There isn’t a single definition of digital exclusion. Generally, it refers to parts of the population that are not able to use the internet in the ways needed to fully take part in modern society.
Ofcom’s 2022 Digital Exclusion Review sets out some of the key issues and barriers relating to:
- Affordability — those who struggle to afford access to internet or suitable devices will either go without or face other financial challenges to keep using the internet.
- Access — those who do not have a suitable internet connection at home or elsewhere. This can be for a number of reasons.
- Ability — those who do not have the digital skills and/or confidence to use the internet in a safe and informed way, or face challenges related to disability.
Some people are more likely than others to experience digital exclusion. Leading digital inclusion charity Good Things Foundation suggests that digital exclusion is linked to being socially and economically excluded. It can affect people differently and can depend on the persons characteristics or experiences. For example, their age, whether they have a disability, where they live, their housing situation and how they did at school.
Data & Resources
OFCOM Connected Nations Report
OFCOM’s Connected Nations report provides data on the coverage and usage of fixed broadband and mobile networks within the UK.
As of 2024, OFCOM data shows South Tyneside had 86.8% gigabit capable broadband coverage. Just 1.6% of premises had broadband speeds under 30mbps.
The borough also has 100% 4G coverage and 97.4% 5G coverage.
In all of these measures, South Tyneside had better coverage than the regional and national averages.
If any of the maps shown above fail to load, please refresh the page or visit the ONS Digital Connectivity Indicators page for further info.
The Digital Exclusion Risk Index (DERI) tool was developed by Greater Manchester Combined Authority and indicates where digital exclusion is most likely to occur.
The risk index covers every LSOA and uses 12 different indicators, covering demography, deprivation and broadband access (e.g. IMD score, age of population over 75, average download speed, percentage of population with no qualifications, pension credit claimants, social grade). For further information on LSOAs and other geographies used within this site and what they are, please see our Geography page.
The indicators are weighted to provide a score between 0 (low risk of digital exclusion) and 10 (high risk of digital exclusion).
According to the DERI, in South Tyneside, the LSOAs most at risk fall within Whiteleas (4.805) and Boldon Colliery (4.737, 4.615). Those least at risk are found within Hebburn North (1.041), Westoe (1.418), and Hebburn South (1.903).
The Digital Propensity Index (DPI) measures how confident households are in using government online resources based on how households chose to respond to Census 2021 contact letters.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) sent a mix of digital and physical requests for Census responses to neighbourhoods nationwide to determine their natural tendency or inclination (propensity) to respond digitally, as opposed to physically posting their response. The DPI then combines expected and actual online response rates to estimate an LSOAs digital propensity percentage or ‘score’.
This measure is used by the ONS to evaluate and inform their approach to distributing physical and digital Census contact letters, though the data can be extrapolated to provide a sense of digital capability at an LSOA level. For further information on LSOAs and other geographies used within this site and what they are, please see our Geography page.
Minimum Digital Living Standard
The Minimum Digital Living Standard (MDLS), a research project led by the University of Liverpool, aims to set a benchmark for digital inclusion by working with members of the public to understand what they think. A minimum standard of living:
“includes, but is more than having accessible internet, adequate equipment, and the skills, knowledge and support people need. It is about being able to communicate, connect and engage with opportunities safely and with confidence”.
The map below shows the proportion of people who fall under the MDLS. It should be noted that this is only in reference to families with children and not the overall population within an area. The map generates estimates at an MSOA level – for further information on MSOAs, please see our Geography page.
Source: mdls.org.uk
Data for South Tyneside shows that Brockley Whins, Jarrow Town, South Shields West and West Harton have the highest proportion of residents living below the minimum digital living standard
West Boldon, Harton West and Westoe have the highest proportion of residents living either in line with or above the minimum digital living standard.
Constituency data: broadband coverage and speeds
This source uses OFCOM data to show broadband connectivity and speeds across parliamentary constituencies and their wards.
The South Shields constituency has an average download speed of 163mbps and 84.4% gigabit capable broadband coverage. 11.6% of premises receive less than 30mbps (with 3.4% receiving under 10mbps).
The Jarrow and Gateshead East constituency has an average download speed of 193.1mbps and 92.4% gigabit capable broadband coverage. 14.2% of premises receive less than 30mbps (with a further 5.5% under 10mbps).
You can use the PowerBI Dashboard below to find more data on a your constituency. The average download speeds shown here are mean averages. These are skewed upwards by a small proportion of lines receiving disproportionately high speeds (1,000Mbps+). The typical (median) download speed is around 45% lower than the mean in most constituencies.
Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk
For further information on parliamentary constituencies and other geographies used within this site and what they are, please see our Geography page.
The Lloyds Consumer Digital Index uses transactional and survey data to understand the ‘Essential Digital Skills’ of the population. Lloyds categorise digital ability into foundational level (the most fundamental tasks to set up an individual for success online), and essential digital skills for life (the digital skills required to thrive in modern society).
The report finds that 92% of those aged 18+ in the North East have essential digital skills for life. Just 81% have foundational digital skills, the lowest proportion of all English regions.
As of 2020, the ONS found that 9.6% (66,000) of people aged 16+ in Tyne and Wear had either never used the internet or had not used it within the last three months. This compares to 7.8% (4.167 million) of people aged 16+ across UK had never used the internet or had not within the last three months.
CDRC Internet User Classification
The Internet User Classification (IUC) analyses consumer, survey and open data to categorise neighbourhoods into one of ten unique classes which describe typical resident internet usage and engagement.
The classification uses CDRC data inputs which include demographics, consumer data, local Internet infrastructure and survey responses describing the use, frequency and experience of Internet users.
This CDRC dataset is based on findings from 2018 at an LSOA level – for further information on LSOAs and other geographies used within this site and what they are, please see our Geography page.
Internal Data and Reports
South Tyneside Council also produces its own reports and presentations using a mix of internal and publicly available data, as well as data and intelligence from local partners: