connection, people are systematically excluded from the benefits of digital technology, participation in the digital society, and access to digital services.??

The group of?people who are not connected to the Internet mostly come from disadvantaged communities. The digital divide reflects and amplifies existing social, economic, and cultural inequalities such as gender, age, race, income, and ability. The communities that are most affected by this divide include, according to the UN:??

• Women and girls??
• Children and youth?
• Older people?
• Urban and rural poor?
• Marginalized or minority communities?
• Persons with disabilities?
• Indigenous communities?
• Refugees and migrants?

3 Understanding the Digital Divide

The digital divide describes the gap between people who have access to affordable, reliable internet service (and the skills and devices necessary to take advantage of that access) and those who lack it.

This is an issue within many countries, with rural populations much more likely to be cut off from digital technologies than city residents are. The divide also exists between men and women: In 2024, 70% of the global male population was using the internet, compared with 65% of the female population, a gap that has been narrowing over the past decade.

Beyond the gaps between developed and developing countries, rural and urban populations, and men and women, there are other types of digital divides:

The digital divide is caused by a number of factors, including socioeconomic, geographic, and technological factors.?

Socio economic factors

• Income and education: Low income and education levels can limit access to technology?
• Disability: People with disabilities may face barriers to accessing technology?

Geographic factors

• Rural areas: Rural areas often have limited internet access?
• Location: People who are homeless or live in poverty may have limited access to technology?

Technological factors

• Cost: The cost of devices and internet services can limit access?
• Infrastructure: Lack of physical infrastructure for transmission can limit access?
• Digital literacy: Lack of knowledge and skills to use technology can limit access?

Other factors

Lack of motivation: Some people may lack the motivation to use technology?Lack of exposure: Some people may not be aware of the importance of the internet?

• Demographic trends: Older people, people with lower incomes, and people with lower formal education levels may be more likely to experience the digital divide
• 4. Consequences of the Digital Divide

Access to the internet used to be seen as a luxury, and disparities in digital access were seen in largely the same terms. However, there is now widespread consensus that technological discrimination is a form of social exclusion because it deprives certain citizens of essential resources for wealth development.

This is most visible when one looks at the balance of the world economy and particularly at the rapid growth in the number of jobs that require digital access and skills. In the U.S., for instance, nearly half of all jobs in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) are in computing. Lack of access to learning these skills is a barrier to these jobs and the income that comes with them.

• Isolation: The COVID-19 pandemic brought into sharp focus the isolation that people without internet access or skills can experience. This can have serious concomitant effects—from not being able to secure appointments for vaccinations to limiting individuals’ job prospects and affecting their mental health.
• Barriers to Education: As education is increasingly delivered online, those without the resources to access the internet, including schoolchildren limited to remote learning during the pandemic, can be cut off from opportunities to develop their skills. As a result, children may have educational gaps, and adults may miss out on job opportunities or be unable to gain the basic skills necessary to contribute to their community.
• Worsening Gender Discrimination: As noted above, the digital divide exacerbates many existing forms of discrimination. One of the most widespread is gender discrimination. Some women who lack equal access to the internet are unable to gain an education and/or access crucial information.

As the world becomes increasingly dependent on digital technologies, these consequences are likely to become more serious and widespread.

5.Global Scenario on Digital Divide

According to recent data, the global digital divide persists, with a significant gap in internet access between high-income and low-income countries, with roughly a third of the world's population still lacking internet access; this disparity is particularly pronounced in rural areas and among women, highlighting a significant gender gap in digital inclusion; while mobile penetration has increased globally, affordability and digital literacy remain key barriers in bridging the divide.?

Key points from recent reports:

• Access disparity:
• Gender gap:
• Rural-urban divide:
• Economic impact:
• 5. Impact of the Global Digital Divid

The global digital divide has daily and long-term consequences for communities worldwide. The data released by Brookings shows that about a third of the world — 2.7 billion people did not have access to the internet in 2022, with 53% of the world’s population unable to use high-speed broadband. Consider the following three examples of global digital divide impacts.

A. Daily Life

Technology is used daily in many communities across the globe. That means that the digital divide permeates many aspects of daily life, from everyday tasks to jobs. These days, digital literacy is required for employment, with many jobs expecting employees or potential employees to have digital skills. Additionally, people without digital resources can miss out on job opportunities that are only available online or require a remote work set-up. This lack of access to technology and digital literacy work can prevent families from achieving a higher socioeconomic status.

Another way a lack of access to technology can impact daily life is through social connection. Technology connects people through digital messaging, video calls, social media and other community-oriented websites. On social media and other similar apps, for example, people can gain information about their loved ones and the world around them. Not being able to access social media can cause people to feel isolated and uninformed.

B. Education

Because the need for advanced technology in educational systems across the globe is increasing, digital literacy and access are starting to become critical components for in-person and distance learning. Communities without access to technology are at a disadvantage. Typically, this impacts lower socioeconomic communities the most because they are less likely to have equitable access to technology and resources.

Ultimately, the digital divide in education can have immediate and long-term ramifications. Students still in school need access to adequate technology. Otherwise, they may struggle to complete assignments, which could cause them to fall behind in their academic progress. Over time, the lack of progress too often leads to a failure to graduate. Given the importance of digital skills in the workforce, a lack of digital literacy education and access can reduce career options and increase financial struggles.

C. Economy

Researchers have found that in studying the digital divide, the more access a country’s residents have to technology, the better their economy is. For example, a 2020 study released by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) found that across 39 African countries, gross domestic product (GDP) has a positive correlation with access to technology. The study also revealed that social media and government communications devices were especially helpful in increasing GDP across Africa. Technology can provide connectivity, knowledge, access to jobs and communication channels with other countries.

6. The Latest Global state of digital adoption in February 2025

Let’s start with a look at the latest headlines for digital adoption and use around the world:

• Population data from the United Nations shows that there are 8.20 billion humans living on Earth today, with that total increasing by 70 million people (+0.9 percent) compared with the equivalent figure for this time last year. At a worldwide level, almost 4.8 billion people – 58.1 percent of the global population?–?now live in urban centres, while 3.4 billion people live in rural areas.
• 5.78 billion people use a mobile phone today, which equates to 70.5 percent of the world’s total population. Unique mobile subscribers have increased by 112 million over the past 12 months, delivering year-on-year growth of 2.0 percent. Meanwhile, data shows that smartphones now account for almost 87 percent of the mobile handsets in use around the world.
• A total of 5.56 billion people use the internet at the start of 2025, resulting in a penetration figure of 67.9 percent. Internet users increased by 136 million (+2.5 percent) during 2024, but 2.63 billion people remained offline at the start of 2025.
• Kepios’s latest analysis shows that global social media user identities now stand at 5.24 billion, with that figure equating to 63.9 percent of all the people on Earth. The global total has increased by 4.1 percent over the past 12 months, thanks to an additional 206 million new user identities [note that “user identities” may not represent unique individuals].

According to available information,?Iceland?is widely considered to have the least digital divide, with near-universal internet access and minimal restrictions on online content, meaning there is little disparity in access across different demographics within the country.

Key points about Iceland's digital landscape:

• High penetration rate:?Nearly all citizens have access to the internet.
• Minimal digital barriers:?No significant differences in internet access based on geography, gender, or education level.
• Strong infrastructure:?Investments in robust fixed-line connections providing high speeds.
• Internet freedom:?Ranked highly in terms of online freedom with minimal government restriction
• 7 .Digital Divide in India
• According to the "India Inequality Report 2022: Digital Divide" by Oxfam India,?the most recent report highlighting the digital divide in India shows a significant gap in internet access between rural and urban populations, with women being significantly less likely to own a mobile phone or use mobile internet compared to men;?this report also emphasizes the widening digital divide due to factors like caste, education, and income disparities, particularly impacting access to essential services like healthcare and finance during the pandemic.
• Digital Divide Scenario in India
• According to World Bank, ‘India faces shark digital divide’. India is a global IT
• power house but huge majority of people remain locked out of the benefits brought
• by digital economy. India’s vibrant businesses processes outsourcing sector centred
• in southern hubs of Hyderabad and Bangalore has made it the leading exporter of
• IT services and skilled manpower in development world. However a Billion people
• have no internet access, biggest offline population of any country (One Library Per
• Village, 2017). Also, there are wide variations between people using internet in
• different regions. Groaning under the basic problems such as illiteracy malnutrition
• and sheer poverty, India’s rural populace is far behind Bangalore which according to
• UNHDR 2001 is better off than many cities in US, Europe & Japan when it comes
• to technological innovations (Ranjit, 2002). ‘The digital’ in 2017 report compiled by
• Hoot suite, social media management platform demonstrates that, compared to global
• internet penetration rate of 50%, only 35% of Indian population uses internet (“News
• Headlines”, 2017).Lack of sufficient infrastructure and also dearth for knowledge
• to use the infrastructure, both deny chances for majority of Indian crowd to avail
• themselves of benefits derived from access to latest ICTs. Hence, India though has
• been appreciated globally for providing ICT services faces a huge digital divide as
• it has a relatively low percentage of population with access to internet.
• While one part of India is fast developing by adopting new IT in professional
• and informal day-to-day activities as well, we are more concerned about the other
• part of India where electricity is still not properly accessible and people are living
• in remote villages and forest terrains where network is not available. On one side of
• the spectrum we have the first India a nuclear and space exploration power, home
• to a bustling technology and start-up economic system, the world’s most active user
• base, second largest network of Facebook users and adopters of high street western
• brand technology. At the same time we have second India, while still experiencing

Key findings from the report:

• Gender gap:
• Rural-urban divide:
• Socio-economic factors:
• Impact on essential services:

According to the latest data from the ITU (International Telecommunication Union), the global digital divide persists, with?around one-third of the world's population still lacking internet access, highlighting significant gaps between high-income and low-income nations, urban and rural areas, and even genders;?key findings include:

• Access disparity:
• Urban-rural divide:
• Gender gap:
• Young people more connected:

(Source: ITU Facts & Figures 2024 Report.?)

8. Fixing the global digital divide and digital access gap-

Navigating the complexity of digital divides can be extremely difficult, especially given the unique circumstances and systems particular to each country, which renders one-size-fits-all policy prescriptions inadequate. However, the cross-border nature of the issue makes it one whose solutions require global consensus. As I discuss in my book, Africa’s Fourth Industrial Revolution, the 4IR is transforming all areas of economic, political, social, and diplomatic life, requiring coordinated action between governments, academic institutions, the private sector, and regional and intergovernmental bodies.

Global consensus will be critical, as the digital future cannot and should not be decided by governments or technology companies alone. As the digital divide between developed and developing countries increases and more technology companies emerge in developed countries, the power and leverage of developed countries to decide on the digital future will increase, leaving more and more of the perspectives and concerns of developing countries out of the conversation.

One prevailing challenge that may be ripe for global consensus is the lack of alignment between stakeholders such as governments, technology companies, start-ups, nonprofits, etc. on the root causes, definitions, issues, and consequences of the digital divide and the overall digital economy. Without standardization, collaboration has been difficult, as each player has a limited view of the problem. Intergovernmental bodies can play a convening role and can lead with a systems thinking approach to offer a holistic view of the problem.

Geopolitical tensions pose another challenge and potential risk, especially as technology becomes a centerpiece of power struggles, as we have seen in the rising tensions between the United States and China. Strong and broad global collaboration and consensus will be critical in order to uphold a commitment to the public good even amidst these types of tensions. Geopolitical variables will likely take on increased importance, especially as developing countries may be vulnerable to giving up digital sovereignty when it comes to infrastructure or ownership of data.?

9. Efforts for bridging Digital Divide in India

NeGP and E-Kranti (“E-Kranti”, 2006): Launched in 2006, National

e-Governance plan (NeGP) is a comprehensive programme of Government of

India, designed to leverage capabilities and opportunities presented by ICT to

promote good governance across the country. NeGP proposes to implement

ICT projects with timeliness and responsibility allocations – in a ‘mission

mode.’ There were 27 mission mode projects approved in this context. Vision

of NeGP is to make all government services accessible to the common man,

in his locality, through common service delivery outlets. The implementation

strategy envisages a clear de?nition of service goals and metrics for each

project.

Considering the shortcomings of NeGP –lack of integration among Government

applications and databases, GOI approved E-Kranti with the vision to make governance

more transparent. Mission mode projects also increased to 44. Many new social

sector projects namely women and child development, social benefits from financial

inclusion, e-Bhasha and so on are added as Mission mode projects under e-Kranti.

? Digital India Programme (Digital India Programme”, 2018): It is a

campaign launched by GOI to ensure that Government services are made

available to its citizens electronically by improving online infrastructure

and by increasing internet connectivity and by making the country digitally

empowered in the ?eld of technology. The journey of e governance initiatives

in India took a broader dimension in mid 1990s with wider applications

emphasising on citizen centric services. Despite successful implementation

of many e-governance projects across the country, e-governance as a whole

has not been able to make the desired impact and ful?l all its objectives

Launched in 2015, Digital India aims to digitally connect rural areas in India

with high speed internet.

Its three components include:

1. Development of a stable and secured digital infrastructure.

2. Developing government services digitally.

3. Universal digital literacy

Vision of Digital India is inclusive growth in areas of electronic services products

manufacturing and job opportunities. The whole programme is centred on three key

areas i.e. digital infrastructure as a utility to every citizen, governance and services

on demand and digital empowerment of citizens. Further Government aims to

strengthen 9 pillars to Digital India and they are:

1. Broad Band highway i.e. public internet access programme

2. e-Governance: Reforming the Government through Technology

3. e-Kranti

4. IT for Jobs

5. Early Harvest programmes

6. Electronics manufacturing

7. Information for all

Digital India provides various services to citizens like

1. Digital Locker: In order to implement the idea of paperless governance, digital

locker is a platform for issuance and verification of documents in a digital way

thus preventing the use of any physical documents. However Indian students

who sign up for digital locker and get a dedicated cloud storage space. They

can get access to their documents wherever possible.

2. E-Education: All schools in India are to be connected with broadband and

free Wi-Fi is to be setup in all the schools. Further it aims as developing a

massive online courses in pilot basis.

3. e-Health: It covers online medical consultation, medical records, online

medical supply and pan-India exchange of patient information. Further it aims

at providing full medical coverage to the citizens within three years since 2015.

4. National Scholarship Portal: It is a one stop solution through which various

services starting from student application receipt, processing and sanction of

scholarships to students are enabled. It works under Mission Mode project and

aims to provide a common portal for various scholarship schemes of Central

Government and state Government

10. Barriers in Bridging Digital Divide Gap

? Illiteracy and Digita Illiteracy

Education and information literacy play anl Illiteracy play an

important role in keeping society from fragmenting into information haves and

have not’s. From the perspective of digital divide, IT literacy is very important

to allow access to digital information. In India where approximately1/4th of

its population is illiterate digital literacy cannot be expected out of them.

Government schools in the villages lack in basic infrastructure like benches

and chairs and washrooms for their students. Access to and usage of computers

is therefore something out of question for them. Hence there are people in

India who are literate but not digitally literate and hence are denied access to

digital information.

? Poverty:

There is a strong correlation between digital divide and poverty.

Almost 40% of world’s population lives in low income countries. About 1

billion have no access to ICT. (Stoiciu, 2011) Similarly in India also the rural

poor have very little or no access to ICT. Nevertheless, given that, digital

services are the vehicle for production and participation, the need to be

connected is real and signi?cant. Being disconnected from the digital services

pushes people into exclusion and poverty (W.Muschart, (2013)

? Language:

India being a land of cultural and ethnic diversity there exist

multiple languages since ancient times. But access to ICT requires some

knowledge of English as majority of ICT packages are in English. Access to

IT through unrecognized local languages is not possible. But in India, these

kind of languages are more in number.

? Gender Discrimination:

India being a traditionally patriarchal society

women have less access to education when compared to men. Even so in

the case of digital education. Most of the Indian women particularly from

rural areas remain digitally illiterate. Lack of IT knowledge hampers their

education and employment opportunities. But there is marked improvement in this

situation with incresed participation of women folk in every sphere of life.

? Other Economic and Geographic Barriers

Lack of money to invest on digital literacy is one reason why digital divide deepens among the middle class and poor community in India. Staying in remote villages where net

connection is unavailable and cannot a?ord to go to another place for digital

education is another reason contributing for deep digital divide

digital literacy is one reason why digital divide deepens among the middle

class and poor community in India. Staying in remote villages where net

connection is unavailable and cannot a?ord to go to another place for digital

education is another reason contributing for deep digital divid

10 From Digital Divide to Digital Equity.

Digital equity refers to the state where?every person and community has the necessary information technology resources to participate in society, democracy, and the economy fully. The term encompasses not only?access?to devices and the Internet, but also the?ability?to use and benefit from them effectively. According to?National Digital Inclusion Alliance, it is crucial for active involvement in civic and cultural affairs, employment, continuous learning, and access to vital services.?

11 How to address Digital Equity Initiatives

:?Infrastructure investment: Expanding broadband infrastructure and improving connectivity in underserved areas. For instance, you can check our Connecting the Unconnected program:?https://www.internetsociety.org/funding-areas/connecting-the-unconnected/??

1. Digital literacy programs: Providing training and education to enhance digital skills, mainly targeting marginalized communities, older adults, and individuals with limited access. Or combining traditional education with ICT modalities to enhance learning and teach students about the Internet. For example, you can check our SCILLS Grant Program here:?https://www.isocfoundation.org/grant-programme/scills-grant-programme/???
2. Affordability measures: Implementing policies to make internet services and devices more affordable, particularly for low-income individuals and families. ? Our?BOLT Grant Program?support teams of creatives, technologists, researchers, and social/cultural workers to design and build prototypes and pilots that will bring into reality innovative solutions to Internet connectivity particularly among communities where current technologies are unavailable or not readily accessible.?
3. Accessibility initiatives: Ensuring digital tools, platforms, and content are accessible to individuals with disabilities through inclusive design and adherence to accessibility standards.?
4. Partnerships and collaborations: Encouraging public-private partnerships to share resources, expertise, and initiatives that promote digital equity.??

12. Way Forward

Creating a fair and inclusive society in the digital age requires digital equity. This means addressing disparities in digital access, promoting digital literacy, and considering the needs of marginalized communities. To unlock the full potential of technology for everyone,?we need to bridge the digital divide. Achieving this requires an intersectional approach that involves infrastructure development, affordability measures, education, and accessibility initiatives. Doing so can help to ensure equal opportunities and empower individuals in the digital realm.?

While an abundance of work is being done on the topic, stronger global collaboration remains a key goal to accelerate progress and ensure these various efforts are complementing, rather than undermining, one another.??

The rise of country-level and regional strategic plans is an indication of what seems to be working: addressing the digital divide by connecting it to other national challenges and goals. For example, the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy has been a driving force for progress on the continent by focusing on policy goals based around foundational pillars to support the digital ecosystem.

Sooner is better---

Prof.Dr.M.K.Bhandari

Founder Director -GALTER-India