This so-called digital divide can run parallel to racial and socio-economic divisions. North American studies suggest people from ethnic minorities are five times less likely to have access to the "connected society" than their Caucasian counterparts.

But Eric Benhamou, chief executive of the networking company 3Com and a member of US President Clinton's Information Technology Advisory Committee, warns against limiting analysis to race.

"In many cases, skin colour has little to do with why they are not connected," he says. "Some do not know about the new technology; others are frightened of it.

"Even though many of us praise the efficiency of the market, I do not believe the market, by itself, can answer this question."

Mr Benhamou, who holds both US and European passports, believes education and social flexibility are the keys. He argues that Europe, although trailing in the technology race, is better placed to bridge the digital divide on both counts.

"In the US, the decentralised nature of the educational system and the way it is funded means that there is a natural propensity to exacerbate differences between regions," he says. "A poor area will be the last to have computers, to be connected to networks, and to have trained teachers. The differences between the haves and the have-nots get greater.

"In most European countries, national governments play a levelling role which mitigates these effects."

Mr Benhamou believes Europe has a second, significant advantage: the ability to harness diversity in its citizens.

"This is a by-product of the creation of the European community," he says. "The internet age breaks down barriers. Any developments which could be expected to have an impact - research, marketing or government projects, for example - will require the bringing together of differently skilled individuals from different backgrounds. The ability to do this exists now in Europe's new generation, but to a lesser extent in the US."

Mr Benhamou accepts there is no easy or quick way to improve the situation. There are some obvious answers, such as better educational infrastructure, but institutional reform is difficult. The US government must grasp the nettle if it does not want to see many of its citizens left on the wrong side of the digital divide. Europe, if it exploits its advantages, could avoid a similar dilemma.

Email Alan Cane at alan.cane@ft.com