“Digital exclusion is costing our economy billions and leaving hundreds of thousands of people behind” – Tackling the West Midlands’ Digital Divide

Suvo Datta, CFO - WM5G   When you ask Suvo Datta about digital exclusion, he doesn't start with technology platforms or infrastructure, he starts with people. "We talk about 600,000 residents being offline like it's just a statistic," he says. "But behind every number is someone's opportunity - a single parent who can't apply for jobs online, a pensioner who can't video call their grandchildren, a young person locked out of the digital economy before they've even started." The West Midlands faces one of the most acute digital divides in the UK. While 96.7% of homes have gigabit broadband available, around 600,000 people (22% of the population) are completely offline. Another 23% are limited users, struggling with affordability, confidence or skills gaps. "The infrastructure is there. The problem largely isn’t down to connectivity but access, affordability and capability,” Suvo explains. “The human cost is staggering but the economic impact is now impossible to ignore. In a region ...