Digital Maturity in a Country

While the phrase “digitally advanced” has been mentioned a lot lately, not many have stopped to think about what it actually means. What does it really mean when a country is digitally mature?

Digital maturity is not about having the most advanced smartphones, the fastest internet, or the latest apps. It refers to how well a country uses digital tools and infrastructure to drive economic growth, deliver public services, improve lives, and achieve the betterment of society. It is the difference between having technology and using it effectively.

In simple terms, digital maturity reflects how ready a country is to succeed in today’s ever changing digital world. It looks at infrastructure, education, government services, the private sector, and even how everyday people interact with technology.

Let’s take a closer look at what digital maturity means, why it matters, and how countries and our telco industry players can help push it forward.

Understanding Digital Maturity

Digital maturity is about how effectively a country adopts and integrates digital technologies across all areas of society, such as the government, business, education, healthcare, and others. 

This concept goes beyond having the latest devices or platforms. It is all about making technology work for people and businesses.

One example of a digital maturity calculation is the World Bank’s Digital Adoption index (DAI). The DAI measures countries’ digital adoption across three dimensions:

1. Business: Increasing productivity and accelerating broad-based growth for businesses
2. People: expanding opportunities and improving welfare for people
3. Government: increasing the efficiency and accountability of service delivery for government

Countries at higher levels of digital maturity normally have:

• Robust digital infrastructure: Reliable broadband, high mobile penetration, and widespread 4G or 5G coverage
• Digitally capable population: Citizens who can access, understand, and use digital services effectively
• Supportive regulatory and policy frameworks: Regulations that encourage innovation, protect consumers, and ensure fair competition
• Active digital government: Public services that are accessible online, from tax filing to renewing licenses
• Thriving digital economy: Startups, tech companies, and industries that are digitizing processes and products

The above variables do not work in isolation. A country may have a fast internet, but if people cannot afford it or do not know how to use it, then the country cannot be described as digitally mature.

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Why Digital Maturity Matters

Digital maturity affects everything, from quality of life to business growth.

• Economic Growth: A digitally mature economy boosts entrepreneurship, supports SMEs, and makes industries more competitive.
  
  The World Bank estimates that a 10% increase in broadband penetration can lead to a 1.2% rise in GDP in developing countries.

This data was produced using data for 86 countries between 1980 and 2011 showing that developing countries saw a 1.35% GDP increase for every 10% increase in broadband penetration while developed countries saw a 1.19% GDP increase for the same.

• Resilience in Crisis: During the COVID-19 pandemic, digitally mature countries adapted faster. Schools conducted classes online, customers used contactless payment more, and patients turned to telehealth.
  
  South Korea has been credited for its investment in EdTech and high internet penetration which resulted in the country avoiding the large-scale average declines in student learning during COVID-19. Investments include their SMART education programme that features online/ offline training and digitizing the school system.
  
  Countries with limited digital infrastructure struggled more.
  
  
• Public Services: High digital maturity enables smarter government. Estonia, a pioneer in e-governance, offers 100% of public services online. Services include e-voting to getting prescriptions. In fact, citizens can now file their taxes in just 3 - 5 minutes and the efficiency of their security services has improved.
  
  
• Inclusion and Access: Underserved communities become integrated through digital maturity, such as rural farmers accessing market prices through apps, or citizens in remote areas receiving healthcare advice via mobile. 

Digital maturity can have a significant positive impact. It empowers individuals, transforms industries, and helps nations break down traditional development barriers.

The Building Blocks of Digital Maturity

With digital maturity’s importance now established, we can turn our focus to how a nation can improve its digital maturity:

• Connectivity as a Foundation

The starting point is infrastructure such as broadband, mobile networks, and internet penetration. Quality is equally important as availability. A country may have 90% mobile coverage, but if the speed is poor or data is expensive, then adoption suffers.

Example: In South Korea, 97.4% of the population has access to high-speed internet. This has enabled the growth of the e-commerce sector and digital entertainment consumption.

• Digital Skills and Inclusion

Digital maturity is also about people. Are citizens able to use digital services? How confident are they in using digital tools? Is training available, especially for older populations or underserved areas?

Example: Singapore’s “Digital for Life” initiative promotes digital literacy for all ages, with programs tailored for seniors, students, and low-income families.

• Government Leadership and Policy

Good tech needs good governance. Supportive regulations and a vision for a digital future are important. Governments need to invest in digital infrastructure, set clear data privacy laws, and ensure fair access to digital services.

Example: In the Netherlands, the Dutch Digitalisation Strategy (NDS) guides national digital development, focusing on AI, cybersecurity, digital skills, and digital healthcare.

• Business Digitalization

Digital maturity is not just about the public sector. Businesses play a big role in a country’s digital progress as they influence e-commerce to digital payments, supply chain automation to CRM systems.

Example: In India, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) helped millions of small merchants go cashless, leading to a booming digital payments ecosystem.

• Innovation and Ecosystem Support

The most mature digital economies do not just adopt new technology, but they create it. That means supporting research, encouraging experimentation, and building communities where new ideas can grow. A strong tech ecosystem drives continuous growth and keeps a country competitive.

Example: Israel is often called the “Startup Nation” for a reason. It has more startups per capita than most other countries, thanks in part to strong support from government and universities.

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Digital Maturity May Differ Between Urban and Rural Areas

It is important to remember that digital maturity does not look the same across the world. In some countries, urban areas might be far ahead of rural communities. In others, certain industries like banking may be more digital than others like agriculture.

For example, many people in the Philippines use mobile wallets and mobile internet daily, especially in cities. But in remote areas, internet access can still be limited. Meanwhile, the country’s Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector is rapidly embracing cloud tools and automation, showing that digital maturity can grow unevenly.

This means any approach taken must be tailored. What works in a city might not work in the countryside. Policies, products, and training programs all need to reflect this reality.

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Building Digital Maturity Can Benefit Telcos Too

Building digital maturity does not have to be purely for the nation’s benefit, it can be a long-term telco growth strategy too. Building a country’s future can help  telcos secure theirs.

A country that has stronger digital maturity has more people online who are more familiar with digitized services. That means this population has more moments of connectivity that telcos can benefit from. 

From expanded broadband penetration that drives GDP, to the rise of e-government, telehealth, mobile commerce, and internet of things applications, digital maturity creates an environment where telcos can go beyond being utility providers and become ecosystem architects.

Forward thinking telco industry players are already investing in programmes like digital skills training and smart infrastructure as long-term bets on demand expansion and customer loyalty. One example of this form of long-term thinking is Ericsson and AXIAN telecom collaborating to enhance the digital skills of African youths.

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What You Can Do to Support Digital Maturity

As stakeholders in the telecom space, we play vital roles in advancing digital maturity. Whether you are building networks, enabling digital services, or shaping policy discussions, your influence is real. Even small steps count.

Start by asking:

• Are the services we provide easy for everyone to use?
• Can people afford to stay connected?
• Are we working with others to solve digital gaps?

You can help drive initiatives that promote digital inclusion, support SMEs in going online, or offer subsidized access to students. Telcos are no longer just connectivity providers. You are ecosystem enablers.

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Digital Maturity Is a Journey

Reaching digital maturity is not something that happens overnight. It is a process that takes time, coordination, and the right mix of technology and insight. It is a journey that involves infrastructure, policy, innovation, and inclusion.

Countries that stay focused on inclusion, innovation, and impact will see the biggest rewards.

The most successful countries are not the ones with the most gadgets, they are the ones where technology serves everyone, everywhere, including everyday people.

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Ready to Accelerate Your Country’s Digital Maturity?

Whether you are rolling out next-gen networks, launching a digital service, or looking to drive policy change, we can help you take the next step.

Let us talk about how our solutions can support your goals from infrastructure planning and analytics to digital inclusion programs and platform innovation.

Contact us today to explore how we can work together to move your nation forward on its digital journey. Or sign up for a demo to see how our tools make a difference in real-time.

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