Smart policies to close the digital divide: Best practices from around the world Key findings presentation Kim Andreasson Report author September 19 th 2012

Presentation overview Purpose of Research New imperatives for bridging the digital divide Research goals and methods Defining digital divides Six areas where smart policies can do the most Conclusion: Preparing for future divides

New imperatives for bridging the digital divide Three imperatives: Economic benefits Social inclusion The need for speed “The economy of the future is digital,” says Neelie Kroes, vice-president of the European Commission responsible for the Digital Agenda, the European effort to maximise the benefits of the information society. “Today it’s hard to think of many jobs where familiarity with computers and the Internet is not helpful.”

The EIU conducted interviews with experts and policymakers to uncover successful policies to close gaps in digital access The 17 interviewees come from 15 different countries and represent a cross section of academia, international organisations, NGOs and the public and private sectors Since we’re here… One interviewee comes from Russia and another from Kazakhstan Lessons learned were drawn from countries as varied as South Korea, Australia, India, Brazil and Germany, to name a few Research goals and methods

Defining digital divides Ability Access Age Broadband Content Culture Education Gender From ability to usage: A summary of divides Income Language Location Measurement Mobile Skills Usage

1. Making the case at the highest levels Benefits of e-inclusion Digital by default in the UK Different paths to broadband’s economic promise “[W] e try to reach as many people as possible to ensure that everyone can enjoy the digital benefits and that nobody is left behind,” explains Felicity Singleton, head of policy for the Government Digital Service in the Cabinet Office

2. Access still comes first “[Overcoming the access divide] is still the biggest challenge we are facing,” says Hamadoun Touré, secretary-general of the ITU Mobile technology has increased access Developed world: Metrics mask challenges Laggards to leapfrogs

3. Competition leads to lower costs, more usage Latin America and South Asia: A study in contrasts Competition and costs The Finnish model “Competition has proven to be a crucial parameter, not only in providing access but also in providing affordable access,” says Torbjörn Fredriksson, head of the ICT Analysis Section Science, UNCTAD

4. Measure what matters, especially “useful usage” “[T]here is a wide gap remaining in terms of using ICT devices or information in a productive way," says Doojin Choi, executive director at the Digital Inclusion Policy Division at the National Information Society Agency” Access does not always equal more use The ICT skills divide Tracking progress through international initiatives and bespoke metrics

5. Enhancing ICT skills Governments cannot go it alone A role for the private sector and NGOs Global examples illuminating the potential for other sectors: Telstra in Australia, Center for Digital Inclusion in Brazil, and the Digital Opportunities Foundation in Germany “Governments should work with NGOs and companies to make solutions sustainable,” says Rodrigo Baggio, founder and president of the Center for Digital Inclusion in Brazil

6. Stimulate local content creation and consumption The need to focus on content Mobile payments in Kenya Beyond traditional IT support In China, says Yuanfu Jiang, director of the E-Government Department, in the E-Government Research Center at the Chinese Academy of Governance, the three primary digital divide challenges are access, skills and content. The government pays a lot of attention to the first two, he notes, but not enough attention has been paid to content

Conclusion: Preparing for future divides Compared with just a decade ago, governments have made significant progress in expanding ICT access But just as social divides have always been part of history, digital divides are likely to continue well into the future, especially since the two are increasingly intertwined Countries that take a proactive approach in implementing smarter policies now will be better prepared to respond to future challenges, and thus reap the benefits of more inclusive communities and richer economic prospects

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