[Kictanet] Fw: [APC Forum] Digital Divide narrowing...

[alice at apc.org]

Is this a good example of why the term 'digital divide' is misleading?
> Technical vs education discouses?
>
> Maybe not.
>
> Frédéric Dubois
> APC information coordinator
>
> Source: http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/04/26/business/lost.php -
> Reuters, International Herald Tribune
> World's digital divide gets smaller
> Reuters
>
> WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2006
>
>
> BERLIN The digital divide is narrowing as citizens in emerging markets
> get online via computers and mobile phones,
> with some regions now on a par with developed nations, a ranking of
> Web-savvy countries showed Wednesday.
>
> "Encouraging is the apparent narrowing of the digital divide," the
> annual study, published by IBM and the intelligence unit
> of British magazine The Economist, said. "This is particularly evident
> in basic connectivity: Emerging markets are providing
> the vast majority of the world's new phone and Internet connections."
>
> Within China and India, regions like Shanghai and Bangalore have almost
> the same level of Internet and
> mobile phone connections as developed nations, said Peter Korsten,
> European director at IBM's Institute for Business Value.
>
> "This is the first time we see a level playing field between developed
> and developing nations in terms of
> connectivity," he said. "It's up to governments to take advantage with
> education and other initiatives."
>
> The survey looks beyond basic connections and also studies how the
> Internet is being used to
> improve productivity and reduce costs, including online access to
> public services.
>
> "Virtually all countries have improved their scores over the past
> year," the study said.
> "The improvement is greater in the lower tiers of the rankings than at
> the top.
> As a result, the distance separating the best from the rest has
> declined."
>
>
>
>
> =======================================
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