Bridge Across Communities: How reversing digital exclusion can level up Europe and build political resilience

But millions across Europe remain excluded. 44% of EU citizens lack basic digital skills,1 and just last year, one in five rural households still had no 5G coverage. Digital inclusion is no longer just a missed opportunity in Europe. Failure to act has far reaching consequences for Europe’s economy, social cohesion and political stability. For example, in the Czech Republic, digital democracy indicators remain below the EU average, with low online civic participation and insufficient verification of disinformation. These challenges highlight the need for further steps to strengthen trust, resilience, and critical thinking in the digital environment.

The whole Vodafone report on Digital Inclusion read here.

Digital inclusion can restore trust and strengthen our resilience for future generations. Policymakers have the tools to deliver real change. If individual states continue to expand access to high-quality infrastructure and develop digital skills, they can boost economic activity and private sector productivity. This in turn can increase tax revenues and fully harness digitalization and innovation in public services such as healthcare and education.