'Digital divide' still exists in rural Britain

13:45 3rd November 2009

The UK continues to suffer from a so-called 'digital divide', despite efforts to improve access to the internet and broadband in rural parts of the country, it has been claimed.

Online payments service PayPal has found that 94 per cent of people in the countryside now conduct some of their shopping online, as overall internet shopping in Britain has increased by 42 per cent in the past year.

However, Helen Milner, managing director of UK online centres, pointed out that ten million people across the UK remain offline in their homes, meaning the digital divide is still a real barrier for the development of ecommerce and the online community in the country as a whole.

Ms Milner added that the government is currently seeking to boost access to broadband and internet services in an effort to ensure everyone can access the technology that is now considered as important as utilities such as water or electricity by some urban consumers.

UK online centres provide people with access to computers and the internet, together with help and advice on how to use them.

Written by Paul Jarvis