The Effects of Delays in the Dissemination and Usage of Broadband Internet

Information and telecommunication technology development is undeniably one of the most important factors for global knowledge diffusion and digital society creation processes in the contemporary world economy. The purpose of this paper is to analyze ICT infrastructure advances having taken place in the European Union, Japan and the United States in last fifteen years, and - based on the analysis results - to specify the most significant, present and potential future problems for Polish economy due to its ICT usage backwardness. While ICT infrastructure development level in Poland is closing to the EU averages, still the vital issue is lack of Internet usage possibilities and increasing digital divide between urban and rural regions, which in the near future can constrain a socioeconomic growth and competitiveness of Polish economy.