Study on post Covid measures to close the digital divide

This document has been prepared for the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC). However, it reflects the views only of the authors, and BEREC cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
The digital divide is a clear side effect of the fast-paced digital transformation of the economy and society that has taken place in the last two decades. Digital divides are not new, and, indeed, policy makers and other stakeholders (civil society organisations, development agencies, multilateral institutions) have been struggling to close them for years. During the Covid-19 pandemic, however, digital divides have grown in significance, widening pre-existing inequalities and becoming a key factor of social exclusion. For this reason, closing digital gaps has become one of the top political priorities in Europe.