The Digital Divide

Abstract

The digital divide, at a worldwide level, as well as at a regional level, is still a reality. However, over the last few years, the Internet and digital technologies have spread surprisingly fast, above all in their use through mobile telephone networks, and they have new users every year, even in the less developed countries, like in Africa. The installation of new underwater optic fibre cables surrounding Africa, with an increasing capacity for data transmission, has brought down the costs of interconnection with the global Internet backbones. Up to a few years ago, these connections were only possible through the satellite network, which are far more expensive for the local providers, and these high costs inevitably affect the end users. These services can now be offered at prices that more and more people can afford in Africa, which was and still is the continent that is most affected by the phenomenon of the digital divide.