Page 20 - SAMENA Trends - March-April 2023

FEATURED SAMENA TRENDS

ITU's Findings: World’s LDCs Threatened
by Deepening Digital Divide

The digital connectivity divide separating the
globe's least developed countries (LDCs) from
the world shows no sign of narrowing. In fact,
it is widening on key factors, according to ITU's
Facts and Figures: Focus on Least Developed
Countries. While the share of the population
in LDCs using the Internet has increased since
2011 from 4 per cent to 36 per cent, about
two-thirds of the LDC population remains
offline. LDCs also still face numerous barriers
to meaningful connectivity, including lack of
infrastructure, affordability, and skills. Although
no single figure can capture all aspects and
complexities of the digital divide, the gap
between LDCs and the world in the share of
people using the Internet has increased from
27 percentage points in 2011 to 30 percentage Notable Findings from Facts and Figures: Focus on Least Developed Countries
points in 2022. “The path to prosperity for the (2023)
world's least developed countries runs through ITU’s annual flagship report Facts and Figures, issued every year, serves as a
digital development," said ITU Secretary- powerful advocacy tool in efforts to put digital development at the top of the
General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. The special agenda of policymakers and the global development community.
edition of ITU's Facts and Figures highlights the • Since the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries
challenges confronting LDCs and should help in 2011, Internet use in LDCs surged from 4 per cent of the population to 36
strengthen commitments between the least per cent, corresponding to a compound annual growth rate of 22 per cent,
developed countries and their development more than three times the global growth rate.
partners." • In LDCs, the COVID-19 pandemic did not cause a boost in Internet use, unlike
in more advanced economies, where growth rates typically doubled in 2020
The ITU study, prepared ahead of the Fifth and 2021.
United Nations Conference on the Least • The digital gender gap in LDCs remains significant and is not narrowing.
Developed Countries (LDC5), focuses on trends • In 2022, an estimated 407 million people in least developed countries
in digital connectivity in LDCs since 2011, when (LDCs) were using the Internet, accounting for 36 per cent of the population,
the UN last held its global conference on least compared to 66 per cent globally. The 720 million people still offline in LDCs
developed countries. account for 27 per cent of the global offline population, even though the LDC
population accounts for only 14 per cent of the world’s population.
For LDCs, the goal of universal • As of 2022, almost half (48 per cent) of young people (15- to 24-year-olds)
in LDCs were online.
and meaningful connectivity • In LDCs, and most developing countries, mobile broadband (3G or above) is
– when a safe, satisfying, the main way — and very often the only way – to connect to the Internet. And
enriching, productive and yet only 83 per cent of the combined LDC population is covered by a mobile
broadband signal, compared with 95 per cent of the world’s population.
affordable online experience • In LDCs, the price gap between mobile and fixed broadband is much wider
is available to all – remains a than elsewhere in the world. Fixed broadband typically costs around three
times as much as mobile broadband in LDCs, but ‘only’ twice as much
distant prospect. Even many elsewhere.
of those who can access the • The lack of affordability is one of the main barriers to Internet use and
accessing the Internet is more costly in LDCs than anywhere else in the
Internet do not, because of world.
the barriers ranging from • Broadband services are, however, becoming more affordable in LDCs and
awareness, to skills, to costs. affordability has improved faster in LDCs where prices were highest.

20 MARCH-APRIL 2023