2013 Annual Fall Meeting of the Broadband Commission

Date

September 21, 2013

Location

New York, USA

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As we mark the start of the countdown to 2015 – the due date for delivery of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – the Broadband Commission is ideally positioned to offer key insights to the UN on how to roll out broadband for development to achieve the MDGs, based on the experience and insights of our Commissioners. The Commission can help ensure that the power of broadband networks and services can be fully harnessed in the frameworks of the post-2015 development agenda.

During this meeting Intel, Grameen and the Minister of Communications of Macedonia signed the MOU that will bring the power of state-of-the art computing technology to agricultural communities in Macedonia. The agreement was signed by two UN Broadband Commissioners – Ivo Ivanovski, Minister of Information Society and Administration, Republic of Macedonia and John Davies, Vice President of Intel.

“Beyond 2015, the way forward should be to unleash the smart use of broadband to enhance delivery of services in education, health care, banking and other sectors.‎ Broadband should also empower young people in the developing world to innovate and be more competitive globally,"

“The Millennium Development Goals should be a strong partnership to direct actions at the national and international levels, and they should be a shared responsibility. It is certain that broadband can make a tremendous contribution towards their attainment.”

“The new analysis in this year’s report shows progress in broadband availability, but we must not lose sight of those who are being left behind. While more and more people are coming online, over 90% of people in the world’s 49 Least Developed Countries remain totally unconnected. Internet – and particularly broadband Internet – has become a key tool for social and economic development, and needs to be prioritized, even in the world’s poorest nations. Technology combined with relevant content and services can help us bridge urgent development gaps in areas like health, education, environmental management and gender empowerment.”

“The global roll-out of broadband carries vast potential to enhance learning opportunities, to facilitate the exchange of information, and to increase access to content that is linguistically and culturally diverse. It can widen access to learning, enhance its quality and empower men and women, girls and boys, with new skills and opportunities. But this does not happen by itself – it requires leadership, planning and action.”

Released Reports and Materials

Doubling Digital Opportunities – enhancing the inclusion of women & girls in the information Society
The Report of the Broadband Commission Task Force on Sustainable Development: Transformational Solutions for 2015 and Beyond
The State of Broadband 2013
The State of Broadband 2013 Key Messages