The notion of universal access (UA) to telephony has extended in two directions: towards UA to ICTs (and particularly to the Internet, with broadband Internet access becoming the new norm), and towards universal service (US), in which access is convenient and affordable, so that use becomes routine. The future of universal access and service (UAS) will probably consist of “e-inclusion”, which is the goal of the European Union (EU) in
EU Ministerial Declaration on e-inclusion, Riga. The Riga declaration recognizes the social consequences of lacking access to ICTs when ICTs have become engrained in all parts of the economy, public and personal life. It stresses actions in the following areas:
- Using ICT to address the needs of older workers and elderly people;
- Reducing geographical digital divides;
- Enhancing e-accessibility and ICT usability for people of all abilities;
- Improving digital literacy and competences;
- Using ICT to promote cultural diversity; and
- Promoting inclusive e-government.
Aspirations have become much broader and include large elements of human social development and constructive applications, as well as the spread of technology and infrastructure.
Developing countries have not yet reached the levels of dependence on ICTs that are current in the EU, but the following sentiments voiced in the Riga Declaration hold a broader relevance and illustrate the direction of change to be expected over the next decade:
- ICT contributes to improving the quality of everyday life and social participation of Europeans, facilitating access to information, media, content and services, to enhanced and more flexible job opportunities, and to fight against discrimination. Improving ICT access for people with disabilities and elderly is particularly important.
- E-inclusion means both inclusive ICT and the use of ICT to achieve wider inclusion objectives. It focuses on participation of all individuals and communities in all aspects of the information society. E-inclusion policy, therefore, aims at reducing gaps in ICT usage and promoting the use of ICT to overcome exclusion, and improve economic performance, employment opportunities, quality of life, social participation and cohesion.
- To convincingly address e-inclusion, the differences in Internet usage between current average use by the EU population and use by older people, people with disabilities, women, lower education groups, unemployed and less-developed regions should be reduced to a half, from 2005 to 2010.