There is a growing concern about the 'Digital Divide' at the APEC. Many are fearful that Digital Divide would worsen the existing gap among the member economies. While many policy prescriptions are suggested and implemented, there is no academic attempt question the validity of the logic of Digital Divide. This paper offers a preliminary attempt to the question from an evolutionary and long-term perspective. Drawing on the time series data on the penetration ratio of fixed and mobile telecommunications lines from the APEC members, it is found that, whereas the current disparities are substantial, disparities in access to information infrastructure have been steadily decreasing and disparities are more rapidly bring declining in fixed network.

The paper concludes that there exist neither firm bases nor compelling evidences which point out the deepening of the Digital Divide over time.

I. Introduction

II. Asking right questions on Digital Divide

III. Access to Internet in the APEC

IV. Current Status of Information Infrastructure at the APEC

V. Analysis of Digital Disparity at the APEC

VI. Conclusion