ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin has
announced that mobile operator groups have pledged over USD 9 billion in
investment commitments to expand global connectivity. This announcement was
made at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) and demonstrates the mobile industry's
strong support for ITU's efforts to connect the world.
In addition to the new commitments, the UN Digital
Agency announced that it now has over 1,000 members from industry, academia,
and organizations, in addition to its 193 Member States. This milestone marks
the largest and most diverse membership in the agency's history.
The new industry commitments bring the total planned
investment in infrastructure, services, and support to ITU's Partner2Connect
Digital Coalition to over USD 46 billion since the platform opened in March
2022.
According to data from ITU, 2.6 billion people
worldwide remain offline, and it is vital to close this digital divide to
overcome development impediments in areas such as education, health, government
services, and trade. ITU has called for USD 1.5 billion in overall investments
by 2026 to provide the expertise and resources required to extend universal,
meaningful connectivity and sustainable digital transformation worldwide.
The
commitments announced at the MWC include:
- e&: USD 6 billion between 2024 and 2026 for
accessible and affordable network connectivity and digital services across
countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
- China Telecom: Over USD 1.4 billion to roll out
fibre-to-the-home (FTTH), providing high-quality information and communication
services to over 80 million people in remote administrative villages across
China.
- Ooredoo: USD 1.1 billion for connectivity in
developing markets ranging from North Africa to the Indian Ocean.
- VEON: USD 600 million in building the
infrastructure of Ukraine, providing connectivity and digital services
essential to the reconstruction of the country.
The commitments made by e&, China Telecom,
Ooredoo, and VEON are expected to be implemented over the next two to five
years.
ITU's expanded membership base will build on the UN
Digital Agency's unique contribution to the UN system. Two-thirds of ITU's
sector members are from industry, with the rest divided between academia and
regional or international organizations, and they come from developed and
developing economies in regions spanning the globe.
ITU's expanded membership base will build on the UN
Digital Agency's unique contribution to the UN system. Two-thirds of ITU's
sector members are from industry, with the rest divided between academia and
regional or international organizations, and they come from developed and
developing economies in regions spanning the globe.
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
