Growing digital inequality between developed and developing countries

While 48% of the global population is now online, some 3.9 billion people still do not have access to the Internet – with the digital gap growing between developed and developing countries. According to estimates, Internet penetration in the developing world is projected to reach 41.3% by the end of 2017, while Internet user penetration is projected to reach only 17.5% in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in 2017.
Gender divide Men continue to outnumber women in terms of Internet usage worldwide, though women now outnumber men in Internet usage the Americas.
Recent studies, though, show that the disparities in gender access are becoming wider in developing countries, especially in Africa. Quality of connection & ‘underserved’ people Only 76% of the world’s populationlives within access of a 3G signal, and only 43% of people within access of a 4G connection. Unless people have the opportunity to migrate from 2G to at least 3G to 4G and beyond, they will remain under-connected. Affordability of broadband Fixed and mobile broadband services are becoming progressively more affordable in a large number of countries. However, there are many challenges to making Internet access affordable for developing countries, in part due to the high costs of satellite access and fibreoptic cables. The consumers most affected by high costs of Internet access are those in landlocked countries.
Investments in ICT infrastructure Over the last year, there has been impressive growth in the number of new Internet Exchange Points (IXPs), an important form of support infrastructure that can potentially help reduce latency and cut transit costs. The growth of IXPs in Africa over the last year is remarkable. Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Rep. of Congo, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sudan and Zimbabwe all established an IXP over the last twelve months to mid-2017.
ICTs for SDGs
The benefi ts of broadband for food security, health and wellbeing, inclusive education and the environment are real and increasing.
Broadband technologies, along with the digital literacy skills to use them, enable people, groups and communities to create their own solutions, states the report.
UN Global Pulse has worked with the World Food Programme (WFP) to assess the potential of using mobile phone data to develop real-time indicators of food security.
WHO reports that 73 of 116 (63%) of its Member States have defined national digital health strategies and corresponding plans to implement them, although close to 40% of countries have yet to develop a digital health strategy.
UNESCO has successfully conducted projects in Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan and Senegal to advance and deliver teacher development through mobile phones.
Innovative tracking technologies, including unmanned aerial vehicles are being tested to monitor wildlife in protected areas in southern Africa – including Malawi, Namibia and Zimbabwe.