How to Reveal the Digital Divide via the Internet Survey in China

3 How to Handle the Digital Divide Outline 1 Deep Concern at Digital Divide 2 The Digital Divide in China

Deep Concern at The Digital Divide in China What’s digital divide Refers to the difference in the popularity of Internet or Internet application using level between social groups or regions. Caused by different developing levels in Internet technology and information resources during the rapid process of informatization. What’s digital divide Refers to the difference in the popularity of Internet or Internet application using level between social groups or regions. Caused by different developing levels in Internet technology and information resources during the rapid process of informatization. Characteristics of the digital divide in China There are significant digital divides between provinces, urban and rural, groups due to the social inequality, the imbalanced industry and regional economy development in China. The importance of studying China’s digital divide Unbalanced development of regional economy led to the digital divide, the digital divide in turn further deepen the region's economic backwardness. Studying China's digital divide will help to solve the imbalanced regional development, to break the urban-rural structure system and to eliminate social polarization in China.

3 How to Handle the Digital Divide Outline 1 Deep Concern at Digital Divide 2 The Digital Divide in China

Digital Divide Based on Internet Survey in China Disparity between those can access to internet and those who can not In 2012, the PCs per 100 urban families owned are 4 times than rural, while the broadband access rate in urban is 3 times than rural. Access gap is narrowing due to the government subsidizing small appliances including PCs, and the information infrastructure constructions in rural areas. Access Disparity between internet users and non-internet users Provinces 、 rural-urban 、 educational 、 gender gaps is narrowing. While the structure of Chinese internet users is optimizing, digital divide is shifting to knowledge divide. Usage Disparity between high quality users and low quality users Since 2009, business applications have been maintaining a high development speed while entertainment application growth are slowing down. Especially business application usage in rural areas is growing fast. Quality

Disparity of PC Ownership between Urban and Rural Access gap between urban and rural areas is huge. In 2012, the PCs per 100 urban households owned are 4 times larger than rural. But the growth rate in rural is much more higher. Owing to the government’s policy of subsidizing small appliances including PCs, the PC ownership disparity is gradually narrowing down. Resource: China statistical yearbook 2013

Similarly with PC ownership, the disparity of broadband access rate between rural and urban areas is also huge. While the information infrastructure constructions project is accelerating, the gap is expected to narrow. Resource: China statistical yearbook 2013 Disparity of Broadband Access between Urban and Rural

In 1997~2003, the Internet penetration difference within provinces is reduced significantly, the number of Internet users in all provinces is growing fast. Resource: Statistical Survey on Internet Development in China Disparity of Internet Penetration within Provinces After 2003, the speed of narrowing is slowing down Growth of the population of Internet users continued to slow down But in underdeveloped areas, the growth rate still remains respectively high.

The absolute difference is also starting diminishing since 2012 due to the big achievements of support policy in rural area’s information infrastructure improvement. Since 2005, Internet penetration in rural areas grew faster than urban areas, the relatively difference is narrowing down significantly. Disparity of Internet Penetration between Urban and Rural Resource: Statistical Survey on Internet Development in China

Resource: The 31 st Statistical Survey on Internet Development in China Mobile Helps Reducing the Disparity within Provinces and Urban-Rural Areas

By Dec.2013, the rural Internet users had accounted for 28.6%. The rate of growth was 13.5% for rural Internet users and 8.0% for urban Internet users By Dec.2013, the rural Internet users had accounted for 28.6%. The rate of growth was 13.5% for rural Internet users and 8.0% for urban Internet users Mobile phone is the main Internet access devices for new rural Internet users, help to narrow the access gap between urban and rural. Mobile Helps Reducing the Disparity within Provinces and Urban-Rural Areas(continued) Resource: The 33 rd Statistical Survey on Internet Development in China

The Internet became popular far more earlier in higher education group than those who were relatively low. Since 2007, Internet penetration of lower educated population has speeded up, the relative difference were rapidly shrinking. Disparity of Internet Penetration between Different Education Groups Resource: Statistical Survey on Internet Development in China

During 1997~2001, usage gap between genders diminished rapidly. In early stage, Internet was more popular with male ， the relative difference between genders was significant. In 2008, the Internet disparity of gender almost vanished. But because of the structure of new Internet users, usage gap between genders appear to increase. Resource: Statistical Survey on Internet Development in China Disparity of Internet Penetration between Male and Female

Usage Gap: Knowledge Gap and Devices Gap For non-Internet users, the knowledge gap kept them away from learning how to use Internet, along with another non-neglectable factor, lacking of devices. Resource: Statistical Survey on Internet Development in China

Usage Gap of Quality in Urban-Rural Areas Overall, the usage rate of Internet entertainment applications are higher than business applications, but the changing has began following with economic growth and expanded domestic demand. In rural areas, though either the usage rate of entertainment applications or the business applications is much lower than urban, the usage rate of business applications is increasing faster.

3 How to Handle the Digital Divide Outline 1 Deep Concern at Digital Divide 2 The Digital Divide in China

Factors Contributing to the Digital Divide in China Usage Gap of Quality Usage Gap Access Gap Specific in China: Economy: limited equipment purchase ability Geography: limited telecommunication promotion Network: limited network coverage Education: lack of knowledge lead to insufficient network skills Network charges: high online charges effect Internet using Consciousness: low consciousness reduce the Internet popularization Applications: lack of local characteristics Internet application Media: less social media propaganda on the Internet Economic impact : less application based on regional economy The essence of the digital divide is information technology application difference. It is caused by multiple factors, such as the social and economic development, the information network technology, the personal information literacy and income, etc..

How to Handle the Digital Divide Access Gap  Promote economic development  Promote mobile device using  Strengthen the infrastructure Usage Gap  Cultivate network consciousness  Strengthen the skills training  Reduce network charges Usage Gap of Quality  Strengthen media propaganda  Increase local application development  Improve high quality network construction Government Enterprise Individual

Solutions for Access Gap Access Gap The present status ： Broadband access gap Computer terminal gap Current solution ： Government ： Broadband China strategy Enterprise ： Mobile subsides by operators Promote Economic Development Promote Economic Development Expand Network Coverage Expand Network Coverage Promote Mobile Using Promote Mobile Using Target ： Reduce the device gap Narrow the telecom resources gap

Solutions for Usage Gap Usage Gap The present status ： Internet skills gap Internet access gap Cultivate Network Consciousness Cultivate Network Consciousness Improve Internet Using skills Improve Internet Using skills Reduce Network Charges Reduce Network Charges Target ： Reduce the knowledge gap Increase Internet access rate Current solution ： Government ： Rural information service station Enterprise ： Network traffic package discount Individual ： Accept information technology training

Solutions for Usage Gap of Quality Usage Gap Of Quality The present status ： Lack of local applications Less combined with regional economy Increase Local Application Development Increase Local Application Development Improve Rural Network Economy Improve Rural Network Economy Strengthen Media Propaganda Strengthen Media Propaganda Target ： Reduce Internet application quality gap Current solution ： Government ： Increase the support to rural e-commerce Enterprise ： Develop local Internet applications, 4G

北京市海淀区中关村南四街四号中科院软件园 邮编 :