Bridging digital divides in G20 countries
Reliable and high-quality connectivity is fundamental for the digital transformation.
Furthermore, the COVID-19 health emergency has shown that access to high-quality broadband
services at affordable prices, across different territories is essential to ensure
that economic and social activities can continue in an increasingly remote manner.
However, important disparities in terms of connectivity persist in G20 countries and
especially within countries between different types of regions. Overcoming the territorial
divide is essential to ensure that no region and its inhabitants are left behind,
regardless of where they live. This report offers a roadmap to policy makers to reduce
the digital divides experienced by people living in different places within countries.
While this is a key policy goal, the reduction of regional disparities needs to be
accompanied with sufficiently high levels of broadband speeds across regions for people
to be able to fully benefit from the economic opportunities and services brought about
by digitalization.
Published on December 20, 2021