How do developing countries catch up with developed countries in gaining access Internet? Take Taiwan as an example

摘要

This paper comprises six parts. First, I review and discuss concepts related to the global digital divide. Next, I discuss the negative impact of a broadening digital divide. Third, I discuss the phenomena of digital divide within one country as well as across countries using empirical statistics. These statistics show that the global digital divide is a relevant concept in today's global telecommunications environment. In addition, it shows the depletion of the global in recent years. In order to explain how developing countries catch up with developed countries in gaining access to information and communication technologies (ICTs), I use Taiwan as an example to discuss the digital divide and global digital divide. Following this, I explain how the Taiwanese government employed an effective telecom policy framework to reduce the local and international digital divide and facilitate telecommunication development so as to "digitally leapfrog" the developed world. In the final section, I discuss whether the digital divide serves as a useful policy concept. In my response, I use Internet user ratio, one of the most acceptable digital divide indictors, as the main measurement.