Draft 4(edited)

Wakefield (2010) observes that sources from International Telecommunication Union (ITU) ranked countries based on internet connectivity, where the more economically developed countries are the most connected. Thus, many developing countries are trying to improve the lack of connectivity with the implementation of wifi infrastructure to their rural villages. Certain countries like America do attempt to reach native communities, which remain as a ‘barren desert,’ by offering technical support in broadband access. 

According to Wakefield (2010), some countries are improving their communications technology in order to improve their countries economically ranking. However, providing just the necessary advance in technology may not be enough to increase connectivity of a country. It is also important that people are able to the use of technology. Without the necessary knowledge, technology is just a word with no meaning. However, in the right hands, technology can help to improve and even save lives. This shows the importance of education as it allows people to use technology more competently so as to improve connectivity. Although this aspect is very important, not all countries can provide that level of education for people to work with these technologies due to several problems they face.

Many developing countries in the world face problems financing education for technology. For these countries, their main priority would be basic necessities such as food, shelter as well as healthcare for their citizens. According to The African Economist (2013), in several parts of Africa, illiteracy rates are as high as 90%. This could be because many Africans were being denied basic education due to lack to monetary capabilities. The African government does not intervene with these education problems as they are busy handling basic necessities like food to its citizens. Without education, the citizens will not be able to effectively use the Internet technology to their advantage. This would greatly hinder the bridging of technological gap between developing countries.

Wakefield (2010) also reports that there is a digital divide even within a country. Even though some of these countries are highly connected, there might be a digital divide occurring between the old generation and the current generation. According to an article from Deloitte entitled " The smartphone generation gap: over 55? no app for that" (2014), there are a few factors that stop the senior citizens from accepting new technologies like the smartphone. One reason is that members of the older generation are generally more confused by how the technologies work and the new allowances they are given like data allowance. Furthermore, the older generations were not familiar with these technologies due to their lack of education in this aspect. Hence, government can provide subsidised IT courses to enhance the IT knowledge of the older generations. These makes it easier to bridge the with the younger generation and would greatly hinder the bridging the technological gap within countries

In a nutshell, although it is important to focus on the distribution of technology within countries, education is also a must in order for technology to be effectively utilised. Hence, countries should always make sure that their citizens know how to effectively utilise the technologies they are given in order to more effectively bridge the ever growing digital divide.

References: 

Wakefield, J. (2010, March 19). World wakes up to digital divide. BBC News. Retrieved September 09, 2014, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8568681.stm.

The African Economist. ( 2013, July 6)., Ranking of African Countries By Literacy Rate: Zimbabwe No. 1. Retrieved September 09, 2014 , from http://theafricaneconomist.com/ranking-of-african-countries-by-literacy-rate-zimbabwe-no-1/#.VA8GkPmSxgI 

Deloitte. (2014).The smartphone generation gap: over 55? no app for that. Retrieved September 20,2014, from  http://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/global/Documents/Technology-Media-Telecommunications/gx-tmt-2014prediction-smartphone.pdf