Public policies against the digital divide: a necessary adaptation to different degrees of development

Abstract

The notion of the digital divide encompasses many different dimensions. As a matter of fact, more than digital divide, we should talk about digital divides. Access to ICTs and usage are the two variables that determine the width of the divide. The adequate consideration of these two factors is, thus, necessary in any public programme focusing on fighting against the digital divide. The purpose of this article is to move forward in the understanding of what the digital divide implies according to the level of development of the different countries and, from that point, to analyse the challenges they must face and the different paths they can take to go beyond them.