Cisco hopes Wi-Fi can be the bridge to close digital divide

How growing hotspots and Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration Program are helping those in need of a connection.

The global pandemic has shone a light on what Cisco SVP of Corporate Affairs Tae Yoo calls the digital divide — leaving people behind who don’t have proper internet access. We have been rapidly pushed into a time of digital transformation, where most everyone needs to have internet access to accomplish what is still part of the everyday; education, medical appointments, work, and connecting with friends and family. The New York Times writes that parking lots have even become a “digital lifeline”, where locals who don’t have fast internet access at home can sit in lots near schools, libraries, and stores that have a Wi-Fi signal. The article states that cars park in lots daily so that employees can accomplish work, and students can access video calls and download files for projects.

See also: Cisco Inclusive Future Report 2020

Staggeringly, there are still an estimated 3.7 billion people who remain unconnected today. Fourteen percent of U.S. households with school-age children do not have internet access, something that is critical with today’s distance learning movement. Cisco recognizes this digital divide and is actively working to help bring people in rural U.S. areas online in a variety of different ways. A first step in addressing this issue is identifying various barriers for ubiquitous connectivity.

Barriers to access

Yoo outlines three primary barriers to internet access for all.

• Accessibility: While 80 percent of people in advanced economies have access to the internet, only 35 percent of those in developing countries have that same access. Disproportionately, rural and poor communities are feeling most of the impact of the digital divide.
• Affordability: Many populations who don’t have access to connectivity can’t afford to pay for a device, computer, or service provider. Currently, only the wealthiest 20 percent of South Africans are able to afford basic internet.
• Digital literacy: Learning how to utilize the internet, digital devices, communication applications, and networks is a difficult task for many who already cannot afford to access the internet. Equipping populations with the skills necessary to find and use online content is crucial, and leaders must invest in global digital adoption.

“It’s not enough to say that broadband is a human right,” writes Yoo, “We must push for policies that ensure all stakeholders treat it as one.”

Learn more over at The Network.