Focused on sub-Saharan Africa, the State of Broadband in Africa report examines the region’s diverse digital realities, from booming mobile uptake to persistent challenges in affordability, infrastructure, and inclusion. It spotlights demographic opportunities, emerging technologies, and policy paths toward universal meaningful connectivity.
The State of Satellite Broadband Part of the State of Broadband 2025 report series Back to State of Broadband 2025 Exploring the innovations and policies
In today’s fast-evolving digital age, data has become a foundational asset — powering economic development, innovation, public service delivery, and social transformation. Yet without effective
The first report of the series, The State of Broadband Advocacy Targets 2025, tracks progress on the Broadband Commission’s 2025 Advocacy Targets and aims to inform policy-makers in different countries on progress towards the Commission’s goals. It emphasizes the urgent need for policymakers to leverage the benefits of digital technologies, while mitigating potential risks, ensuring equitable access to digital opportunities for all.
The State of Broadband2025 Annual Flagship Report of the Broadband Commission Back to all publications 2025 Report series The State of Broadband annual report presents
The 2024 State of Broadband Report, Leveraging AI for Universal Connectivity, offers an initial overview of how AI applications are already shaping development across various fields, while also addressing associated risks and implications for the digital divide.
Broadband Commissioners are Championing Digital Equality Setting the stage According to the latest ITU estimates, 70% of all men were using the Internet in 2023
As we reflect on the accomplishments of the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development in 2023, it is evident that our shared commitment to harnessing the
ITU’s Contribution to the Implementation of the WSIS Outcomes 2023 is a comprehensive report on the ITU activities in context of WSIS carried out by
The 2023 State of Broadband Report, Digital Connectivity: A Transformative Opportunity, examines the shift from supply-driven to demand-driven communication access, providing insights into the financing and funding considerations required to support the next stage of connectivity for digital transformation
The following report was developed by the Working Group on Connectivity for MSMEs, which has sought to define the key challenges and opportunities associated with MSME connectivity and its enablement in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
The 2023 Working Group report of the Broadband Commission The report takes the position that data for learning is a double-edged sword that hangs in a balance between benefits and risks. The potential power of leveraging data to improve learning is unevenly distributed around the world, resulting in global asymmetries related to data access, skills, and sovereignty.
The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), through its outcome on “The Future We Want“, established the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable
Key messages: The Commission welcomes the appointment by the President of the UN General Assembly of the Permanent Representatives of Rwanda and of Sweden as
A compilation of actionable recommendations for achieving SDG5 through connectivity, based on desk research of selected Broadband Commission outcome reports from 2022 – 2011.
The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development addresses this Open Statement to the 5th United Nations Conference of the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) convening every 10 years and held in 2022 at a critical time, as the final decade of action for the 2030 agenda gathers pace.
The seven Advocacy Targets of the Broadband Commission reflect ambitious and aspirational goals and function as a policy and programmatic guide for national and international action in broadband development. Starting initially with four connectivity goals established in 2011, the Targets were expanded to five in 2013, with the addition of the gender equality goal, and eventually to seven in 2018.
In our Year in Review, we recap the Commission’s advocacy and thought leadership efforts in 2022
The report, ‘Strategies towards universal smartphone access’ by the Broadband Commission Working Group on Smartphone Access represents the first multi-stakeholder analysis on the topic of smartphone access.
Written by the Broadband Commission Working Group on AI Capacity Building, the Working Group Report introduces a competency framework for civil servants, spelling out the Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation Competencies needed today.
The State of Broadband 2022 examines how COVID-19 has spotlighted the need for a multilateral, collaborative regulatory regime to advance global digital transformation.
Addressing the Post-Pandemic Missing Links State of Broadband 2022 Report: Home Executive Summary The Broadband Landscape: The New Normal Addressing the Post-Pandemic Missing Links Conclusions:
The importance of broadband connectivity was brought into sharp focus with COVID-19. The pandemic accelerated the uptake of broadband and the adoption of digital services by individuals and businesses, the digitalization of governmental services and spread of e-commerce. Evidence suggests that much of this will be sustained post-pandemic with consequences for the design and quality of broadband networks.
Conclusion: Policy Recommendations State of Broadband 2022 Report: Home Executive Summary The Broadband Landscape: The New Normal Addressing the Post-Pandemic Missing Links Conclusions: Policy Recommendations
The Broadband Landscape: The New Normal State of Broadband 2022 Report: Home Executive Summary The Broadband Landscape: The New Normal Addressing the Post-Pandemic Missing Links
The interim report on data for learning explores the potential of harnessing the transformative potential of data to improve educations systems.
The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development is aligned with the objectives of TES and recognizes the critical roles of digital connectivity, capacity and content in transforming education and lifelong learning systems. Since 2010, the Commission has developed a multitude of collaborative and impactful policy recommendations for connecting schools to the Internet and digitalizing education to enable a more inclusive and sustainable approach to learning.
A compilation of actionable recommendations for achieving SDG4 through connectivity, based on desk research of the Broadband Commission outcome reports.
The Broadband Commission Working Group on Virtual Health and Care was launched to examine virtual health and care in context of the COVID-19 pandemic: the
The Broadband Commission Working Group on Epidemic Management was organized to analyze international efforts, best practices, and lessons learned from the use of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions
The HLPF in 2022 will review progress toward SDGs 4 on quality education, 5 on gender equality, 14 on life below water, 15 on life
Download the following infographic for a snapshot of the Commission’s advocacy work, outputs, and relevant materials of its partners.
The Working Group for 21st Century Financing and Funding Models for Sustainable Broadband Development was established as a cross-sector group of thought-leaders with representation from
How can a wide spectrum of stakeholders within the digital space unite to tackle the challenge of developing new broadband infrastructure, upgrading existing infrastructure, and
Despite progress on Internet access and adoption, more effort is needed to ensure success and concrete movement towards the global 2030 targets. Additional investment and
Promotional Toolkit to support the report: Trello The Working Group Report on Digital Learning introduces a range of factors that should be in place in
In the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the whole world has been exerting immense efforts on overcoming the virus. While governments and medical sectors are
This year’s State of Broadband Report reflects the realities of 2020 as the world has confronted a global pandemic that has disrupted Global and local
The need for action against disinformation has been recognised at the ITU/UNESCO Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development. The Commission created a Working Group on Freedom
The Broadband Commission Manifesto calls on the global community to recognize digital connectivity as the foundational element of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
The Working Group on Data, Digital, and AI in Health is the 3rd work-stream of the Commission around the theme of digital health, proposed with
Education, the Internet and broadband connectivity have a tremendous potential to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges including the achievement of the Sustainable
Commissioners and their organizations are urgently collaborating to compile and disseminate a repository of tangible actions based on the three pillars of resilient connectivity, affordable
There are more than 2 billion children under the age of 18, with the majority living in the developing countries in Sub Saharan Africa, Asia
Digital technologies and the digital economy will have a transformative impact on development. Today’s economy is being driven by digital transformation across all sectors and
Affordable, reliable connectivity is now coming to more countries than ever. It has the potential to transform children’s lives, giving them access to previously unimagined
Traditional approaches to driving internet network roll-out and uptake are failing to reach the remaining half of the global population still lacking online access. To
Digital technology is revolutionizing healthcare delivery. Worldwide, digital tools are leading to better and faster healthcare – healthcare that is more empowering and accessible for
ICT has also actively joined such efforts. Explosive growth in mobile broadband penetration in the last decade has been contributing to resolving universal challenges of
The digital revolution has changed everything. But it has changed few things more than it has changed the way the world does business.
In March 2017, the Broadband Commission’s Working Group on the Digital Gender Divide, co-chaired by the GSMA and UNESCO, launched a report that outlines a
The State of Broadband 2018: Broadband for Catalyzing Sustainable Development report was released on 11 September 2018 during the ITU Telecom event in Durban, South Africa. The State of Broadband
Broadband Internet offers significant benefits for Least Developed Countries (LDCs). It is a transformational tool that can help these countries overcome vulnerabilities, grow their economies
The UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development addresses this Open Statement to the Formal Consultation on the Global Compact on Refugees on the importance of
The primary function of connectivity is to improve people’s lives. This is the primary purpose of the Internet for All project, which catalyses and facilitates
A New Deal: Investing in Our Common Future Policy Recommendations to Close the Broadband Gap Report of the Expert Group to the Broadband Commission Under
In March 2017, the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development’s Working Group on the Digital Gender Divide, co-chaired by the GSMA and UNESCO, launched a report
Digital technologies now underpin effective participation in key areas of life and work. In addition to technology access, the skills and competencies needed to make
The world is undergoing an extraordinary technological revolution in satellite and high altitude communications. A dramatic increase in broadband capacity across the globe, spurred by
The State of Broadband 2017: Broadband for Catalyzing Sustainable Development report was released on 14 September 2017 in Geneva. The State of Broadband annual report is a unique global snapshot
Digital technology is today touching the lives of individuals and businesses across the world. A social and economic revolution is enabled by digital technology, often
On 15th March 2017, the Broadband Commission Working Group on the Digital Gender Divide launched its report “Recommendations for action: bridging the gender gap in Internet
The digital age is upon us and it has the potential to revolutionize how healthcare is delivered. Digital tools can increase access to health, empower
A background paper to the special session of the Broadband Commission and the World Economic Forum at Davos Annual Meeting 2017. The UN Broadband
Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs), combined with innovations in broadband connectivity and the rich ecosystem of applications and services, can transform the lives of individuals
Broadband for Implementing the Paris Agreement The UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development addresses this Open Statement to the UN Marrakech Climate Change Conference (COP-22)
The UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development addresses this Open Statement to the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) from
This report provides an update on progress towards the global targets of the ITU/UNESCO Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development and showcases the research and thought
Ensuring that No One is Left Behind The UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development addresses this Open Statement to the meeting of the UN High-Level
The UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development addresses this Open Statement to country delegates at the World Humanitarian Summit 2016, aid and disaster relief agencies
This report explores the current use and potential of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in tackling global development challenges, highlighting a number of specific instances
Report on the Special Session of the UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum The third
Reinforcing Connectivity Initiatives for Universal and Affordable Access: A Discussion Paper to Partners Working to Connect the World ICT technologies present unprecedented opportunities for
The main objective of this Discussion Paper is to call attention to emerging trends and to start discussions on the implications of these trends on
This document is a briefing paper on broadband policy measures and recommendations to support the deployment of broadband and access to the digital economy. The
Every year, the ITU/UNESCO Broadband Commission for Digital Development ‘State of Broadband’ report takes the pulse of the global broadband industry and explores progress in
Special Session of the UN Broadband Commission for Digital Development co-organized with the Ministry of Communications and High Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan, World
The Broadband Commission for Digital Development aims to promote the adoption of effective broadband policies and practices for achieving development goals, so everyone can benefit
We are witnessing one of the deepest transformation processes in our societies through the so-called Digital Economy Transformation. The broadband has emerged as the true
Why Broadband Should be Prioritized in the Post-2015 Agenda Report on the special session of the UN Broadband Commission for Digital Development at the Annual
Manifesto of the Broadband Commission for Digital Development Taskforce For Sustainable Development and the Post-2015 Development Agenda We, the members of the Broadband Commission for
As we approach 2015, a new global partnership is being forged to carry on the work of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and shape a
More than a billion people live with some form of disability, and 80% of them live in developing countries. Disability is both a cause and
Published in September 2013, this report explores how and when everyone can be connected to broadband Internet and urges all stakeholders to work together towards a
Doubling Digital Opportunities: Enhancing the Inclusion of Women & Girls in the Information Society frames the challenges and opportunities we face in achieving gender equality
Published in June 2013, the report, entitled Broadband: A Platform for Progress, argues: “To optimize the benefits to society, broadband should be coordinated on a
Broadband technologies continue to expand our horizons, pushing back frontiers of time and knowledge, and overturning long-established precepts and outdated ways of doing things. The
The Earth Institute at Columbia University presented the following report to outline the Millennium Villages Project and its scope of work in health, infrastructure, and
Published in September 2012, one year after the launch of the Broadband Challenge and advocacy Targets, provides a snapshot of the current broadband market and
The Government recognized ICT and broadband as drivers and catalysts for economic growth and has taken many initiatives to boost ICT to fuel the local
This case study looks at the initiatives taken by the Nigerian Government and the communications regulator to encourage the growth of broadband built-out and use
This country case study addresses the development of the ICT sector in Mauritius and in particular the development of ICT policy and how this has
This country case study addresses the development of a National Broadband Plan in Albania and in particular the development of the institutional framework together with
Global overview and case studies on Australia and Rwanda This study is part of a series of studies being undertaken by the International Telecommunication
This case study aims to provide insights into efforts by the Government and the communications regulator to stimulate the development of broadband infrastructure and services
The major goal of this study is to analyze and review TFYR Macedonia’s progress in deploying broadband networks and services, particularly in the context of
This study assesses the economic impact of broadband in an emerging nation. Drawing from the wealth of research literature on economic effects generated on the
This study assesses the economic impact of broadband in the Philippines. Drawing from the wealth of research literature on economic effects generated on the basis
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Copyright 2010-2025 © Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, ITU, UNESCO