Digital inclusion and community development in rural areas of Cuenca

Abstract

Digital inclusion represents an important component of rural community development, although having an internet connection does not ensure its educational, productive, and institutional use. This study aimed to analyze the conditions of access to and use of digital technologies and their connection with community development in rural areas of the Cuenca canton. A nonexperimental, cross-sectional, and descriptive design was applied using a documentary review of scientific articles, territorial information from the Cuenca development plan, and official microdata collected in July 2025. The subsample included 147 residents of rural areas, and the results were calculated through frequencies, weighted percentages, and descriptive measures. Access was characterized by the predominance of smartphones and daily internet use, whereas computer use remained limited. Communication and entertainment concentrated the main digital activities, while education, work, electronic banking, and online government procedures showed lower participation. No uses related to digital sales or health services were recorded. The widest gaps appeared among older adults and people without formal education. The findings confirmed that rural connectivity requires digital literacy, adapted services, and institutional coordination to become a resource for productive, educational, and community capacities. The study contributes a multidimensional interpretation that distinguishes technological availability from effective digital inclusion.