2016 Annual Fall Meeting of the Broadband Commission

Date

September 18, 2016

Location

New York, USA

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Following the practice of its annual meetings held in conjunction with the United Nations General Assembly, the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development will meet on September 18th in New York during the 71st session of the UNGA. The United Nations General Assembly session this year will put an emphasis on ensuring implementation of the new global development goals.

In this context, high-level Commissioners and Special Guests will address the questions of how to build on broadband and ensure that no one is left behind, convinced that deployment of broadband will play a critical role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

For updates from the meeting follow @UNBBCom and #Broadband,#ICT4SDG on Twitter.

Announcement of the Connectivity Project by Zain, Facebook and UNHCR

The project aims to provide free, open and high-speed Wi-Fi internet connectivity to refugees in the Kingdom of Jordan for five years.

The connectivity project backed by Zain Group, UNHCR and Facebook will offer unlimited, 24/7 outdoor and indoor Wi-Fi access points through Zain Jordan’s high-speed 4G mobile network.

"We must remain ambitious. The Global Goals provide both a useful framework, and also the opportunity, to raise our focus beyond connecting people, towards innovation, transformation and growth. This requires even bolder thinking, and higher expectations of everyone involved. Broadband can't solve all the world's problems, but we know it can accelerate progress, in overcoming the biggest obstacles to global prosperity and wellbeing."

"In the knowledge society, the equal participation of all is necessary, in particular the equal participation of women. This is why I support EQUALS."

"Investment in infrastructure for the roll out of broadband worldwide remains a major challenge that requires a more concerted effort and innovative public-private partnerships if we are to connect everyone, everywhere. I am also alarmed that we are seeing indications that the digital gender divide is growing, not shrinking. Given everything we know about the importance of women's access to digital technology, and what it means for the next generation. This is most regrettable. I urge government and industry to adopt a zero tolerance policy towards gender digital divides."

"A central tenet of the Broadband Commission is that the digital revolution must be a development revolution. It must be a revolution for human rights and dignity. It must be a revolution that empowers every woman and man, every society. This revolution is racing across the world, but we know the divides that remain. We must continue to collaborate and innovate together to achieve full global connectivity and inclusion."

"The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) bring together the needs of the people and the planet, the needs for sustainable economic growth, and the need for peace and partnership as the necessary elements for the future of our world. The new development agenda is universal, indivisible, must leave no one behind, and must address the digital divide, otherwise we won't succeed."

"The Broadband Commission's actions have produced results which are beyond my greatest expectations. It is now taken as a given around the globe that sustainable development is only possible if information and communication technology (ICTs), and particularly broadband, are deployed as a cross cutting catalyst for all three pillars of sustainable development. Thanks to the work of the Broadband Commission, the ITU and UNESCO and many others. Member States agreed last year in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that ICT, and global interconnectedness has great potential to accelerate human progress, to bridge the digital divide and to develop knowledge societies."

Released Reports and Materials

State of Broadband Report 2016

2016 Annual Fall Meeting of the Broadband Commission

Date

Location

Gallery

All Fall Meetings

Announcement of the Connectivity Project by Zain, Facebook and UNHCR

Related Links

Released Reports and Materials

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