digital divide Archives - Telecoms Tech News

Bridging the digital divide: How a coalition is tackling smartphone affordability

Dashveenjit Kaur — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 11:46:21 +0000

The digital divide, a chasm that has long separated billions from the opportunities of the internet age, may soon begin to narrow. This week, the GSM Association (GSMA) announced the formation of the “Handset Affordability Coalition,” a pioneering alliance of mobile operators, device manufacturers, international organisations, and financial institutions. This global initiative aims to revolutionise... Read more »

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Rural 5G deprivation hinders nearly a million Brits

Ryan Daws — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 09:59:32 +0000

A recent study commissioned by Vodafone UK and conducted by WPI Economics has shed light on a significant digital divide prevailing in Britain’s most deprived communities. Titled ‘Connecting the Countryside’, the report revealed a striking contrast in 5G accessibility between rural and urban areas. According to the findings, 46 percent of rural deprived areas are... Read more »

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GSMA: Smartphone ownership surpasses 50% yet digital divide persists

Ryan Daws — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 13:33:01 +0000

According to the GSMA’s annual State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2023, over half of the world’s population – approximately 4.3 billion people – now own smartphones. This surge in smartphone ownership has significantly influenced the adoption of mobile internet services globally, with nearly 4 billion out of 4.6 billion mobile internet users accessing it... Read more »

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UK Government asks ISPs to promote social tariffs amid cost of living crisis

Ryan Daws — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 12:30:10 +0000

The UK Government is asking the country’s ISPs to promote social tariffs amid the cost of living crisis. Low-cost social tariffs are offered to households receiving certain benefits to help close the “digital divide” and ensure that everyone has access to the work and social opportunities that connectivity brings. However, data from British telecoms regulator... Read more »

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O2 is gifting data to Big Issue sellers this Christmas

Ryan Daws — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 13:41:24 +0000

O2 is getting in the festive spirit by gifting free data to hundreds of Big Issue sellers. The free data, given as part of the National Databank initiative, will help the sellers to access essential online services and go cashless to help them grow their business. Over 200 Big Issue sellers will receive 7GB of... Read more »

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Virgin Media O2 expands National Databank to tackle data poverty over Christmas

Ryan Daws — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 16:05:56 +0000

Following a successful three-month trial, Virgin Media O2 is expanding its National Databank across the UK to tackle data poverty over Christmas. A shocking 1.5 million homes in the UK are currently without internet access. This “digital divide” limits opportunities all year round, but it’s especially bleak around Christmas. Lutz Schüler, Chief Executive Officer at... Read more »

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Digital Connectivity Index: The UK needs to build momentum to “level up”

Ryan Daws — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 15:59:40 +0000

The first Digital Connectivity Index shows the UK needs to build momentum to climb the rankings and reap the substantial benefits. Economic modelling experts Oxford Analytica and Virgin Media O2 partnered up to create the index which is based on “thousands” of OECD datapoints. Of the 24 OECD countries, the UK is currently ranked joint... Read more »

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