Digital inequality in Ecuador: a multivariate analysis of ICT access and use using multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) and ENEMDU 2025 data.

BACKGROUND: Digital inequality remains a persistent challenge in middle-income countries, where access to information and communication technologies (ICTs), digital skills, and usage patterns are unevenly distributed across social groups. In Ecuador, despite policy efforts to expand connectivity, significant disparities persist across demographic and territorial dimensions. METHODS: This study analyzed digital inequality using nationally representative data from the ICT module of the ENEMDU 2025 survey. A cross-sectional design was applied, incorporating both household and individual data. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Cramér's V, and Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) were used. All analyses were conducted in Python using Google Colab, applying expansion factors to ensure national representativeness. RESULTS: Internet access reached 71.3% of households, while 82.4% of individuals reported internet use. However, marked inequalities were identified. Age emerged as the strongest determinant, with substantially lower usage among older adults. Significant urban-rural gaps were observed in both internet access and computer ownership. No statistically significant gender differences were found in mobile phone ownership. MCA revealed distinct profiles of digital inclusion and exclusion shaped by age, education, and territory. DISCUSSION: Digital inequality in Ecuador is multidimensional and structurally embedded. Expanding connectivity alone is insufficient; targeted policies addressing digital skills, access to productive technologies, and territorial disparities are necessary to achieve inclusive digital development and reduce persistent inequalities.