Bridging the digital divide in Asia-Pacific

IF YOU are reading this article online, you are among the 66 per cent of people in Asia-Pacific who are connected to the Internet. A transformative opportunity of our time, digitalisation is a driver of connectivity and inclusion. From helping open new bank accounts and new businesses to tackling climate change and creating jobs, digital technologies and platforms have delivered massive economic benefits.

With World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (May 17) just past, it is important to recognise the extent to which the digital divide is leaving people who are unconnected behind, especially women, rural residents, or those from lower-income groups. As of 2023, one-third of the global population – or 2.6 billion people – remain offline. In Asia-Pacific, 96 per cent of the region’s population live in areas covered by a mobile broadband network, but almost half do not yet subscribe to a mobile Internet service. Key barriers include lack of digital skills, affordability of devices and data, and limited local content.

This gap is holding back growth and limiting opportunities. While 93 per cent of people in high-income countries used the Internet in 2023, only 27 per cent in low-income countries were Internet users. Closing this gap would be an absolute economic win. By 2030, digitalisation could add US$1 trillion to the GDP of Asean countries. Building a robust digital ecosystem – through investments and capacity expansion – can speed up this outcome, accelerate development progress, and bridge the connectivity gap.