The advent of the internet has revolutionized the way we communicate and access information, connecting billions of people around the world and bringing communities together. But how many people actually have access to the web? Read on to find out more about the digital divide, and how people are connecting to the web from around the world.
Plugging the Planet into the Web
The internet has become an essential component of our daily lives, providing us with access to knowledge, allowing us to stay connected with our friends and family, and providing a platform for businesses to expand. But not everyone around the world has the same access to the internet. According to a 2020 report by the International Telecommunication Union, approximately 57% of the world’s population, or 4.3 billion people, now have access to the internet.
This is an increase of almost double the amount of users in 2010, when only 28% of the population had access to the web. This is a tremendous achievement, but it still leaves almost 4 billion people unable to access the internet. This digital divide is especially prominent in developing nations and rural areas, where access to affordable technology such as computers and smartphones is limited.
Connecting the World, One Connection at a Time
Despite this progress, more needs to be done in order to bridge the digital divide. Governments and organisations around the world are working together to improve access to the internet, with initiatives such as Google’s Project Loon providing internet access to rural communities via high-altitude balloons. This has been particularly successful in Peru, where Google has been able to provide internet access to over 3 million people in remote areas.
Other organisations are also working to provide low-cost hardware and internet access to those who cannot afford it. Initiatives such as the Raspberry Pi Foundation have created affordable and accessible computers, allowing people to connect to the internet who may have felt excluded from the digital world before.
The internet has become an integral part of our lives, and with initiatives such as Google’s Project Loon, the Raspberry Pi Foundation, and more, the world is becoming increasingly connected. While there is still progress to be made, the world is heading in the right direction, and more and more people are gaining access to the web every day.