Spatiotemporal investigation of the digital divide, the case study of Iranian Provinces

Abstract

Many communities and territories in developing countries experience significant gaps in access to and use of information and communication technology (ICT), which is viewed as a major impediment to socioeconomic and health-related vulnerabilities. Geographic considerations, on the other hand, as well as variations in motivation for ICT usage and technology adoption within and across nations, as well as between cultures, have exacerbated the digital divide. This paper investigates disparities in access to and utilization of ICT in 31 Iranian provinces from 2011 to 2020. The research discovers evidence that family income and the number of R&D centers affected the formation of the digital divide, albeit the degree of the split has fluctuated through time and space. This study discovered that digital inequality is associated with social exclusion throughout Iranian regions, and it went on to try to better understand the underlying issues and potential solutions. In this regard, some policy avenues are suggested for government action, particularly for marginalized socioeconomic groups, such as the provision of infrastructure, training and skill augmentation, and the easing of digital services supplied by the government or private sector.

The Three-Dimensional Analytical and Governance Logic of China’s Digital Divide Bridging Policy

“…Digital inequality has become a growing concern in modern society and it is influenced by factors such as economy [11,18], age [19,20], gender [21,22], education [23], geography [24], race [25] and environment [26]. The digital divide exists between countries [27] and domestically [28], a gap which has not yet been closed [29].…”

“…Domestic and foreign scholars have proposed many measures to bridge different types of digital divides, such as bridging the urban-rural digital divide through an online poverty alleviation action plan [53]; building a community with a shared future in cyberspace to help bridge the global digital divide [54]; helping enterprises cross the digital divide by transformation and upgrading through platformization [55]; bridging the digital divide between urban and rural teachers through the support of external environments and the drive of internal motivation [56]; maintaining offline service channels and traditional services over the long term so that digitally vulnerable groups, such as low-income groups and the elderly, can compensate for the lack of access to and use of digital equipment [52]; providing infrastructure and enhanced skills training for marginalized socioeconomic groups [11]; and by providing barrier-free products in line with international technical standards for visually impaired groups [25]. However, the widening trend of the digital divide still deserves our attention.…”

“…Scholars have proposed many ways to bridge the digital divide, such as by improving the level of social and economic development [9], providing age-appropriate products [10], relaxing the scope of government services [11] and innovating the supply of the government [12]. These will undoubtedly need support in the form of government policies.…”

Information and Communicaton Technologies (Ict) and Social Development: A Social Development Index Recommendation for Turkey

“…The index was computed using composite Z-score method. Qadikolaei, Zali, and Soltani (2022) examined the disparities between access and use of ICT. The examination was conducted in Iran.…”

Heritage and the Regeneration of Urban Brownfields: Insights on Public Perception in Tehran, Iran

“…Modernism in Iran at the middle of the 20th century helped the city double in size and population in 60 years [98]. Tehran has also the highest GDP and ICT coverage in the country [99].…”