News
‘Digital by default’ is the new ‘connecting the unconnected’
Bridging the digital divide isn’t just about connectivity – it’s about making the connected ‘digital by default’ in an inclusive digital economy: UNESCAP. Read more…
digital divide
News
Starlink to cover all of the Philippines by mid-2023
Starlink Internet Services Philippines is reportedly aiming to fully cover the Philippines by the middle of 2023, but questions of affordability remain. Read more…
News
Jio and Airtel bag gov’t contract to roll out 4G in uncovered villages
Jio and Airtel win a new contract worth $484.6m from the Indian government to provide 4G in uncovered villages of “aspirational districts”. Read more…
Views
Wellness tech: trendy gadgets for the rich, or better health for everyone?
Wellness tech can help poor people with medical conditions, but the marketing is focused on affluent people living healthy lifestyles. Read more…
News
Indonesia must prioritize digital growth policies that don’t worsen inequality
Indonesia digital surge could amplify the country’s growing inequality unless the government prioritizes policies that ensure inclusion. Read more…
News
Nairobi is reaping the benefits of fast, affordable broadband
Poa Internet’s fast, cheap broadband internet service is a game-changer for low-income neighbourhoods in Nairobi. Read more…
News
Indonesia’s workforce says it has a serious digital skills gap
Most workers in Indonesia are finding themselves in need of new or updated digital skills, says a new report from AWS and AlphaBeta. Read more…
Features
Closing the digital divide remains a major mission for the ITU
The ITU’s Chaesub Lee says the standards body is more relevant than ever as it identifies the various gaps that comprise the digital divide. Read more…
News
Filipinos are going to embrace the metaverse – here’s why
The metaverse will likely find a good footing among Filipinos thanks to their enthusiasm for social media and a vibrant startup ecosystem. Read more…
Views
Life before mobile: the joy of unavailability vs the tyranny of ‘always on’
The most common response to the question of what people miss about pre-mobile times is this: the freedom to be unavailable. Read more…
News
Collaboration crucial to ensure green ICT bridging digital divide: UN
Green ICT can be a central enabler of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals to develop a sustainable, green and equal society. Read more…
Off the Wire
Experts call for increasing rural area digital connectivity to alleviate poverty
To close the digital divide and drive economic recovery, collaboration is needed to lower rural connectivity cost, improve digital literacy. Read more…
News
Microsoft pilots new tech to offer content service without internet in India
Microsoft is testing new technology to bridge the digital divide in India by offering content service to users without internet connectivity. Read more…
News
Coronavirus school closures in Asia expose digital divide
Millions of children in Asia with unequal internet access risk falling behind because of school closures amid the coronavirus outbreak. Read more…
Views
AI could make digital divide worse if we’re not careful
ITEM: Adoption of various AI technologies is likely to disrupt the global economy in ways that could potentially widen the digital divide unless policymakers, companies and even workers take steps to mitigate such an outcome. Read more…
Off the Wire
Ericsson BTS in rural Myanmar uses under 1kW of power
Ericsson says it has successfully deployed a base station in rural Myanmar that uses three frequency bands, supports 2G, 3G and 4G, and runs on less than 1 kilowatt of power. The deployment uses Ericsson’s Read more…
Views
It’s high time for emerging market operators to cash in on Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi represents a huge opportunity for service providers in emerging markets and recent initiatives from technology players such as Google and Facebook confirm it. However, there are a number of reasons why Wi-Fi has not Read more…
Off the Wire
Spectrum prices are still ruining cellcos and their customers: GSMA report
A new study from the GSMA says that spectrum prices in developing countries are, on average, more than three times higher than in developed countries, which is hindering mobile penetration. The new report from GSMA Read more…
Off the Wire
Public Wi-Fi is key to India’s digital inclusion ambitions: report
Public Wi-Fi can play a key role in driving ubiquitous connectivity and digital inclusion in India, according to a new Analysys Mason report. Despite fast increases in number of people connected (316 million at the Read more…
Views
Facebook gives up on broadband drones – but just the drone part
ITEM: Facebook has officially given up on its project to deploy broadband UAVs that would connect the unconnected to the internet from the air. Or at least it’s giving up on doing the UAV part. Read more…