Closing the gap on digital disadvantage

TLDR version: The ‘digital divide’ is not a new topic, however the COVID19 pandemic magnified the disparity between groups with high and low levels of digital inclusion. This has seen governments and industry take a greater interest in the topic. Digital inclusion has been improving, but certain groups remain at a relative disadvantage. Recent research highlights the significant digital divide faced by First Nations people in remote areas. The telecommunications industry often promotes itself as an enabler of digital transformation. Helping to “close the gap” would arguably be one of the industry’s greatest transformation achievements.