Report on Global Broadband Connectivity and the Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

This report analyses the state of global broadband connectivity, focusing on the persistent challenges of access and affordability and their direct impact on the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While nations like Nigeria strive to meet national broadband targets, the issue is a global concern for leading international bodies, including the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, established by these organisations, serves as the central body for aligning global connectivity efforts with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The Role of the Broadband Commission in Advancing the SDGs

Foundation and Mandate

The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development was established in July 2010 with the explicit mandate to champion broadband as a critical enabler of social and economic development, directly contributing to the SDGs. The Commission operates under the leadership of its co-chairs, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Carlos Slim Helú of Mexico, and is co-vice-chaired by ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin and UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay. Its membership comprises over 50 leaders from government, industry, academia, and international agencies.

Strategic Importance for Sustainable Development

The Commission has successfully reframed broadband from a technical infrastructure issue to a foundational pillar for national competitiveness and sustainable development. As stated by President Kagame, broadband is an “essential driver of sustainable development” that powers economies and expands access to knowledge. The Commission’s work directly supports several key SDGs:

• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure): Promoting broadband as essential digital infrastructure for economic growth and innovation.
• SDG 4 (Quality Education): Expanding access to information and educational resources for all, regardless of location.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Enabling digital economies and creating new employment opportunities.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): Bridging geographical and social divides by connecting communities.

Analysis of Global Digital Disparities and SDG Progress

Current State of Global Connectivity

According to ITU’s Facts and Figures 2024 report, significant progress has been made in expanding internet access. However, this progress masks deep and persistent inequalities that threaten the core SDG principle of “leaving no one behind.”

• An estimated 5.5 billion people, or 68% of the global population, were online in 2024.
• Approximately 95% of the world’s population lives within range of a mobile broadband network.
• Despite this coverage, an estimated 2.6 billion people remained offline in 2024.

The Digital Divide as a Barrier to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

The disparity in connectivity between high-income and low-income nations represents a significant challenge to reducing global inequalities. ITU data reveals a “tale of two digital realities”:

• High-Income Countries: Approximately 93% of the population uses the internet.
• Low-Income Countries: Only 27% of the population is online.
• Least Developed Countries (LDCs): Internet usage stands at 35%.
• Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs): Internet usage is at 39%.

This digital divide prevents the world’s most vulnerable populations from accessing online education, employment, and essential services, thereby exacerbating existing inequalities.

Key Challenges to Achieving Universal and Meaningful Connectivity

Barriers Beyond Network Access

While network coverage is extensive, physical access alone is insufficient for achieving meaningful connectivity. As noted by UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General, Tawfik Jelassi, the primary challenge is ensuring that individuals can afford access and possess the skills to use information meaningfully. The main barriers hindering progress towards the SDGs are:

1. Affordability: The cost of internet access remains a prohibitive barrier for a significant portion of the global population, particularly in low-income countries.
2. Digital Skills and Literacy: A lack of digital skills prevents individuals from leveraging the benefits of connectivity, undermining progress on SDG 4 (Quality Education).
3. Relevant Local Content: A deficit of content in local languages limits the utility of the internet for many communities.
4. Policy and Regulatory Frameworks: Outdated or inadequate regulatory frameworks can stifle investment and innovation in the digital sector.

Strategic Initiatives and Policy Recommendations

The Commission’s Policy Guidance

The Broadband Commission serves as a critical policy guide for national and international efforts to achieve universal connectivity. At its 15th-anniversary meeting in July 2025, the Commission reaffirmed the need for a multi-stakeholder approach, calling for “forward-looking regulatory frameworks, strong investment, digital transformation in businesses and public institutions and digital skills among the population.”

Data Governance for the Digital Age

In recognition of the growing importance of data, the Commission’s Working Group on Data Governance released the ‘Data Governance Toolkit: Navigating Data in the Digital Age’. This toolkit provides actionable guidance for policymakers on key issues such as data regulation, cross-border data flows, and the ethical use of data. This initiative supports SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by promoting transparent and effective governance in the digital realm, fostering trust and balancing innovation with data protection.

Conclusion: The Imperative for Universal Connectivity to Fulfill the 2030 Agenda

Progress in global connectivity is undeniable, yet the persistence of the digital divide presents a formidable obstacle to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The gap between the connected and the unconnected is evolving into a new facet of global inequality. The work of the Broadband Commission underscores a clear imperative: universal, affordable, and meaningful broadband access is not merely a technological objective but a fundamental human right and a prerequisite for inclusive and sustainable development for all.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The article’s central theme is broadband infrastructure, internet access, and digital technology, which are core components of this goal. It discusses Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan and the global push for universal connectivity.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: The article connects broadband access to education by mentioning UNESCO’s role and the importance of accessing “knowledge in rural as well as urban areas” and “online access to… education.” It also highlights “skills development” as a key barrier to meaningful connectivity.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The article explicitly discusses the “digital divide” as a form of inequality. It highlights the “stark gaps” in internet access between high-income and low-income countries, stating that this divide “risks becoming the new face of inequality.”
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The connection is made by framing broadband as “essential to economic growth and sustainable development.” The article notes that connectivity “powers economies,” enhances a “nation’s competitiveness,” and provides “online access to… employment opportunities.”
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The entire article is structured around the Broadband Commission, a multi-stakeholder partnership. It describes the commission as a collaboration between UN agencies (ITU, UNESCO), governments (President Kagame of Rwanda), the private sector (Carlos Slim Helú), and civil society to achieve a common development goal.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 9.c: “Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries.” The article is entirely focused on this target, discussing the global challenge of connecting the “2.6 billion people… [who] remain offline” and the need for “universal and meaningful connectivity.”
• Target 4.4: “By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.” This is identified when the article mentions that UNESCO is working to dismantle barriers related to “skills development” and the need for “digital skills among the population” to ensure connectivity is used meaningfully.
• Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all…” The article addresses this by highlighting the “stubborn digital divides” that lead to “digital exclusion,” which “makes life even more challenging” for “the most vulnerable communities.” The goal is to achieve “digital inclusion.”
• Target 17.16: “Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources…” The Broadband Commission itself, described as a joint effort by the ITU, UNESCO, world leaders, CEOs, and civil society, is a direct embodiment of this target. Its work is described as a “valuable precedent for future collaborative, multistakeholder work to connect the unconnected.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 9.c: The article provides several direct indicators.
  • Proportion of the population using the internet: The article states that “an estimated 5.5 billion people were online in 2024,” which is “68 per cent of the global population.”
  • Proportion of the population covered by a broadband network: It is mentioned that “95 percent of humanity is within reach of broadband.”
  • National broadband penetration goals: Nigeria’s specific goal of a “70 per cent target set in the National Broadband Plan (2020–2025)” serves as a national-level indicator.
• Indicator for Target 10.2: The article provides data that serves as a direct indicator of digital inequality.
  • Disparity in internet usage by income level: The gap is quantified: “In high-income countries, about 93 per cent of the population is estimated to be using the internet in 2024. In contrast, only 27 percent of people in low-income countries are online.” This directly measures the digital divide.
• Indicator for Target 4.4: While no specific numbers are given, the article implies an indicator.
  • Level of digital skills in the population: The article identifies the lack of “digital skills among the population” and the need for “skills development” as key barriers, implying that measuring these skills is crucial for tracking progress.
• Indicator for Target 17.16: The existence and output of the partnership itself serve as an indicator.
  • Functioning and output of multi-stakeholder partnerships: The article details the work of the Broadband Commission, its regular meetings (“The Geneva meeting”), and its policy outputs (the “Data Governance Toolkit”), which are tangible measures of the partnership’s progress.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: sciencenigeria.com