The Digital Divide at the Provincial Level in Turkey: A Spatial Analysis

The digital divide refers to the disparity of individuals, provinces, regions, or countries in terms of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). While the term was initially coined to refer to inequalities in access, it has come to refer to inequality in usage over time. This study analyzes the existence of a digital divide in Türkiye at the NUTS-3 level (81 provinces) by comparing ICT indicators. Data on the number of mobile phone subscribers, broadband internet subscribers, fixed broadband internet subscribers, mobile broadband internet subscribers, and fiber-optic cable length for the years 2012 and 2020, obtained from the Information and Communication Technologies Authority, are expressed per 1,000 people. To determine whether the digital divide exists among provinces, these indicators are analyzed by LISA cluster maps, and Moran’s I test using the spatial data analysis software GeoDa. The cluster maps and Moran’s I test results reveal positive spatial autocorrelation and a significant global clustering trend in selected ICT indicators in Türkiye. Although the regional distribution of ICT indicators has improved, the fact that some provinces are still in an advantageous position highlights the persistence of regional disparities and the importance of policies to reduce the digital divide.