The phenomenon of digital divide has technical, economic and social dimensions to it.

Over the ages, society has seen divides along various lines: gender, education, wealth, religion, color, caste, creed, to name the major ones. While divides caused by gender, religion, color and caste are related to an individuals birth, those created by education or wealth may or may not be consequent fallout. In other words, education and wealth can be acquired by an individual, even though being on the wrong side of any of the other divides may severely constrain this acquisition.

The explosive growth of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the last decade of the 20^th century, and their continued evolution in the 21^st century, have radically changed the way people interact, communicate, conduct their businesses, and have opened doorways to information and entertainment at the click of a mouse. In the sphere of governance, one can see the increasing use of ICTs that governments and public bodies use to interface with citizens in what has come to be known as "e-governance". Entire industries have sprung up: business process outsourcing (BPO), for instance. The personal computer, the Internet and the mobile phone that comprise the core of ICTs have revolutionized life in a rapidly globalizing world, bringing huge benefits to thousands of people who use them. The "digital age" has been well and truly ushered in and it is here to stay and advance.

Yet, there are many thousands of people across the globe, more so in the developing world, who are yet to step into this "digital age" - those who have been left out of this information revolution. These are people who have either little or no access to, or are not equipped to use ICTs. This phenomenon has to come to be referred to as the "digital divide" - the divide between those can or have access to ICTs, and those who do not. It is not just the availability of computers, the Internet and telecommunications infrastructure, the digital divide also refers to the lack of ability to use these technologies. It occurs as an extension of existing social divides, or is at least accentuated by these. There is one redeeming facet to the digital divide though: unlike the other divides (excluding literacy, education), it holds the potential of unifying society as well.

Effective Executive Magazine, Digital Divide, Information and Communication Technologies, ICTs, E-Governance, Business Process Outsourcing, BPO, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, OECD, Socioeconomic Development, Global Economy, Human Resources, IT Industries, Telecommunications.