A Study On The Digital Divide: E-Governance And M-Governance In A Hub And Spoke Model

Abstract

E-governance is widely recognized as a crucial factor in improving government. While e-governance has the potential to achieve its objectives, the issue of last-mile connectivity remains a recurring challenge in developing nations owing to the lack of necessary infrastructure to support e-governance at a sufficient level. Developing countries have a higher telephone/mobile use level of telephone/mobile use than internet usage. Therefore, using telephones/mobile phones as a tool to complement e-governance in its final stage is somewhat essential. The widespread use of mobile connections at higher levels renders the issue of last-mile connectivity rather obsolete. Mobile governance, or m-governance, may complement e-governance in a spoke and hub framework. It will be beneficial in reducing the disparity in access to digital technology, especially in rural areas and emerging regions, notably in Asia and Africa. This article examines the implementation of e-governance and m-governance using a spoke and hub paradigm. Implementing a standardized procedure would facilitate the rapid repetition of services and broader adoption.