Digital divide in Italy among individuals using domain names

Nowadays, the Internet network is playing a central role in the social and economic system. It is diffusing quicker and quicker, spreading from developed to developing countries and involving a wider and wider set of human activities. The Institute of Informatic and Telematic of the Italian National Research Council (IIT-CNR), who is the ".it" domain names Registry, is carrying out a study to analyse the diffusion of Internet in Italy. Our research shows the adoption of domain names by Individuals. Taking into account that "it" registration procedures allow for multiple registrations, the dependent variables of our analysis are penetration rates at regional and provincial level calculated as the percentage of individuals that register at least one domain name. The data show that Internet diffusion is correlated to local development as measured by income, infrastructure endowment and innovation capabilities. Strong inequalities emerge between the three main Italian macro-areas (North, Centre, South). In addition to a classical North-South divide, there are also severe within-region disparities. Large metropolitan areas exhibit larger penetration rates and in most cases seem to spread over the territory. At a national level, the geographical distribution of domain names is skewed and highly concentrated.