Exploring the Multi-Level Digital Divide in Mobile Phone Adoption: A Comparison of Developing Nations

M Vimalkumar (), Jang Bahadur Singh () and Sujeet Kumar Sharma ()
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M Vimalkumar: Indian Institute of Management Tiruchirappalli
Jang Bahadur Singh: Indian Institute of Management Tiruchirappalli
Sujeet Kumar Sharma: Indian Institute of Management Tiruchirappalli

Information Systems Frontiers, 2021, vol. 23, issue 4, No 16, 1057-1076

Abstract: Abstract Mobile phones are the most accessible information and communication technology today, and they serve as the gateway to high-speed internet for large populations in developing economies. However, despite the progress, there remains a persistent disparity in mobile phone usage among users, and between users and non-users, in developing countries. However, the literature on the digital divide has paid limited attention to the multi-level nature of this gap in mobile phone adoption and use, particularly in developing countries. This research paper provides a comparative analysis of this divide in mobile phone usage in eight developing nations from Africa and Asia. Broadly, the study categorises individuals into three groups: mobile phone non-users, mobile phone users who do not use internet applications and mobile phone users who use applications that need internet access. The disparity between these users was analysed using micro-level survey data from each country. The study results show that the nature of the divide varies across countries and that the influence of socio-demographic factors is not consistent. Further, we find that there is a larger digital divide in terms of mobile phone usage in Asian countries when compared to African countries. The study recommends that policymakers and international agencies exercise caution while developing one-size-fits-all cross-country policies to address the multi-level digital divide.

Keywords: Digital divide; Cross-country analysis; Developing countries; Mobile phones; Asia; Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10796-020-10032-5

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