Transcending the Digital Divide: Paving Itinerary for Conducive Digital Economy

In recent years, due to dynamic evolution of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and the increasing importance of ICT diffusion in the process of economic growth, there exists the need for a broad and systematic comparison of the ICT framework development of countries around the globe. The Information Age that is upon us holds out the promise of a new world of shared prosperity, a global renaissance. At the same time, it also holds out the danger of economic exploitation, societal devastation and a new era of imperialism and colonialism. It can be spurned if we can bridge the economic and development gap, the information and knowledge gap and the great divide within.A key element to extending the information revolution is identification, development and utilization of information assets. Information and knowledge is the new fuel of the economy. In this information economy, economic development means harnessing the information and knowledge assets of a community to help local businesses succeed in the new environment.