By researching global digital inequality, the International Network of UNESCO Chairs in Communications (Orbicom), based on the developed Infostate index, identifies four groups of countries depending on the ICT development level (Table II):

– highest level – 33 countries, including 15 % of the world’s population: 22 European, 7 Asia-Pacific and 2 Arab countries, as well as Canada and the USA;

– high level – 12 % of the world’s population;

– average level – more than one-third of the world’s population, including large countries, such as China and Indonesia, as well as small countries – Jamaica, the Maldives;

– low level – one-third of the world’s population, including 46 countries, 31 of which are African countries .

Table II. Groups of countries by the ICT development level based on Orbicom's Infostate index

Source: .

It can be said that one of the challenges of modern society is growing digital inequality, or digital gap, which leads to considerable geospatial disproportions in socio-economic development – digital asymmetry of the microsystem. An increase in the digital gap between the world’s regions means that part of the world community is not able to fully use the advantages of ICT resources. Hence, the level of their innovative activity is lower; accordingly, their economic potential is also low. Today, it is important to understand, which forces have accelerated the implementation of ICT. For this purpose, it is necessary to develop a policy aimed at eliminating the obstacles to the introduction of ICT in each individual region, country and even city. Despite the obvious leadership of highly developed countries, the global gap is gradually narrowing due to the dynamic development of such countries as the UAE, Macedonia, Bahrain, Vietnam, Nigeria, Greece and Cape Verde. At the same time, overcoming digital inequality would contribute to the economic growth and integration of backward countries, raising the level of educational, medical, managerial and other services and providing the active attraction of investments and, consequently, the complex-proportional development of the microsystem.

Rapid changes in the level of computer capability, reduction in prices for silicon chips and electronics, as well as achievements in the area of wireless connection have made powerful technologies accessible in many parts of the world, which used to lag behind in terms of technology application. This allows developing countries to obtain significant advantages by joining the information society, especially if a country is focused on raising the level of its readiness for digital transformations. Thus, developing countries enrich themselves by participating in the global digital network gaining the ability to use digital goods and add “value” to the whole community. Obviously, readiness for such changes is increasingly important for the developing world. This readiness creates new opportunities for companies and individuals, erases barriers, which previously presented an obstacle on the way to information, goods and services, and promotes the improvement of cultural, social and political well-being. Among new opportunities offered to countries willing to raise the level of their readiness f