2021 sees the world continuing to address the intensive, extensive shocks inflicted by the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. While vaccine distribution and inoculation has brought some hope and relief, vagaries in vaccine availability, resurgence of cases, and the emergence of challenging variants continue to prolong the crisis.

For much of the world, return to pre-pandemic normalcy has yet to materialize. Various measures to support governments and society to function as normal have been explored, and many have turned to Internet connectivity to make these measures effective. As the world plans a transition out of the pandemic, Internet connectivity continues to play a pivotal role for countries, communities and individuals. Remote work remains the norm where possible. Distance learning, or hybrid structures, remain in place in hardest hit countries. And Internet-enabled telehealth services continue to gain regulatory approval and general adoption.

The prominence and importance of Internet infrastructure and connectivity have been further underlined in public life, along with increasing recognition of the need for relevant and timely information, literacy skills and reliable, factual content.

In terms of connectivity infrastructure, governments at national and sub-national levels exhibit renewed and urgent interest in addressing disparities of access, adoption and affordability. Network operators and service providers are investing heavily not only to expand networks but also to increase capacity and respond to the acceleration in broadband demand. And regulators, not just in telecommunications but in other sectors, increasingly recognize the importance of digital technology across all facets of economic activity.

The massive spike in the use and importance of Internet connectivity, triggered by the COVID-19 crisis, stands in sharp contrast to the slowing growth in Internet users globally, and the persistent, pernicious digital divide. While Internet connectivity has proved to be a crucial tool in responding to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and in coping with massive economic, social shocks, countries that were most vulnerable (because of more limited resource bases) are also those with the poorest Internet adoption levels.

In 2019, the year before the start of the crisis, close to 87 per cent of individuals in developed countries were online using the Internet while in stark contrast only 19 per cent of individuals in the least developed countries (LDCs) were online.

Progress is being made in closing gaps and expanding the impact of broadband for all people on the planet.


While some form of network coverage reaches nearly every single human on the planet either via terrestrial or satellite networks, further effort is needed to densify network infrastructure and close the usage gap by increasing capacity and improving affordability.

To respond to massive demand for broadband connectivity in 2020 and the shift to online activity as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, extraordinary measures have been taken by governments, ministries, regulators, service providers, and many other participants in the global connectivity ecosystem. Many of these measures are presented in Chapter 2, together with a discussion of the role that connectivity has facilitated in helping the world move to distance learning, teleworking and telemedicine.

The successful expansion of Internet connectivity over the past three decades – led by the private sector and guided by policy and regulatory frameworks that encourage commercial developments – needs to continue and be accelerated. However, of the 3.7 billion people who remain unconnected 85 percent are covered by a mobile broadband network.


Now more than ever, a focus on individuals and inclusivity embodied in people-centred approaches can help ensure no one is left offline.

The Global Education Coalition, convened by UNESCO with more than 175 broadband and other partners, identifies connectivity as a flagship issue, but also recognizes that the digital divide is more than purely a technological issue. The digital divide is associated with a wide range of factors related to education, age, gender, income status, skills, and residence. The ‘human element of connectivity’ describes the digital skills readiness and the type of solutions, tools, education resources and content needed to empower learners, teachers, and entire surrounding communities. To ensure connectivity that closes all digital divides, each of these elements must be addressed and advocated for in national regulation, connectivity investment and policies.

Over 30 international organizations and private sector corporations active in Internet connectivity efforts support a people-centred approach which puts people at the centre in encouraging and expanding Internet adoption. It recognizes the heterogeneity of individuals and communities (across gender, age, race and abilities and other marginalized groups such as the forcibly displaced) and underlines affordability, useful service levels and quality content. The approach emphasizes digital skills and the digital literacy required to participate fully in the digital economy, while acknowledging the importance of trust and civility in online engagement. The approach carefully directs technologies and financing aligned with user needs and requirements.

Chapter 3 tracks progress across the seven dimensions of the 2025 Advocacy Targets of the Broadband Commission. The crisis has served to underline the need for accelerating efforts to achieve universal broadband connectivity, both for the benefits this can bring and to ensure greater resilience to future shocks.

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 inclusive, open partnerships can advance progress towards universal broadband – which in turn will accelerate economic growth, help alleviate poverty, impact social development, and address climate change.

...
SDG Zero

The impact of connectivity on all other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has led to some calling it, ‘SDG Zero’. Policy and regulatory actions will not only encourage and incentivize greater investment and Internet adoption, but will also address inequitable access sparked by market failures (such as monopolistic market concentration, rent-seeking, regulatory capture, barriers to entry, deadweight losses, leakage and public resource waste).


Putting individuals at the centre as we build digital infrastructure and progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development requires concerted effort.

This will involve moving beyond mindsets focused on technological fixes, and focusing on those user issues that limit adoption – socio-demographics, skills, affordability, relevance, content and trust. Efforts are required to direct funding to address the challenges of the unconnected. This includes enabling innovation in business models, technologies, policy and regulation, financing, and partnerships. While the year marker set for achieving the second part of SDG9c has come and gone – “Significantly increase access to ICT and strive to provide universal and affordable access to Internet in LDCs by 2020” – the opportunity remains for the global community to leverage broadband and adoption of high-speed digital infrastructure, and achieve significant progress towards the Commission’s 2025 targets and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As new waves of innovation in digital infrastructure go mainstream (for example, 5G, IoT connectivity and LEO satellite broadband) concerted efforts must be made to ensure these developments particularly benefit low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) as well as developed countries.