State of Broadband 2021
Commissioner Insights
Disclaimer: The ideas and opinions expressed in these insights are those of the authors; they do not necessarily reflect those of ITU and UNESCO or the Broadband Commission. The mention of specific companies, products or services does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by ITU or UNESCO or Broadband Commission in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned.
Now connectivity is everyone’s business
In the years previous to 2020 we were working under implicit assumptions about connectivity. That it was a prerequisite for participation in the new era of digital trade, a necessary capability for individuals and enterprises to get online, market their products and services and get paid…
The digital transformation in Spain for the economy and society at large
Connectivity infrastructures are at the cornerstones of the digital society. People’s lives, business activities, education, health and social services are highly dependent on the quality and the resilience of the digital networks. During the COVID-19 pandemic, in Spain we focus in keeping the country connected. Guaranteeing the continuity of services…
Preventing a new internet digital (usage) divide
During the COVID-19 pandemic, connecting with friends and family, work, entertainment and education shifted significantly to online channels. Without being connected to the Internet, people cannot participate in many of the essential elements of life that have gone online…
ICT technologies & COVID recovery
In 2020, COVID-19 spread across the globe, significantly impacting work, life, the global economy, and society at large. Public sectors, private sectors, and NGOs, among others, have taken many actions to mitigate the impact…
Closing the digital divide to reach universal connectivity
The Broadband Commission’s work, through detailed compilation of data and elaboration of policy and regulatory recommendations, supports the global agenda for bridging the digital divide and reaching the global connectivity aspirations. One of the reasons the Broadband Commission has been able to achieve very commendable results is its guiding…
Three key recommendations for the commission to push forward digital inclusion and achieve the 2025 targets and the 2030 SDGs
The pandemic had increased the number of poor people all over the world, the impact was higher in the rural areas in which 80% of the poorest of the world live. Digital inclusion can enable vulnerable people to thrive and be resilient to external shocks such as pandemics and climate change related phenomena, among others. It is time for pushing forward…
Connectivity’s critical role in climate action
Climate change is here and it is now. For those who think it is something to come in the future, a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) sets the record straight. The WMO analysis shows that the world is now consistently 1 degree Celsius hotter than the late 1800s and that temperatures are rising fast…
Nurturing innovative business models and advancing digital inclusion
Innovative digital services are helping to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by providing access to health, education, and financial services. However, 4 billion people, or half of the world’s population, still do not use the internet even though 3.4 billion between them – the usage gap – live in an area covered by a mobile broadband network…
The digital divide – New frameworks can unlock the funding gap
As Commissioners we have all long known the problem of the digital divide. 3.5 billion people in the developing world remain unconnected to Broadband networks. The IMF reports that only 28% of Africans use the Internet and Internet usage is as little as 17% in some low-income countries according to the World Economic Forum. More of the same policies…
