The Digital Divide In South Africa

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The Digital Divide in South Africa Introduction South Africa has made strides in bridging the digital divide by introducing technology innovations and making them accessible to all citizens, including those living in the rural areas. It started in 1976 when the television was introduced in a still very segregated country. The television continues to be reintroduced in a different format to the one that was viewed in 1976. We now have satellite television whose service is offered by, now, two different service providers. Computers on the other hand were accessible to only a few due to the previous political climate in the country, but a lot has been done to bridge the digital divide that is seen today as an undesirable result of the past. Business and government have taken an active role in implementing changes that will make technology available to all but these good intentions are disrupted by corruption and political interference. The one technology that has been readily available to all and accessible by all is mobile telephones. This phenomenon has taken the world by storm that even those in the most rural settlements have means of communicating with the world using mobile telephones. The mobile communications industry has grown so much in only a few years and has contributed so much in the country’s economic growth by providing employment and helping individuals establish themselves as entrepreneurs. There’s a lot that drivers of other technology interventions can learn from the mobile communications industry drivers. It may look like a lot of South Africans have been affected by technology advances like mobile phones, Internet, etc. but there are still many others, especially young children, who don’t have the same “luxuries” that seem to be the norm. So, are we doing enough to bridge the digital divide? Are there enough initiatives to help make this a

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