Over a decade of advocacy work
Since the beginning, the Broadband Commission has continued to engage in high-level advocacy to promote universal connectivity. One of the central roles of the Commission is to leverage our high-profile Commissioners to advocate for higher priority to be given to the development of broadband infrastructure and services to ensure that the benefits of this technology are realized globally and to spread the message of Broadband for Sustainable Development at key events, conferences and functions.
To date, the Commission’s outcomes have included a State of Broadband report published annually since 2010, more than 30 Working Groups on thematic areas from health to education, and bi-annual meetings gathering Commissioners and leaders to track progress and plan action. The Commission has also been instrumental in launching global initiatives, including:
- EQUALS: The Global Partnership for Gender Equality in the Digital Age
- Giga: The ITU/UNICEF Global Initiative to Connect Every School to Internet by 2030
- Child Online Safety Universal Declaration
In May 2010, the ITU and UNESCO established the Broadband Commission for Digital Development in response to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon's call to step-up UN efforts to meet the Millennium Development Goals.
The aim of the Commission is to boost the importance of broadband on the international policy agenda and expand broadband access in every country, as key to accelerating progress towards national and international development targets.
In September 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals replaced the Millennium Development Goals as the international policy framework for socio-economic development and poverty reduction.
In this year the Broadband Commission reassessed its targets to align with the SDGs, recognizing broadband as a fundamental element for achieving all 17 goals.
In 2020, the Broadband Commission celebrated its 10 year Anniversary by publishing a Special Edition of its flagship State of Broadband Report, in which it reexamines its policy recommendations and purpose.
In response to the COVID19 pandemic the Commission collaborated to produce the Agenda for Action, initiatives and applications to address the crisis.
Finally, the Universal Connectivity Goal was established in the Commission's newly released Universal Connectivity Manifesto.
With over 50 Commissioners representing international organizations, the private sector, governments and civil society, the Commission continues its work to realize its goal of Universal Connectivity.
2 State of Broadband Reports
People-Centred Approaches to Universal Broadband
Accelerating broadband for new realities
Published Working Group Reports:
21st-Century Financing Models
Digital Learning
Epidemic Management
Virtual Health & Care
Smartphone Access
AI Capacity Building
Current Working Groups include:
Connectivity for MSMEs
Data for Learning
3 Open Letters