Assessing telecentres as a strategy for bridging the digital divide in rural communities of developing countries: A narrative review

Digital inclusion is increasingly recognized as a pathway to reducing social exclusion, as access to and meaningful use of ICTs enables individuals to participate more fully in economic, social, and civic life. However, a persistent digital divide continues to marginalize rural communities in developing countries, where socioeconomic vulnerability, infrastructural deficits, and limited digital literacy restrict opportunities for digital engagement. Telecentres have emerged as a widely adopted strategy to bridge this divide by offering public access to ICT infrastructure and skills training. Yet, despite numerous telecentre initiatives across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa, questions persist about their effectiveness and long-term sustainability. A clear synthesis of evidence on how telecentres function within rural developing contexts remains underexplored.
This study aims to assess the role of telecentres in addressing both the first-level digital divide (access) and the second-level digital divide (skills and meaningful use), identify challenges to their sustainability, and provide policy recommendations for improvement. Employing a narrative review methodology, the study synthesizes findings from eight empirical studies selected through comprehensive searches in Scopus and Web of Science. Thematic synthesis reveals that telecentres provide critical services that enhance digital access and literacy in rural communities. However, they face challenges categorized into technical, operational, socioeconomic-cultural, and policy/systemic dimensions. The study highlights recommendations, including infrastructure upgrades, capacity-building initiatives, localized content development, inclusive outreach strategies, and stakeholder collaboration. This review contributes to the discourse on digital inclusion by offering insights into how telecentres can be more effectively integrated into community development efforts, ultimately reducing social exclusion and promoting equitable access to digital resources in marginalized rural areas.