There is a long way to go before the digital divide in Mexico is closed

Referring to the Internet, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said this last Sunday: “With the support of the workers of the Federal Electricity Commission, next year we will finish lighting fiber optic lines and 3,800 antennas are being installed, with which we will reach 10,979 to fulfill the commitment to guarantee free Internet service in schools, hospitals and public spaces throughout the national territory”.

It is good news that he gave and I hope that nothing prevents the goals he indicated from being reached. If achieved, more people will access the benefits offered by being connected to the network.

According to statista.com, 74% of the population has Internet access, which translates into a total of 98.6 million users. That 26% of the population still does not have access represents a very wide digital gap that the government wants to reduce.

According to the same source, the number of users will increase over the next five years to 104.1 million in 2023, 109.16 million in 2024, 113.86 million in 2025, 118.22 million in 2026 and 122.27 in 2027.

If we take into account that in 2027 the country’s population will be 135.38 million, in that year 87% of the population will have access to the Internet and the gap, even though it will be less since 13% of The population will still be very large.

The backwardness of our country in this area is significant if we consider that out of 251 countries and territories, there are 87 that surpass Mexico in terms of the percentage of their population with Internet access. It will take many years to reach the 90% or more that 29 countries have today and the 95% or more that 12 have.

Based on the foregoing, it should not surprise us that our country does not occupy an important position in the 2022 Network Readiness Index (NRI) prepared by the World Economic Forum in order to measure the degree of preparation of countries to take advantage of the opportunities offered information and communication technologies.

The NRI includes 131 economies that together produce 95% of the global Gross Domestic Product and, for a change, the first positions are occupied by the most advanced economies. The United States, Singapore, Sweden, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Germany, South Korea and Norway are the 10 most prepared in terms of their level of technology, access to said technology, security for individuals and corporations and the impact it has the network to stimulate the growth and well-being of society and the economy.

Of the Latin American countries, Chile ranks 43rd, Brazil 44th, Uruguay 47th, Costa Rica 56th, Argentina 57th and Mexico 60th.

Due to the level of its technology, Mexico is in 63rd place, due to access to said technology in 67th place, due to the security it offers to individuals and corporations in 72nd place and due to the impact that the network has in stimulating growth and well-being in the 43.

It is clear that much remains to be done and the government cannot and should not be solely responsible for improving our country’s position in the NRI and closing the 26 percent digital divide. The private sector has to do its part because so far it has not been enough.

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