BT Claims Digital Divide Will Exist For Decades
New research from British Telecom indicates that the digital divide in Britain will continue to exclude millions of computer illiterate adults well into the next decade and beyond.
According to BT, the number of digitally excluded people will fall from 27 million to 23 million by 2025, with those being excluded risking disadvantage by losing access to services such as medical information and education.
BT states that 51% of adults are currently disadvantaged by not being online. The telecoms giant reports that the impact of the gap between the “have-nets” and “have-nots” will widen greatly if the government, commercial organisations and designers of new technology fail to engage those refuseniks that have so far rejected the digital age.
The report also claims that the problem will require a concerted effort, rather than simply believing it will “evaporate with time.” BT’s analysis indicates that, by 2025, those on low incomes will remain the hardest hit, and will account for a quarter of the total number of Britons who are digitally excluded.
Continuing ageing population trends will also play a part in maintaining the digital divide, with a predicted rise in the number of disabled and older people contributing to those disinterested in new technology.
The proportion of those with disabilities is expected to rise by 6% to 16% of the population in 2025, while the 60-89 age group will make up nearly a third of those cut off from the benefits of the internet, such as better value goods, access to information, and education opportunities.
The need for more resources to tackle the problem is highlighted by BT’s research, with the telecoms giant calling for ICT skills and training to be made more affordable.
Commenting on the findings, Adrian Hosford, director of corporate responsibility at BT, said: “Britain could be facing grave consequences if the digital divide is not taken seriously. If we don’t address this problem now, it will get a lot worse – people will find it more difficult to find jobs, education opportunities will be limited and they’ll simply not be able to keep up with society.”
He added: “However the good news is that there is a lot that can be done to avoid this happening. Organisations such as BT can help to tackle the problem and we have a number of grass roots projects, which are working to help people in disadvantaged communities overcome digital exclusion. We’ve been working with the government and other agencies for many years now on these community projects and have seen some wonderful results already. This is a good start but more needs to be done by all those involved if we are to tackle the scale of this issue.”
BT’s findings follow the creation of a new industry body, the Alliance for Digital Inclusion, to help reduce the effects of a digital divide. BT is a founder member of the ADI, encouraging collaboration and partnerships between industry, Government and the voluntary sector to promote the use of information technology for social benefit (see Digital Refuseniks Targeted By New Uptake Push).
The latest predictions of a continuing digital divide build on recommendations made by the BBC earlier this year that more efforts need to be made to avoid the creation of a ‘digital underclass’. The Corporation recently unveiled its vision for a broadband Britain, calling on the Government and the new media industry to work together to ensure all areas of society were given an equal technological footing (see BBC Sets Out Vision For Broadband Britain).
BT: 0207 469 2337 www.btplc.com
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