Disparities in global distribution of communication resources and facilities

Inadequate development of national communication services

Nature

Communications are a powerful instrument in the motivation and mobilization of human effort. Communication disparities exist in both developed and developing countries. In industrialized countries, it is generally stratification—by sex, age, education, income level, nationality or race, employment, geography—that produces groups which are communication-deprived.

The tendency to concentrate communication facilities in a few urban centers, leads to a relative isolation of the rural communities from the rest of the country and the outside world. Some countries have TV transmitters which cover only the main cities and immediate surroundings; many villages have no telephones, as the existing networks are for urban populations only. Illiteracy obviously excludes many from use of communication facilities, as does the limited production and distribution of newspapers, periodicals and books. These basic drawbacks are compounded in many countries by the number of languages used by different population groups, for which it would be economically impossible to provide printed material.

Background

The global disparity in communication resources and facilities emerged as a recognized issue in the mid-20th century, highlighted by the rapid expansion of telecommunications in industrialized nations while vast regions remained underserved. International forums, notably UNESCO’s 1980 MacBride Report, brought heightened awareness to the digital divide, emphasizing how unequal access to information and communication technologies perpetuates broader social and economic inequalities. Subsequent global initiatives have continued to underscore the persistent and evolving nature of this imbalance.

Incidence

The least industrialized countries are particularly disadvantaged in the coverage of their population by telephones (3.7 per 1,000 people), postal services (one post office for 11,000 people), radio transmission and radio receivers.

Claim

The stark disparities in global distribution of communication resources and facilities are a grave injustice that perpetuates inequality and stifles progress. Billions remain voiceless and disconnected, denied access to information, education, and opportunity. This digital divide is not just a technological issue—it is a moral crisis that undermines human rights and global development. Addressing this imbalance must be an urgent priority for governments, organizations, and societies worldwide.

Counter-claim

The so-called disparities in global communication resources are vastly overstated. In today’s interconnected world, basic communication tools are accessible to most, and prioritizing this issue diverts attention from truly urgent problems like poverty, disease, and conflict. The market naturally drives technological spread, and obsessing over perfect equality in communication facilities is unnecessary. Resources should be focused elsewhere, not on artificially leveling a playing field that is already improving on its own.