Conquering the digital divide: Botswana and South Korea digital divide status and interventions

Nonofo C Sedimo,Kelvin J Bwalya,Tanya Du Plessis

doi:10.4102/sajim.v13i1.471

Nonofo C Sedimo, Kelvin J Bwalya + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4102/sajim.v13i1.471

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Abstract

Background: Botswana is putting in place initiatives towards establishing itself as a knowledgebased economy. Transformation from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy is partly hinged on innovation, research and development capability, knowledge channels, and the funding of research and development activities.Objectives: Bridging the digital divide and narrowing the intra-national divide brings about global information and communication technology (ICT) usage that translates into changing work patterns and eventually transformed economies. This article outlines the different interventions implemented in Botswana to bridge the divide. The South Korean experience in bridging the divide is discussed so as to serve as lessons on how to effectively bridge the divide to Botswana’s initiatives.Method: Using a mix of exploratory and empirical study, this article presents the findings on the status of ICT uptake in Botswana and investigates the level of the digital divide in the country.Results: The results of the study show that the digital divide is much more evident in Botswana than in South Korea. South Korea has put in place robust strategic initiatives towards reducing the digital divide and this has largely transcended into its transformation into a full-fledged knowledge society.Conclusion: This article is timely as it unearths the different pointers that may be utilised in policy formation and what interventions need to be taken at both the individual and national level to bridge the digital divide.

Highlights

The digital divide presents itself as a roadblock to socio-economic development in different regions and countries
Countries with developed economies have shown that appropriate utilisation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in different socio-economic sectors comes with a ‘leapfrog effect’ in as far as development is concerned (Mansell 2001)
Kang (2009) articulates some of the major interventions put in place by the PPP arrangements in Korea such as a high speed information infrastructure project (1997); the ‘Cyber Korea 21’ programme which focused on digital mobile migration and mobile Internet service (1999); the ‘e-Korea Vision 2006’ which laid the foundation of e-Government and initiated the world’s first IMT-2000 service (third generation (3G) wireless technology for higher data rates between mobile phones and base antennas); the broadband convergence network (BcN) implementation plan (2004); and the u-Sensor network and IPv6 Master Plan

Summary

Background

Kang (2009) articulates some of the major interventions put in place by the PPP arrangements in Korea such as a high speed information infrastructure project (1997); the ‘Cyber Korea 21’ programme which focused on digital mobile migration and mobile Internet service (1999); the ‘e-Korea Vision 2006’ which laid the foundation of e-Government and initiated the world’s first IMT-2000 service (third generation (3G) wireless technology for higher data rates between mobile phones and base antennas); the broadband convergence network (BcN) implementation plan (2004); and the u-Sensor network and IPv6 Master Plan. To potentially bridge the vertical and horizontal divide in the case of Botswana, there is a need to introduce compulsory ICTs education in the curriculum and robust campaigns on all the feasible national communication channels on the benefits of ICTs. Amongst some of the main endeavors of countries shifting their economies towards KBEs, the Korean approach has shown to be one of the most plausible examples regardless of where it is implemented. It is anticipated that the aforementioned initiatives will go a long way in Botswana’s pursuit towards a KBE

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Conclusion