Committed to connecting the world

Connect 2030 – An agenda to connect all to a better world

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Connect 2030 Agenda

OVERVIEW

 

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and its global public and private membership are united in the aim of connecting all of humanity through modern communication technologies.

The latest edition of ITU's Connect 2030 Agenda, closely aligned with the organization's current strategic plan, streamlines 12 key targets under the overarching goals of universal connectivity and sustainable digital transformation.

ITU's strategic plan for 2024-2027 underlines the need for technologies to serve people and the planet.

Connect 2030, similarly, promotes universal, secure, reliable, and affordable connectivity as key to accelerate sustainable development worldwide. This aligns ITU closely with the wider United Nations 2030 Agenda.

Updated goals and targets

The latest version of Connect 2030 (ITU Resolution 200, Rev. Bucharest, 2022) echoes ITU's new strategic plan, grouping all specified targets for global digital development under two main goals:

Goal 1: Universal connectivity by 2030
This calls for ITU and its members to enable and foster universal access to affordable, high-quality and secure digital technologies. ​

Universal-Connectivity To fulfil these aims, ITU must promote universally accessible, affordable, high-quality, interoperable, and secure infrastructure, services; provide international coordination to prevent and eliminate harmful interference to radiocommunication services; facilitate the worldwide standardization of telecommunications; and leverage existing and emerging technologies, connectivity solutions, and business models to close the digital divide, ensuring access in all countries and regions, for all of humanity.​

Goal 2: Sustainable digital transformation by 2030

This calls for ITU and its members to foster equitable and inclusive technology use:

 Sustainable-Digital-TransformationTo fulfil these aims, ITU must leverage digital technologies for sustainable development, helping to build an inclusive society and economy; work to close the digital divide for everyone, including women and girls, youth, indigenous peoples, older persons, persons with disabilities, and persons with specific needs; and promote and enable digital transformation all across spheres o​f life and activity – particularly to address the dual climate and environmental crisis, foster the continued advancement of science, promote sustainable exploration of Earth and space, and encourage resource use for the benefit of all.

How Connect 2030 began

ITU first adopted the Connect 2030 Agenda in 2014, aiming to align global technology and telecommunications growth with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out by the United Nations for 2030.

The original Connect 2030 framework highlighted five key goals for ITU's work to advance global connectivity:

  1. Growth: Enable and foster access to and increased use of telecommunications/ICT (information and communications technology) in support of the digital economy and society.
  2. Inclusiveness: Bridge the digital divide and provide broadband access for all.
  3. Sustainability: Manage emerging risks, challenges and opportunities resulting from the rapid growth of telecommunications/ICT.
  4. Innovation: Enable innovation in telecommunications/ICT in support of the digital transformation of society.
  5. Partnership: Strengthen cooperation among the ITU membership and all other stakeholders. in support of all ITU strategic goals

 

Why it still matters

The common strategic framework outlined in Connect 2030 has encouraged accountability as the ITU community works to expand connectivity, address the global digital divide, and promote tech and telecoms for the good of all.

The latest edition (ITU Resolution 200, Rev. Bucharest, 2022) calls for universal, secure, reliable, and affordable connectivity as a requirement to accelerate the UN 2030 Agenda. Universal connectivity and sustainable digital transformation are also recognized as vital for ongoing World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) action lines.

The 2022 resolution also affirms the critical role of digital connectivity in effective crisis response and recovery, particularly based on the experience amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

Last update: April 2024

More information: ITU Strategic Plan