| 2010-2020
Archive: Press Releases
- Broadband Commission calls for people-centred solutions to achieve universal connectivity Geneva (virtual), 20 September 2021 – Global call for frontier technologies, impactful partnerships and collaborative financing approaches to unleash the power of connectivity
- Broadband Commission deliberates building an inclusive post-COVID digital future Geneva, 23 March 2021 – Calls for innovative mechanisms and impactful partnerships to make the best use of broadband Internet
- Broadband Commission calls on world leaders to prioritize universal connectivity as fundamental to sustainable development & global recovery
New York (virtual), 18 September 2020 – New ‘State of Broadband’ report warns of stark inequalities laid bare by COVID-19 crisis - Special emergency session of the Broadband Commission pushes for action to extend internet access and boost capacity to fight COVID-19
Geneva, 3 April 2020– UN advisory body sets out an Agenda for Action to ensure the networks the whole world is now relying on are robust, resilient and within reach of as many people as possible - At Davos, UN Broadband Commission advocates for financing inclusive meaningful connectivity for sustainable impact
Davos, 21 January 2020– The ITU UNESCO Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development examined new financing models that would help accelerate ‘meaningful universal connectivity’ on the sidelines of the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
- Global internet growth stalls and focus shifts to ‘meaningful universal connectivity’ to drive global development
New York, 22 September 2019 -Traditional ap proaches to driving internet network roll-out and uptake are failing to reach the remaining half of the global population still lacking online access, according to a new report issued in New York today by the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development.
- In Silicon Valley, UN Broadband Commission advocates for new innovative partnerships and business models to expand broadband networks for digital transformation
Menlo Park, 01 May 2019 -The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development held its 2019 Spring Meeting in Menlo Park, United States of America, 28-29 April, under the theme “Shaping the future of broadband for sustainable development”.
- Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development advances efforts to connect the world’s nearly four billion “other half”
New York City, 23 September 2018 – Broadband technology is critical to connecting the 3.8 billion people around the globe who still do not have access to the Internet—the world’s “other half.”
- More and more governments now benchmark broadband status in their national plans, says new global report
Geneva, 11 September 2018 – A new report issued today by the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development shows that a growing number of governments now benchmark the status of broadband in their national broadband plans.
- High-speed Internet improves economies and livelihoods in least developed countries, says new UN Broadband Commission report
New York, 12 July 2018: The UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development’s Working Group on Broadband for the Most Vulnerable Countries today issued a report at the United Nations Headquarters, showing that broadband (high-speed Internet) plays a valuable role in helping Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to overcome vulnerabilities, grow economies and enhance people’s livelihoods.
- UN Broadband Commission advances action towards broadband digital connectivity for all
Kigali, Rwanda – 7 May 2018 – The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development at its 2018 Spring Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda 6-7 May, committed to concrete actions [GM1] that will advance the roll-out of broadband around the world – and with it, much-needed digital connectivity.
- UN Broadband Commission sets global broadband targets for bringing online the world’s 3.8 billion people not connected to the Internet
Davos, 23 January 2018: Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development launches 2025 targets to support “Connecting the Other Half” - Space-based and upper-atmosphere communications key to sustainable development
New York, 18 September 2017 – Broadband Commission Working Group report identifies important role for space-based and upper-atmosphere technologies in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
- Broadband “remarkable tool” to serve the global good, says UN Secretary-General António Guterres
New York, 18 September 2017 : Global leaders convene to leverage broadband for Sustainable Development Goals and address real risks that vulnerable populations could fall deeper into digital divide - Working Group on Education releases Report
New York, 17 September 2017 : The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development’s Working Group on Education, which is chaired by the Commissioners Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO and Mr John Galvin Vice-President, Government and Education of Intel Corporation, launched a new report today, entitled “Digital skills for life and work“.
- Working Group on Technologies in Space and the Upper-Atmosphere releases Report
New York, 17 September 2017 : The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development’s Working Group on Technologies in Space and the Upper-Atmosphere, which is chaired by Commissioner Mr Rupert Pearce, Chief Executive Officer of Inmarsat Plc, launched a new report today, entitled “Identifying the potential of new communications technologies for sustainable development“.
- Broadband playing increasingly important role in development, says new global report
Geneva, 14 September 2017 : Broadband technologies are today driving substantial transformation in many development-related sectors including health, education, financial inclusion and food security, making them a key accelerator towards achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), says a new report released by the UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development.
- UN Broadband Commission: Time for a “New Deal” if Broadband is to reach everyone, everywhere
Geneva, 16 March 2017 The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development held its 2017 Spring Meeting in Hong Kong, SAR China, today, and committed to concrete actions that will spur the roll-out of broadband around the world.
- New Broadband Commission call to action provides guide to close digital gender gap
Hong Kong, 15 March 2017: The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development’s Working Group on the Digital Gender Divide, co-chaired by the GSMA and UNESCO, released a new report, Recommendations for action: bridging the gender gap in Internet and broadband access and use, which sets specific recommendations to address the barriers women face in access and use of the Internet.
- How to realize the promise of digital health
Barcelona, 27 February 2017 : The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development’s Working Group on Digital Health, co-chaired by the Novartis Foundation and Nokia, has launched the report “Digital Health: A call for Government Leadership and Cooperation between ICT and Health.”
- Davos 2017: World leaders discuss fresh approaches to connecting the next billion
Davos, 20 January 2017 – Global leaders must urgently accelerate progress toward universal and affordable access to information and communication technologies (ICTs), if the world is to meet the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, according to the UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, which met this week at Davos, Switzerland, during a Special Session co-organized with the World Economic Forum.
- Working Group on Demand Releases Report
Bangkok, 16 November 2016 – The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development’s Working Group on Demand, which is chaired by the Commissioner, John Galvin, GM and Vice-President of Intel Corporation’s Government and Education group, launched a new report today, entitled Enabling the use of ICTs and Broadband: Understanding what works to stimulate ICT adoption.
- Urgent Need to Address the Digital Divide if we are to achieve the Global Development Agenda by 2030
New York, 19 September 2016 – The Sustainable Development Goals cannot be achieved without affordable and universal access to ICTs and broadband connectivity, according to members of the Broadband Commission who met on 18 September for the annual Commission meeting, held on the eve of the opening of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly.
- China, India now world’s largest Internet markets
Geneva, 15 September 2016, : UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development releases new country-by-country data on the state of broadband access worldwide.
- UN Broadband Commission to government leaders
Dubai, 14 March 2016 – The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development’s 13th full meeting, held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, yesterday, reached consensus on the need for a new set of connectivity targets to help governments more effectively harness broadband networks and services to drive progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
- Global partners join forces at Davos to connect the unconnected by 2020
Davos, 21 January 2016 – A new global dialogue focused on getting the next 1.5 billion unconnected people online was forged at a special session of the UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development held at the World Economic Forum in Davos today.
- UN Broadband Commission affirms new focus on Sustainable Development Goals
New York, 26 September 2015 – The power of broadband to leapfrog development roadblocks and bring access to education, healthcare and employment opportunities should put high-speed information and communication technology (ICT) network roll-out at the top of every country’s SDG strategy, according to members of the UN Broadband Commission for Digital Development, which met in New York today.
- Urgent action needed to combat online violence against women & girls, says new UN report
New York, 24 September 2015 – A new report released today by the United Nations Broadband Commission reveals that almost three quarters of women online have been exposed to some form of cyber violence, and urges governments and industry to work harder and more effectively together to better protect the growing number of women and girls who are victims of online threats and harassment.
- Global broadband growth slows sharply: 4 billion still offline
Geneva, 21 September, 2015 – Broadband Internet is failing to reach those who could benefit most, with Internet access reaching near-saturation in the world’s rich nations but not advancing fast enough to benefit the billions of people living in the developing world, according to the 2015 edition of the State of Broadband report.
- Broadband the key to bringing ‘education to all’, says UN Broadband Commission
Paris, 27 February 2015 – Mobile phones, tablets and e-readers with broadband connectivity could prove the long-sought panacea in the global effort to bring quality, ubiquitous multidisciplinary educational opportunities to people everywhere, especially the world’s poorest or most isolated communities, according to the UN Broadband Commission for Digital Development, which held its 11th meeting at UNESCO headquarters in Paris today.
- UN Broadband Commission releases new country-by-country data on state of broadband access worldwide
New York, 21 September, 2014– Over 50% of the global population will have Internet access within three years’ time, with mobile broadband over smartphones and tablets now the fastest growing technology in human history, according to the 2014 edition of the State of Broadband report.
- Broadband and ICTs for post-2015 Sustainable Development agenda
Geneva, 16 May 2014 – ITU presented the World Telecommunication and Information Society Award to three eminent personalities: Mr Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda; Ms Park Geun-hye, President of the Republic of Korea; and Mr Carlos Slim, Chairman, Grupo Carso and President of the Carlos Slim Foundation. The three laureates were honoured in recognition of their leadership and dedication towards promoting ICTs and broadband connectivity as a means of achieving sustainable development
- Broadband can solve the global development gap
Dublin, 23 March 2014 : Broadband must be recognized as the vital development enabler in post-2015 UN Sustainable Development framework, says Dublin meeting of UN Broadband Commission
- New ITU broadband standard fast-tracks route to 1Gbit/s
Geneva, 11 December 2013 – ITU membership has reached first-stage approval of G.fast, the new ITU broadband standard capable of achieving access speeds of up to 1 Gbit/s over existing telephone wires. Within 250-metre range of a distribution point, G.fast’s fibre-like speeds give service providers a tool to supplement and further monetize fibre to the home (FTTH) strategies with the customer self-installation benefits of ADSL2
- Broadband Manifesto champions transformative power of high-speed networks to drive socio-economic development
Geneva, 26 November 2013: Broadband a vital element of new sustainable development goals
- First global report on broadband and gender
New York, 21 September 2013: UN Broadband Commission releases first global report on ‘broadband and gender’: 200 million fewer women online
- UN Broadband Commission releases latest country-by-country data on state of broadband access worldwide
New York, 21 September 2013: UN Broadband Commission releases latest country-by-country data on state of broadband access worldwide
- Broadband Commission Open Letter to UNSG’s Panel of Eminent Persons.
Geneva, 5 April 2013: Broadband Commission Open Letter to UNSG’s Panel of Eminent Persons
- UN Broadband Commission sets new gender target.
Mexico City, 17 March 2013: UN Broadband Commission sets new gender target: getting more women connected to ICTs ‘critical’ to post-2015 development agenda
- ITU to partner with Smart Women gender empowerment and education platform.
Geneva, 17 March 2013: Smartphone-based platform targets gender empowerment through harnessing global ‘mobile miracle
- Broadband ‘the missing link’ in global access to education
Geneva, 25 February 2013: New report from the Broadband Commission highlights strategies for leveraging high-speed networks to realize dream of ‘Education for All’
- UN Broadband Commission uses power of social networks to urge the world to ‘B more with #Broadband’
New York, 23 September 2012 UN Broadband Commission uses power of social networks to urge the world to ‘B more with #Broadband’ On September 24 tweet your support for digital inclusion for all
- UN Broadband Commission for Digital Development releases first global broadband report.
New York, 23 September 2012: UN Broadband Commission for Digital Development releases first global broadband report.
Broadband deployment accelerating worldwide, but prices still need to come down
- Broadband Commission Open Letter to G20: Bring broadband to the world
Geneva, 15 June 2012: Broadband Commission Open Letter to G20: Bring broadband to the world. Governments urged to prioritize roll-out of high-speed infrastructure, services and applications
- Broadband Commission releases first country case studies
Geneva, 15 May 2012: Snapshot of state of broadbandin four emerging economies Spanning the americas,Asia and Europe
- The Future we Want
Geneva, 23 April 2012: Information and communication technologies: key to sustainability and development
- New Broadband Commission climate report confirms technology is the key to a low-carbon future
Geneva, 2 April 2012: Governments urged to harness the power of information and communication technologies to dramatically cut emissions
- UN Broadband Commission for Digital Development names eight new Commissioners
Geneva, 2 April 2012: Leaders from government and industry will bring fresh impetus to global campaign for ‘broadband for all’
- UN Commission sets global broadband targets
Geneva, 25 October 2011: Fourth meeting of the Broadband Commission endorses new broadband targets and issues global
‘Broadband Challenge’
- ‘Smart’ Regulation to promote worldwide broadband roll out
Armenia City, Colombia, 23 September 2011: ITU Regulators’ symposium responds to changing market environment
- ITU Global Symposium focuses on ‘Smart’ regulatory measures’ for future broadband development
Armenia City, Colombia, 21 September 2011: Industry leaders join regulators in formulating best practices
- ITU Global Symposium for Regulators fosters open dialogue
Geneva, 16 September 2011: New online/mobile platform to extend networking opportunities
- Kigali broadband meeting highlights key role of youth
Geneva, 9 September 2011: Consultative meeting of the Broadband Commission for Digital Development throws spotlight on young innovators
and debates strategies for getting Africa online
- Smart regulatory focus on broadband roll out and innovation
Geneva, 15 July 2011: ITU Global Symposium for Regulators and Industry to meet in Colombia
- Bringing broadband to the world’s poorest communities
Paris, 6 June 2011: New Broadband Commission report advocates catalytic mix of appropriate technologies,
innovative financing, training and locally relevant content
- New Broadband Commission report focuses on bringing high-speed connectivity to world’s poorest communities
Geneva, 31 May 2011: How can the ‘mobile miracle’ be replicated to extend broadband access to all?
- Regulators worldwide embrace principles of open networks, open access
Dakar, Senegal 12 November 2010: Global Symposium for Regulators Best Practice Guidelines propose enlightened ICT regulation to stimulate market growth
- ITU paves way for next-generation 4G mobile technologies
Geneva, 21 October 2010: ITU-R IMT-Advanced 4G standards to usher new era of mobile broadband communications
- World leaders agree: The future will be Built on Broadband
New York, 19 September 2010: As high-speed networks transform our world,
ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré calls for a ‘broadband boom’
and urges all governments to move broadband to the top of their agendas
- World leaders define vision for globally connected society
Geneva, 12 July 2010: ITU, UNESCO host top names from industry, UN agencies and civil society at first meeting in Geneva;
Commissioners begin to define their vision for harnessing the transformational power of high-speed, always-on networks
- ITU and UNESCO announce top-level global Broadband Commission
Geneva, 10 May 2010: Leading names from industry, UN agencies and civil society to work on strategies to harness
the transformational power of broadband and accelerate progress towards the MDGs
- Expert Educators from around the World Look to the Needs of a Broadband Future
Busan, Korea, 30 November 2010 – Leaders in human capacity building, technical training and cognitive learning strategies gathered in Busan today for the opening of ITU’s first-ever ICT•LEARN, a new biennial global forum designed to build the skills and talents needed to nurture and fuel tomorrow’s broadband-enabled global economy
- Regulators worldwide embrace principles of open networks, open access
Dakar, Senegal, 12 November 2010 – This year’s Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) defined a set of Best Practice Guidelines that will help stimulate the roll-out of the next wave of information and communication (ICT) networks, particularly in the area of broadband access
