Digital Enablement

Key barriers
One thing has become clear during
our research: access is an important,
but only small, part of the equation.
There are four key aspects to digital
enablement: availability, affordability,
appetite and ability. Within each of
these there are important nuances
but we identified six key barriers to
be addressed:
1. The capability of a network
connection as well as basic physical
access
2. Cloud applications and services that
meet locally relevant needs
3. Business models for successful
solutions must increase the value of
being connected as well as reduce
the costs
4. A lack of awareness of the benefits
of the internet and a growing fear
of using the internet and some of
its applications
5. Serving those with restricted
abilities and impairments
6. Digital literacy.
need to overcome a set of common
execution challenges: for them to
be truly effective, they need to be
replicable and scalable; they need
to deliver measurable results to be
sustainable; and they need to leverage
strategic partnerships. Too often,
solutions are failing not because they
are not tackling the relevant barriers
but because they do not address these
execution challenges.
New challenges
As more networks are built,
and internet connections and
smartphones become more
affordable, digital divides are
narrowing. But at the same time they
are becoming deeper and tougher to
bridge, as a report by the Economist
Intelligence Unit warned in 2013. The
power of new digital technologies
means that dramatic changes in how
people, communities and industries
operate can happen almost overnight.
“The problem is that while the [mobile for development] sector
has enjoyed continued growth in the number of services over the
last 5-7 years, scaling up services still proves to be a challenge and
sustainable business models continue to be elusive.“
Scaling Mobile for Development, GSMA, 2013
Some barriers will be more prevalent This also means that the difference
across certain population segments between those without access to such
(lack of access will impact rural technologies is even more dramatic
communities the most whilst lack and it’s more difficult to catch up as
of digital literacy is more likely to others speed ahead.
hold back the elderly or those with
disabilities), and this will dictate which We face a stark choice. Enabled
digital enablement activity is most by technology, disadvantaged
urgent. Local political, economic, groups can radically improve their
social, legal, environmental and lives and contribute to a better
demographic factors have a strong society. Or, unable to benefit from
influence too. But whatever the technology, these groups become
activity, all digital enablement solutions more economically and socially
disadvantaged, increasing social
inequality and turmoil.
Building on Huawei’s extensive
interactions with customers,
employees, governments, social
enterprises and many other
stakeholders, this report reflects a
group of strategic recommendations
in executing digital enablement
solutions (see page 17). Addressing
the aforementioned execution
challenges to overcome the six key
barriers to digital enablement requires
taking the same approach that brings
successful commercial digital products
and services to market.
• Ideation: In the solution
development process ask the right
questions, understand existing
solutions and standards, be crystal
clear on the role of ICT, work out
your business model, and identify
your strategic partners;
• Prototype and pilot: Stress test
business models according to
quantifiable metrics, pivot where
necessary, and pinpoint your value;
• Launch and scale: Plan for mass
rollout from inception, make
solutions valuable, and partner
strategically to develop replicable
scalability;
• Manage and retire: Consider
lifecycle management from the
beginning, build a sustainable
ecosystem, and prepare for the next
opportunity.
Conclusions
Precisely because the digital divide
is deepening between the digitally
enabled and the digitally excluded, it’s
never been more urgent to provide
digital enablement. The power of
digital technologies to transform
the lives of people and communities
is now so great that governments,
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