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AMERICA

Interaction between human and computers has greatly increased as we embark on the twenty first
century. The ability to access computers and the internet has become increasingly important to
completely immerse oneself in the economic, political, and social aspects of not just America, but of
the world. However, not everyone has access to this technology. The idea of the "digital divide" refers
to the growing gap between the underprivileged members of society, especially the poor, rural,
elderly, and handicapped portion of the population who do not have access to computers or the
internet; and the wealthy, middle class, and young Americans living in urban and suburban areas who
have access.
Although the number of Americans with access to computers and the Internet continues to soar on a
yearly basis, the digital divide also continues to grow at an alarming rate. On the one hand, sections of
society already connected - such as higher income, educated White and Asian Pacific Islander
households - are adopting newer technologies faster and are connecting even more. On the other,
groups with traditionally lower rates for Internet and computer usage continue to lag far behind.
Unfortunately, according to a study conducted by the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA), entitled Falling through the Net: Defining the Digital Divide, the gap is widening
along already strained economic and racial lines.

LOOKING CLOSER IN AFRICA

STATISTICS RELATING TO INTERNET CONNECTIONS (USAGE) IN AFRICA (GHANA)

Ghana was almost the first country in Africa to achieve connection to the internet. This account provides
a complete overview of trends and developments in Ghana’s telecommunication market and in Africa as
a whole. The report analyses the mobile, internet, broadband, digital TV and converging media sectors.
Ghana Telecom was acquired by the Vodafone Group 2009 and rebranded as Vodafone Ghana. It is the
principal fixed-line provider and also the second largest player in the mobile service sectors.
AFRICA
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET

Statistic shows that over 3 billion of people over the world population have access to internet
connectivity. Here are now 3.9 billion people in the world who do not use the Internet, the study found,
and in addition to being poorer, they tend to be disproportionately less educated, rural, elderly and
female. In the early July, 2016, study shows that over 7millions of people, out of the ‘Total population:
28,033,375, in Ghana, have access to the internet connectivity.

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