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Business Recorder
18-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
World celebrates WTISD 2025 under theme ‘Gender equality in digital transformation'
ISLAMABAD: As the world celebrates World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) 2025 under the theme 'Gender equality in digital transformation,' Zong reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that every Pakistani woman has equal access to the benefits of digital technology. To bridge the digital divide, Zong continues to expand its 4G network to underserved areas while offering affordable data packages, tackling access and affordability, particularly for women in rural regions. In the rapidly evolving digital world, equitable access to connectivity is not only a matter of convenience, it is a key driver of inclusion and sustainable development. However, barriers to digital access continue to disproportionately affect women and girls globally, restricting their participation in the digital economy and limiting their opportunities for growth. This year's WTISD also marks the 160th anniversary of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which continues to highlight the transformative role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in shaping a better and more connected world. Despite progress, around 2.6 billion people remain offline, with women making up the majority. Challenges such as affordability, lack of skills, and unsafe digital environments must be tackled collaboratively to achieve inclusive digital transformation. In 2024 alone, over 8 million women in Pakistan came online, and the gender gap in mobile internet usage decreased from 38% to 25%, reflecting collective progress by regulators, telecom providers, and civil society. Pakistan now leads South Asia in digital inclusion, with 45% of women connected; surpassing India and Bangladesh. Despite this progress, 55% of women remain offline, with 40% citing barriers such as handset affordability, data costs, literacy gaps, and lack of digital skills. Aligned with its vision to become Pakistan's leading information services and technology innovation company Zong has implemented a series of strategic programs to address digital inequality and create lasting impact through innovation, education, and partnerships. These initiatives focus on access to connectivity, digital skills development, financial platforms, and fostering a safe and inclusive digital ecosystem for women. Zong has partnered with government bodies, non-profits, and digital learning platforms to launch targeted literacy programs that equip women with essential ICT skills, from basic internet usage to e-commerce and online safety. It has also established digital learning centers and telecenters that provide safe spaces for women to build skills and confidence, extending learning beyond traditional classrooms and fostering career readiness. The Zong Digital Scholars Programme, developed with Knowledge Platform, is a strategic initiative to prepare young women in CPEC corridor communities for the digital future through interactive classrooms and AI-enhanced learning. Building on this foundation, Zong is launching specialized digital literacy programs for 5,000 young women aged 18-24, equipping them with career-ready skills in an increasingly digital economy. Zong is driving inclusive growth by ensuring technology enables and uplifts all, especially marginalized groups. By embedding inclusion into every layer of its strategy, Zong is not only advancing digital gender equality but also paving the way for a more connected, just, and sustainable Pakistan. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
WTD 2025: Gender equality - A prerequisite for digital transformation
India's quest for transforming into Viksit Bharat by 2047 is predicated on a few flagship policies and programs. Considering the rapid pace of digitalisation across every sphere of human endeavour, one of these is the Digital India – launched in 2015, that envisions ubiquitous digital infrastructure, provision of digital services, and last but not least, digital empowerment of the citizens. As per Kantar and IAMAI, India has almost 900 million Internet users, with women comprising 47% of users. According to GSMA's Mobile Gender Gap Report 2025, 84% of adult males in India have a mobile but only 71% of females have one. In case of smartphones, the skew is even more pronounced – 58% versus 36%. No wonder, females account for almost 60% of all the shared device users in the country, accessing the Internet using devices owned by others. According to Innovating for the Next Half Billion (NHB), there is a widespread fear that smartphones will expose women to 'bad influences' and lead to harassment or even broken marriages. Many women have self-restricted their desire for phones and use of the internet, based on such internalisation. Almost 13% of Indian women who own a smartphone do not use mobile Internet and two-thirds are not even aware of it. UNICEF's report, Bridging the Gender Digital Divide, had similar findings in terms of ownership and usage gaps across genders but also highlighted that for every 100 male youth with digital skills, only 65 female youth possess similar skills. Even globally, 70% of the male population uses the Internet compared to 65% of the female population. Clearly, this glaring digital gender gap severely constrains their agency and privacy while also limits their social, political and economic participation, even as digital technologies do hold enormous potential to bridge the gender gap in access to labour markets. Gender-based online violence is another key challenge and more so with the onset of AI-enabled deepfakes besides the prevalence of revenge porn and cyberstalking. In fact, the cybercrime reporting portal operated by the Ministry of Home Affairs was originally started only for reporting incidents of cybercrime against children and women under the CCPWC (Cybercrime Prevention against Women and Children) Scheme. Gender Equality in Digital Transformation World Telecommunication & Information Society Day (WTISD) is observed every year on May 17 to celebrate the birth of the International Telecommunications Union ( ITU ), the oldest UN agency that was established in 1865, eight decades before the UN itself. As ITU turns 160 and as the world reflects on the progress over the past three decades since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 1995 for advancing women's rights, the WTISD theme 'Gender Equality in Digital Transformation' seems perfectly timed. Recognising the broader and more diverse set of gender identities beyond just the male and female, the usage of the term 'gender' is intentional. For example, several individuals belonging to non-binary gender identities use the digital ecosystem in pursuit of information, associations and relationships. However, they are also frequent targets of gender-based violence. In March 2025, speaking at a ministerial roundtable on 'Digital and Financial Inclusion for Women's Empowerment at the UN Headquarters, the Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi had offered India's willingness to share with the world its experiences of using digital public infrastructure (DPI) to bridge the digital gender divide. The JAM (Jan-Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobile) trinity accelerated financial inclusion in India from 17% in 2009 to 80% in 2017, something that would have otherwise taken 47 years. More significantly, 56% of the new bank account holders were women. This is just one example of how gender-intentional policies can help. Gender-Intentional and Time-Bound Policy India needs to have a gender-intentional digital inclusion policy, spanning: Access Gender budgeting by Digital Bharat Nidhi to provide targeted subsidy for devices and services for those meeting certain prescribed socio-economic women-collective led Panchayat-level community ISPs and quasi-private browsing zones within the Common Service the scope of MNREGA to include digital infrastructure. Applications and Services Gender-empowering applications and services with participation of intended users and beneficiaries. Skilling Integrate and impart digital, financial and cyber literacy programs, currently being rolled out in isolation. Safety and Privacy Foster online safety, especially against gender-based holistic privacy , beyond data protection. Monitoring and Review Integrate granular aspects in various surveys to better understand, map and analyse gaps and trends. Public Private Partnership Leverage private enterprises and civil society where appropriate, without stifling them with over-regulation. (DISCLAIMER: Views expressed are the author's personal.)
Barnama
17-05-2025
- Business
- Barnama
NADIpreneur Produces 3,390 Women Entrepreneurs
CYBERJAYA, May 17 (Bernama) -- The NADIpreneur programme, an initiative under the National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI), has produced 3,390 women entrepreneurs, accounting for 85 per cent of participants, as of March, said Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. He said these women have not only succeeded in entrepreneurship but also served as role models, encouraging others to join the NADIpreneur programme. 'These entrepreneurs are very successful. They have utilised high-speed internet access (at NADI) not only to enhance their skills in specific fields but also to find markets for their products. 'In some places, I found that they were able to produce goods that can be sold internationally. This helps improve household economy,' he said at a press conference after officiating at the 2025 World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) celebration here today. Also present were Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din. Fahmi also cited several success stories of women entrepreneurs under the NADIpreneur programme, including a businesswoman from Kuching, who earns around RM25,000 a month selling handicraft products made from beads. During the same period, the programme had trained 4,000 entrepreneurs, demonstrating its effectiveness within the community, he said. For this year, the Communications Ministry is targeting 7,000 participants in the NADIpreneur programme to equip more online entrepreneurs with the skills needed to grow their businesses using e-commerce platforms. 'We hope we are able to achieve this target this year. Through NADI, it shows that if you use the internet safely and you know what tools you can take advantage of, you can increase your participation in the economy,' he said.
Hans India
17-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
World Telecommunication and Information Society Day: Bridging the digital divide for a smarter future
World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD), celebrated every year on May 17. The theme for this year emphasises 'Digital Innovation for Sustainable Development,' highlighting how cutting-edge technologies can drive inclusivity, empower communities, and address global challenges. In a world where connectivity has become a fundamental human need, it serves as a powerful reminder of the role telecommunications and digital tools play in shaping economies, education, healthcare, governance, and daily life. As AI, 5G, blockchain, and IoT continue to revolutionise industries, this day urges stakeholders—governments, private sectors, and civil societies—to ensure that these advancements are inclusive and accessible to all. The day highlights the importance of strengthening broadband infrastructure, promoting digital literacy, and supporting policies that close the digital divide. Equally vital is cybersecurity and data privacy, especially in an era where digital footprints are rapidly expanding. This day also stresses the need for responsible innovation that upholds human rights, environmental sustainability, and ethical AI development.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
WTD 2025: Need for multi-faceted strategies to reduce digital gender divide in India
The theme for World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) 2025 references the immediate need to address gender inequality in digital spaces, so that women can also benefit from and contribute to digital transformation. The Union Budget 2025-26 indicates a new dawn for rural India's transformation prioritising and ensuring a dignified life for the people of rural India. The budget acknowledges the gender divide and outlines a strong emphasis on gender inclusion, focussing on key areas such as, employment generation, women empowerment and infrastructure development in rural India. A prime example of that would be the Bharatnet Project, which aims to provide unrestricted access to broadband connectivity, ensuring internet access in rural areas. The increased budgetary allocation for rural digital development can be strategised to prioritise digital literacy, specifically targeting women. Bridging the Rural-Urban Divide in Digital India Under the Digital India Initiative, the government has taken several initiatives to connect not only metros but also tier 2 and tier 3 cities as well as rural and remote areas. As per reports, India has over 650 million smartphone users and more than 1 billion internet subscribers, led by the roll-out of 5G and 4G networks, significantly improving internet speeds and connectivity in urban and rural areas. Yet, India continues to have the largest number of unconnected persons that include women, the rural population and children. The exclusion is deeply intertwined with socio-economic factors such as existing disparities in access and opportunities, compounded by issues of limited digital literacy and low per capita income, creating formidable obstacles in the inclusion and empowerment of women in the transformation of digital technologies. Efforts to Empower Women through Technology Technology has democratised access to education and skill development, ensuring women can now acquire new skills and pursue advanced degrees. The eSanjeevani programme has proved one of the most successful undertakings as it has improved quality of life by facilitating quicker, cheaper and high-quality health services, including enabling patients in rural/isolated communities to get outpatient services within the confines of their homes to provide safer 'provider-to-patient' consultations. Digital Tools facilitate Financial Inclusion of Women According to a Women's World Banking report, services like Unified Payment Interface (UPI) have significantly improved women's access to essential services and opportunities, especially by offering a transformative opportunity for women entrepreneurs, fostering financial inclusion. The government has implemented several other initiatives to ensure empowerment of women and girls in educational, social, economic and political spheres through various schematic interventions aiming for digital literacy. The Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan under Digital India programme, focuses on digital literacy training, enabling rural citizens to operate computers, send/receive emails and browse internet to empower women. It aims to bridge the digital divide with the rural population including the marginalised sections of society, women and girls by covering 6 crore rural households. At the 2023 UN Session, India announced that about 123 million girls are enrolled in programmes that promote science and technology education in schools, while other initiatives seek to train rural women and those from marginalised segments of society to use mobile phones and other critical tools. Challenges to Transforming India: Exclusion of Women from Digital Spaces Internet usage in India has quadrupled in the last decade. However, this wave of progress has not been gender neutral, as women from India continue to face numerous barriers to online access. Cultural norms and systemic discrimination, including casteism, patriarchy, and economic disparity have all played a role in widening the gender gap in digital access and literacy. As per the Mobile Gender Gap Report 2024, the GSMA reports that mobile phones serve as the primary means of internet access for women in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). The report indicates that access to mobile internet has had a transformative effect on women, enabling connectivity and access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and financial resources. The data reports a 14% gender gap in access to mobile internet for women and men in LMICs. However, in the South Asian region, the gender gap is at 32%. As per the United Nations World Population Prospects 2024, statistics indicate that in an LMIC like India, where women form about 48% of the population, their participation in the growth of digital economy is nearly half as that of men, especially in rural India, owing to a pronounced divide in access to the internet for men over women. Opportunities for an Inclusive Digital Transformation To reduce the digital gender gap, a multi-faceted approach is required. The Bharatnet initiative has ensured internet connectivity to even remote villages and rural areas. Initiative like the Digital Subscriber Line network equipment helps deliver high-speed internet connectivity, enabling the delivery of digital literacy and skill training initiatives. In 2023, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women estimated that about $1 trillion could be added to the GDP of a lower-middle-income nation by ending the exclusion of women from the digital sphere. 2.6 billion people, mostly women and girls, remain unconnected due to gaps in access, affordability, and lack of digital skills. Bridging this divide is crucial for economic growth, innovation, and sustainable development. (DISCLAIMER: Views expressed are the author's personal)
