Many Mexicans Have No Internet Access

According to the Mexican Internet Association (AMIPC) about 82 million people—70% of the Mexican population—have no access to a computer or the Internet. In a joint report by AMIPCI, civil organizations, and Mexico’s national Congress just 35% of Mexican households had a computer at the beginning of 2010.

“The success of companies, universities, organizations and people depends a lot on the digital knowledge that they have,” said Javier Allard, director of Mexican Association of the Information Technology Industry (AMITI). Allard and other experts say Mexico’s ability to compete in the global economy—and narrow the country’s gaping chasm between rich and poor —are on the line.

Mexico ranks No. 2 on economic inequality among the 34 nations belonging to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), behind Chile. The OECD report on global inequality indicated that a nation’s technological progress had a greater impact than globalization on the spread between the very rich and very poor.

Mexico is the only country in the OECD country doesn’t have an official national “digital agenda.”A digital agenda outlines technology and communications goals to improve security, economic, social and cultural development, increase transparency and civil participation, and boost business competitiveness.

Mexico may be lagging, but there is some good news: The report also showed that
Internet access is spreading, with the number of internet subscribers projected by the joint study to grow 17% through 2013.