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An Assessment of Digital Divide in the PRC

An Assessment of Digital Divide in the PRC
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Author(s): Ming-te Lu (Lingnan University, Hong Kong), Ping Lin (Lingnan University, Hong Kong), Guo Ling Lao (Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, PRC)and Xue Feng Zhang (Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, PRC)
Copyright: 2002
Pages: 4
Source title: Issues & Trends of Information Technology Management in Contemporary Organizations
Source Editor(s): Mehdi Khosrow-Pour, D.B.A. (Information Resources Management Association, USA)
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-930708-39-6.ch082
ISBN13: 9781930708396
EISBN13: 9781466641358

Abstract

As the most populous country in the world, the PRC has seen a drastic increase in Internet users in recent years with the latest count of 25.6 million at the end of June 2001. However, it is known that some groups in the PRC are not enjoying the benefits of Internet use, creating the so-called “digital divide” phenomenon. This means that for a number of reasons, these groups in the society cannot or will not be able to access the Internet to reap many potential benefits it can offer. This paper provides findings of a preliminary analysis on digital divide in the PRC using past Internet surveys together with economic and demographic data of the PRC. Obvious hurdles to Internet use, such as illiteracy, cost of Internet access, lacking of infrastructure will be examined with near-term technology advancements considered so to assess the magnitude of the digital divide at the present time and in the future. Suggestions to alleviate digital divide are then discussed.

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