The Region’s Place in the Digital World: A Tale of Three Divides

Abstract

The concept of “digital divide” has evolved over time. The term appeared in the 1990s in conjunction with the greater commercial availability of information and communication technologies (ICTs). The unequal diffusion of new technologies across and within countries raised concerns that the advantages of these technologies might be limited to those countries and individuals that were already privileged in terms of economic resources—and thus would worsen preexisting inequalities.