Wanted: $428bn to connect remaining three billion people to the internet
The world will need to invest $428bn to connect the remaining three billion people aged 10 and above still without access to the internet by 2030, according to new findings released this week.
The aim is big, no doubt. But not unachievable according to the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) latest report on connectivity. The estimate not only covers infrastructure, policy and regulatory frameworks, and basic digital skills and local content at both the global and regional levels, but also the means necessary to extend networks to unserved communities.
Why this is important. As shown in the figure below, by 2019 nearly half of the global adult population was still unconnected to broadband.
The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed severe inequalities around the world, especially in terms of access, affordability, and use of the internet. With many services pushed online, the risk of the gap increasing and leaving part of the population behind is real. No connection means no access to information, with far-reaching consequences on all levels.
To achieve the $428bn target by 2030 action must be taken, with infrastructure investments at its core.
« Cooperation is a must but it is not enough. We need innovative ways of connecting people, fostering innovation, and promoting new technologies. It is up to us to find new ways of collaborating on solutions to chronic financing barriers, investment brakes, and implementation hurdles. »