Digital inclusion is a human issue, says internet governance expert

Maureen Hilyard, a long-time advocate for digital development and internet governance, particularly in Small Island Developing States, stressed that true digital inclusion hinges on understanding people's fundamental needs.

"Digital inclusion is fundamentally a human issue, not simply a technological one," Hilyard stated in an interview with The Daily Star. She explained that connectivity becomes transformative when it directly addresses goals like education, health, and economic opportunity. Citing her experience in the Cook Islands, she recalled how internet access drastically reduced communication delays for students, turning a months-long wait for teacher feedback into a matter of hours.

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Digital inclusion is fundamentally a human issue, not simply a technological one.

Hilyard advised that Bangladesh, despite its significant digital progress, should prioritize ensuring that expanded internet access translates into concrete benefits. "People do not wake up wanting broadband. They want education, healthcare, communication, and opportunity," she said, underscoring that the goal is to foster better services, greater economic prospects, and stronger human connections.

She also highlighted the crucial role of local Internet Society chapters, like the one in Bangladesh. These chapters, she noted, possess the intimate knowledge of their communities' unique challenges and cultures. Hilyard believes that shared platforms and stronger inter-chapter relationships can enhance knowledge-sharing and amplify their collective impact on global internet governance conversations, ensuring no community is too small to have its voice heard.

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People do not wake up wanting broadband. They want education, healthcare, communication, and opportunity.