Search Results for: digital divide

The digital age has transformed nearly every facet of our lives: our homes are now brimming with connected devices and AI language models are transforming the way we live, work, and communicate. In an ideal world, this revolution would transform the lives of all, but access to it hinges on the presence of next-gen resources, which are not at all distributed equally – resulting in the digital divide. “Tackling a deepening digital divide“

Paris, 12 January 2023 – In June 2022, Eutelsat joined International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Partner2Connect Digital Coalition. The coalition is a multistakeholder platform mobilising resources, partnerships, and commitments to foster meaningful connectivity and digital transformation in the hardest-to-connect communities. Within this framework, Eutelsat pledged to connect 1 million underserved people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2027.

The digital divide is an issue that has been evident since the dawn of the internet; some have had quick access while many others haven’t. In fact, the World Economic Forum recently reported that although 70% of homes in the European Union had high-speed internet connections in 2021, in rural areas it was only 37%, which is a challenge we need to address, says Steve Alexander, chief technology officer, Ciena Corporation.

Access to the internet is still an issue for many people across the globe the most recent data collected by DataReportal revealed that just over 40% of the world’s total population don’t have it. In a world where digitalisation is gaining traction, internet connection is often perceived as an essential utility.

Airband, a broadband provider for rural homes and businesses across the West of England, has successfully closed a £100 million (€118.02 million) debt package from an international banking consortium including HSBC, Lloyds, Nord LB and Sabadell. The debt facility enables Airband to accelerate its rollout plan with the view to service 600,000 premises with full fibre broadband by 2025.

Mavenir announced that 360 Communications, a fixed wireless access provider serving rural areas of Oklahoma, including the Chocatown nation, has selected Mavenir as its partner for leveraging end to end Open RAN.

EOLO, a telecommunications operator for the residential and business market in Italy, is working with Cisco to strengthen its fixed wireless access network to extend its ultra-broadband connectivity to rural areas. “Cisco and EOLO team up to knock down the digital divide in Italy”

Europe’s economies have all taken a hit due to Covid-19, and governments are looking at ways they can speed up their recovery by accelerating digital transformation. In several countries, says Helen Duncan of MWE Media, there is considerable imbalance between broadband provision in major cities and that in rural areas and smaller towns. “The importance of vendor diversity in closing the digital divide”

For the fifth year in a row the mobile industry has increased its impact across all 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) enabling essential services for people and businesses. “Mobile industry closing ‘digital divide’ across all 17 sustainable development goals, says GSMA”

Ericsson will provide Nex-Tech Wireless, a Kansas-based wireless carrier, 5G technology in order to help bridge the digital divide. Under the agreement, Ericsson will provide 5G Evolved Packet Core and Radio Access Network (RAN) supporting 5G NR Non-standalone (NSA) in key sites in Nex-Tech Wireless’ coverage areas in Kansas. “Ericsson helps Nex-Tech Wireless bridge digital divide with 5G”