Closing the digital divide in Central Asia and the South Caucasus

The Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated that digitalisation can significantly improve access to services and expand opportunities, particularly for otherwise excluded population groups. Against this backdrop, countries in Central Asia and the South Caucasus are undergoing a digital revolution, driven by ambitious government digital transformation initiatives and a general trend towards greater digitalisation, spurred by the pandemic. At both national and regional levels, governments have made commitments to fast-track the digital transformation of key sectors of the economy and wider society.

Digital connectivity is fundamental to the realisation of the digital transformation plans of governments, such as in Central Asia and the South Caucasus. It is the basis for creating and distributing innovative digital solutions and, perhaps more importantly, the channel for citizens to interact with the society around them in a digital environment. The profound implications of digitalisation for the way people live, work and socialise highlight the risk of exclusion from vital services for unconnected populations. As a result, closing the digital divide – and by extension, ensuring that no one is left behind in the emerging digital economy – has never been more important.

Hear from Mr. Tomas Lamanaukas, Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union, sharing recommendations on how to accelerate the closing of the digital divide in the region: