Targets 2025: Connecting the Other Half
Bringing Online the World’s 3.8 Billion Unconnected People Information Session
The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development a high-powered and influential community which includes top industry CEOs, senior policy-makers and government representatives, international agencies, academia and organizations, since 2011 is measuring and reporting in its flagship ‘State of Broadband’ annual report on a set of ambitious Broadband Targets for 2015 which was the first advocacy framework in line with The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), predecessors of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In 2018, given the shift towards new UN development Agenda 2030 and new challenges of a digital world, the Commission re-evaluated and launched a new framework of Targets 2025 in support of “Connecting the Other Half” of the world’s population. These targets seek to expand broadband infrastructure, and Internet access and use by populations around the world, in support of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations.
Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development 2025 Targets:
- By 2025, all countries should have a funded National Broadband Plan or strategy, or include broadband in their Universal Access and Service (UAS) Definition.
- By 2025, entry-level Broadband services should be made affordable in developing countries, at less than 2% of monthly Gross National Income (GNI) per capita.
- By 2025 Broadband / Internet user penetration should reach: 75% worldwide, 65% in developing countries, and 35% in least developed countries.
- By 2025, 60% of youth and adults should have achieved at least a minimum level of proficiency in sustainable digital skills.
- By 2025, 40% of the world’s population should be using digital financial services.
- By 2025, overcome unconnectedness of Micro-, Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises should be reduced by 50%, by sector.
- By 2025, gender equality should be achieved across all targets.
This session’s objective will be to present the set of new Targets in the context of the current changes in the digital ecosystem and discuss them in relation to a previous set of Targets 2015. Invited speakers will explain the evolution of the Targets including the affordability, access, gender equality etc. While the WSIS Forum audience will have a chance to interact with The Broadband Commission representatives and learn about the development of the Advocacy Agenda of the Broadband Commission in order to bring online the worlds 3.8 billion people not connected to the Internet. The session will specifically serve as a forum to discuss the role of all stakeholders in achieving these ambitious Targets contributing to the SDGs, as a milestone towards 2030.
Agenda
Q&A: Mrs Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Chief of ITU’s Strategic Planning and Membership & Executive Secretary to the Broadband Commission
Background & History: Mrs Phillippa Biggs, Senior Policy Analyst, ITU and The Broadband Commission Content Coordinator
Objectives and Achievements:
- Mr Patrick Nyirishema, Director General, Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA)
- Mr Paul Mitchell, Senior Director Technology Policy, Microsoft
- Mr Tomas Lamanauskas, Group Director Public Policy, VEON
Moderator: Mrs Phillippa Biggs, Senior Policy Analyst, ITU and The Broadband Commission Content Coordinator
Speakers:
- Mrs Doreen Bogdan-Martin
- Mrs Phillippa Biggs
- Mr Patrick Nyirishema
- Mr Paul Mitchell
- Mr Tomas Lamanauskas
