Data and statistics

• It is often said that what gets measured gets done. Data is critical to our goal of connecting the world. It tells us where we were, where we are, what works and what does not. It is a key ingredient of empirical research for establishing correlation, determining causality, identifying good practices, and designing effective interventions.
• As the UN specialized agency for information and communication technology (ICT), ITU is the official source of international ICT statistics. The ICT Data and Analytics team collects, verifies, harmonizes, and disseminates ICT statistics for about 200 economies and over 200 indicators. It conducts world-class research to contextualize and make sense of the data.
• Through a range of tools and activities, ITU supports Member States and other stakeholders at every step of the data life cycle, from setting standards and methods for data collection to promoting the use of data in decision-making. ​

• ​Data gap:  In many countries, reliable ICT statistics remain rare, as collecting such data is often complex, costly, and time-consuming.
  Closing the gap: ITU provides technical assistance to countries and works with experts, regulators, and operators around to world to harness the power of big data and develop new statistics that are more accurate, granular, faster and cheaper to produce through its data science practice.
• Capacity gap: Data gaps also exist due to limited statistical capacity. And when data are available, they are often poorly understood and used due to limited data literacy.
  Closing the gap: Through on-the-ground and online activities, ITU helps administrations around the world to develop their statistical capacity and data literacy.
• Knowledge gap: Innovation and the rapid diffusion of technologies are causing profound and widespread societal and economic disruptions that are often poorly understood, preventing decision-makers from anticipating, planning for and acting on these disruptions.
  Closing the gap: ITU conducts world-class research and disseminates its data through various channels. It organises high-level events, workshops and webinars to raise awareness and engage with various stakeholders.​
  

• ITU collects and curates various sets of data. ITU maintains databases on radiofrequency allocations, national and international telephone numbers and some sets of big data.
• For example, cities worldwide are evaluating their progress towards smart city objectives and the SDGs using U4SSC Key Performance Indicators for Smart Sustainable Cities based on ITU standards. The results of the KPI evaluations are shared by city snapshots, factsheets and verification reports. The United for Smart Sustainable Cities (U4SSC) initiative is supported by 17 UN bodies with the aim of achieving SDG11: 'Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable'.
• ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) collects two sets of data: 1) Telecommunication/ICT data from national telecommunication/ICT ministries and regulatory authorities, including supply-side data on fixed-telephone networks, mobile-cellular services, Internet/broadband, traffic, revenues and investment, and prices. 2) Household ICT data collected from national statistical offices, including demand-side data on household access to ICTs and individual use of ICTs.
• Data are released twice a year via the World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database and its website, and various publications, including the flagship series Facts and figures and ICT price trends. The Digital Development Dashboard provides an overview of digital development.
• ITU is responsible for the international statistical standards for ICT indicators, through the Expert Group on Telecommunication/ICT Indicators (EGTI) and Expert Group on Household Indicators (EGHI). ITU regularly publishes the standards, the definitions, the collection methods for over 200 indicators in two practical guides, freely available in six languages, that represent the ultimate reference for statisticians and economists seeking to measure digital development: The Manual for Measuring ICT access and use by households and individuals and the Handbook for the collection of administrative data on telecommunications/ICT. These publications are complemented by capacity development activities on the ground. To reach a broader audience, ITU develops online training courses on ICT statistics. Measuring digital development: Telecommunication/ICT Indicators is available for free on the ITU Academy platform.
• ITU actively contributes to advancing the statistics agenda within the UN system: ITU co-chairs the Roundtable on Global Connectivity of the UN Secretary General's Digital Cooperation Roadmap; chairs the Committee of Experts on Big Data and Data Science's task-team on mobile phone data; is a member of UNSD's Committee for the Coordination of Statistical Activities; and is co-founder and member of the Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development's Steering Committee.
• ITU is the custodian of several Sustainable Development Goals indicators (4.4.1, 5.b.1, 9.c.1, 17.6.1 and 17.8.1) and responsible for monitoring them.
• ITU tracks the Connect 2030 Agenda to monitor progress towards a set of key indicators agreed by ITU membership, as well as the WSIS and Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development targets.
• The “World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Symposium" (WTIS) is the main global forum for discussing the latest trends and advancing the ICT measurement agenda.​
  
• ITU also publishes the Global Connectivity Report, which assesses the current state of connectivity and how close the world is to achieving universal and meaningful connectivity, using a unique analytical framework. It showcases solutions and good practices to accelerate progress. The report also contains deep dives on infrastructure, affordability, financing, the pandemic, regulation, youth, and data.​​
  
• ITU maintains a data platform featuring some 200 statistical indicators on digital connectivity, trust, markets, governance, sustainability, and affordability.
  The ITU DataHub offers an intuitive, mobile-friendly interface complete with country and regional profiles and data tables, allowing users to quickly find, view, compare, and download statistics on all aspects of information and communication technologies (ICTs).
  

Last update: July ​2022