1. Global Digital Divide 2.0:
Always Off in an Always On
World
STIA-422: Information Technology (IT)
in a Changing World
November 4, 2008
Gaurav Mishra

2. Introduction
Emerging
Markets
+
Emerging
Technologies
The intersection
of technology,
culture and
development
www.gauravonomics.com

3. Digital Divide

4. Digital Divide
Source: ITU-UNCTAD World Information Society Report 2007

5. World Map: Computer Penetration
Source: United Nations Global Development Goals Indication

6. World Map: Internet Penetration
Source: Emiel van Wegen based on World Internet Stats data

7. World Map: Optical Fiber
Source: Tata Communications

8. Price of Broadband Access
Japan $0.06 per 100 kbps (0.002% of average monthly wage) vs. Mozambique $361.83 per 100 kbps
(1400 times average monthly wage)
Source: Wired Magazine based on ITU data

9. Price of Broadband Access
Source: ITU-UNCTAD World Information Society Report 2007

10. Reasons for Differential
Technological Achievement

11. Three Types of Technology
Transfers
Innovation
 2 1 
3
Adaption Diffusion

Source: World Bank Global Economic Prospects 2008

12. Three Types of Technology
Transfers
Source: World Bank Global Economic Prospects 2008

13. Technological Achievement Index
Source: World Bank Global Economic Prospects 2008

14. What is Digital Divide 2.0?

15. The 4 Cs of Digital Divide 2.0
1 2 3 4
Computing
Devices Connection
Content
Capabilities
The Digital Binary Group:
Focus on Access
(Computers + Connection)
The Digital Inequality
Group: Focus on
Application (Content +
Capabilities)
Source: Technology and Social Inclusion, Mark Warschauer, 2003; Eszter Hargittai, 2001

16. Digital Divide 2.0
D
Semantic Web i
Mobile 2.0 g
Web 2.0 i
t
E-Mail
a
SMS
l
D
i
v
i
Mobile d
Internet e
Broadband
3G 2
.
Next Generation Networks
0

17. The Promise/ Myth of
Leapfrogging

18. The Promise of Leapfrogging
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bh3HP51rJs

19. The Economic Value of Mobile
As much as
8% of GDP
Source: McKinsey & Co, 2006, Leonard Waverman et al, 2005

20. Why is Mobile an Exception?
mobile use
Source: ITU-UNCTAD World Information Society Report 2007; The Economist, 2008

21. The Myth of Leapfrogging
Source: World Bank Global Economic Prospects 2008

22. Mobile Interface for Illiterate Users
Source: Jan Chipchase et al, Nokia Research, 2007

23. Telecom Usage at the BOP
Source: Teleuse at the Bottom of the Pyramid, LIRNEasia, 2007
Video1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MScc9UNeX7k
Video 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pfAy_A7Klk

24. Telecom Usage at the BOP
94% have used a phone Only 38% of non-owners
but only 13% own one, plan to buy a phone in
>70% use public phones the next 2 years
> 90% can only afford a
Average of one call per startup cost of <$30 &
day, 78% local, , 72% to monthly cost of <$5
stay in touch, 90% of
them <5 min long 99% have monthly
incomes of <$150
Only 35% use SMS,
<10% use it daily 30% want to buy a fixed
phone
66% of non-users don’t
72% haven’t heard of the
know how to use SMS
internet, <<1% have
used it
95% use pre-paid cards
All figures for India, 2006
Image: http://flickr.com/photos/dipu87/2553076909/
Data: Teleuse at the Bottom of the Pyramid, LIRNEasia, 2007

25. How to Bridge Digital Divide
2.0?

26. Government Policy is Important
Source: World Bank Global Economic Prospects 2008

27. Grassroots Innovations Are
Equally Important

28. VNL WorldGSM MicroTelecom
Low cost, rugged, solar powered mobile network to serve rural populations profitably
Source: www.vnl.in

29. Grameen Village Phone (B’desh)
Microloans to help poor rural woman become public phone operators
Source: www.grameenfoundation.org

30. United Villages (India)
Drive-by wifi network to connect remote villages to the internet, with a time lag
Source: www.unitedvillages.com

31. QuestionBox (India)
Use human mediation to connect illiterate users to the internet
Source: www.questionbox.org

32. EkGaon Mobile Framework (India)
Paper-mobile hybrid document management system for semi-literate users
Source: www.ekgaon.com

33. BabaJob/Microsoft Research(India)
Text-free job search engine
Source: www.babajob.com /tf/textfree.htm

34. Ushahidi (Kenya)
Mapping crisis information through text messages sent by users
Source: www.ushahidi.com

35. MobiChange (India)
Lowest common denominator mobile social networking platform
Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pulguita/323775179/

36. Discussion
- Digital divide: narrowing or widening?
- Leapfrogging: myth or reality?
- Solution: government policy or grassroots
innovations?