The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) – the United Nations (UN) tech agency − has announced a new set of global targets for universal digital connectivity to be achieved by 2030.
The agency says the new targets are meant to help countries prioritise interventions, monitor progress, evaluate policy effectiveness and galvanise efforts around achieving universal and meaningful connectivity.
According to the ITU, the connectivity targets provide concrete benchmarks for sustainable, inclusive global progress in specified action areas, such as technology and affordability.
These targets, it says, were developed as part of the work of the UN secretary-general's Roadmap for Digital Cooperation roundtable group on global connectivity.
“Meaningful connectivity is key to achieve digital transformation,” says Doreen Bogdan-Martin, director of ITU's telecommunication development bureau.
“Among today's estimated 4.9 billion internet users, many have to limit their usage because connectivity is unreliable, too slow or too expensive; they share a device; or a lack of digital skills prevents them from getting the most out of their devices and services.
“ITU is committed to working with all relevant stakeholders, through all connectivity efforts, including our Giga initiative in partnership with UNICEF, to connect every school to the internet, and leveraging our newly launched Partner2Connect Digital Coalition, to ensure these targets are not just aspirational, but achievable."
ITU secretary-general Houlin Zhao adds: “Universal connectivity alone is not enough to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensure every person has safe and affordable access to the internet by 2030.
“These targets will help countries guide their efforts towards effectively ensuring we meet our goal of universal and meaningful connectivity by the end of the decade."
This is the possibility for everyone to enjoy a safe, satisfying, enriching, productive and affordable online experience, says Maria-Francesca Spatolisano, UN assistant secretary-general and acting secretary-general's envoy on technology.
“By setting clear targets, we give ourselves goals and aspirations to work towards, especially in this ‘decade of action’ to achieve the SDGs. Though certainly these indicators may be refined further, as expectations evolve and the world changes, it is important that we take a bold step forward now to set a basic understanding of what universal meaningful connectivity should look like, especially as we work towards next year's Global Digital Compact."
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