1、ITUPublicationsInternational Telecommunication UnionDevelopment Sector Global Connectivity Report 2022 Global Connectivity Report2022 ITU 2022International Telecommunication Union Place des Nations CH-1211 Geneva,SwitzerlandSome rights reserved.This work is licensed to the public through a Creative

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5、ps:/creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/igo/iiiAcknowledgementsThe Global Connectivity Report 2022 was prepared by the ICT Data and Analytics Division of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau with contributions from Michael Kende,Sonia Livingstone,Scott Minehane,Michael Minges,Simon Mol

6、loy,and George Sciadas.Beth Peoch and Keith Stimpson edited earlier drafts of the chapters,and David Studer produced the visuals.Cover design:Yeabtsega Getachew DISCLAIMERThe designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion wha

7、tsoever on the part of ITU and of the Secretariat of the ITU concerning the legal status of any country,territory,city or area or of its authorities,or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers products does not imply tha

8、t they are endorsed or recommended by ITU in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned.Errors and omissions excepted,the names of proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters.All reasonable precautions have been taken by ITU to verify the information contai

9、ned in this publication.However,the published material is being distributed without warranty of any kind,either expressed or implied.The responsibility for the interpretation and use of the material lies with the reader.The opinions,findings and conclusions expressed in this publication do not neces

10、sarily reflect the views of ITU or its membership.ISBN:978-92-61-33551-9(Electronic version)978-92-61-33561-8(ePub version)978-92-61-33571-7(Mobi version)ivForewordI am pleased to present the Global Connectivity Report 2022.The launch of this important publication coincides with the World Telecommun

11、ication Development Conference and the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the ITU Telecommunication Development Sector in 1992.The conference represents a unique opportunity to take stock of progress,celebrate our achievements,reflect on our shortcomings,and set the digital development agenda

12、for the coming years.It offers a global stage to showcase initiatives and solutions and mobilize resources to implement both ongoing and new initiatives.In this context,the report provides the facts and the evidence that we need.Over the past three decades,the number of Internet users went from a fe

13、w million in 1992 to almost five billion in 2021.The ITU family can take pride in having contributed so significantly to this development.Indeed,ever since it was founded in 1865,ITU has enabled connectivity.We manage the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbit resources for the world,develop t

14、he technical standards that ensure networks and technologies interconnect seamlessly,and strive to improve access to information and communication technologies to underserved communities worldwide.Every time you go online,make a call,or send an e-mail,you are benefiting from the work of ITU.However,

15、despite the important progress made,we cannot rest on our laurels.Humanity is facing unprecedented global challenges(including the prospect of its own extinction).In 2015,the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs)at its core.In

16、 most areas,progress is either too slow,stalled,or being reversed.We need to step up our efforts in this 2020-2030 Decade of Action to deliver on the SDGs.Connectivity is not a panacea,but an important catalyst,an enabler for every single Goal.As the Global Connectivity Report 2022 highlights,the po

17、tential of the Internet for social and economic good remains largely untapped:one-third of humanity remains offline and many users only enjoy basic connectivity.The COVID-19 pandemic has increased dramatically the cost of digital exclusion.In this Decade of Action,we must achieve universal and meani

18、ngful connectivity so that everyone,everywhere can enjoy a safe,satisfying,enriching,productive,and affordable online experience.vI would like to thank the ITU family around the world,including Member States,Sector Members,and the staff,for the relentless efforts in carrying out the ITU mission.Our

19、dedication and commitment to connecting the world are stronger than ever.Houlin Zhao Secretary-General International Telecommunication UnionviPrefaceWelcome to ITUs Global Connectivity Report 2022,which presents a unique and comprehensive global assessment of digital connectivity and its enablers.Fo

20、rty years ago,in 1982,ITU set up the Independent Commission for World-Wide Telecommunications Development,chaired by Sir Donald Maitland.In its seminal report,The Missing Link,that Commission called for bringing“all mankind within easy reach of a telephone”by the early part of the twenty-first centu

21、ry,noting that:“It cannot be right that in the latter part of the twentieth century a minority of the human race should enjoy the benefits of the new technology while a majority live in comparative isolation.”It was clear that it was no longer enough for ITU to simply accompany the development of te

22、lecommunications through spectrum management and technical standardization.We needed to actively promote connectivity as part of our role as a United Nations specialized agency working towards a more equal and equitable world.The result was the establishment of the ITU Development Sector in 1992.Whe

23、n that Sector was set up,30 years ago,there were fewer than 10 million Internet users.When the very first World Telecommunication Development Conference was held,two years later,there were only 20 million,or about 0.3 per cent of the worlds population.Over the intervening years,we have made tremendo

24、us progress in connecting humanity.The Internet is now woven into the entire fabric of our societies,and the minority has become the majority:two-thirds of humanity now accesses the online world.And yet,to a large extent,the link is still missing.A full one-third of the worlds population remains tot

25、ally offline,and many among the online population are not“meaningfullyconnected”because of connectivity that is too slow,or unreliable,or costly,or because they lack the digital skills needed to get the most out of devices and services.At the same time,the“missing link”has morphed into multiple divi

26、des:across and within countries;between men and women;between youth and older people;between cities and rural areas;between those linked to fibre and those who struggle on an intermittent 3G connection;and between the technology savvy and those who risk falling victim to the Internets dark side.The

27、Internet offers a world of truly extraordinary possibilities.With digital now at the heart of every countrys socio-economic development and prosperity,it is simply not acceptable that vast swaths of humanity remain digitally excluded.Universal and meaningful connectivity defined as the possibility f

28、or everyone to enjoy a safe,satisfying,enriching,productive,and affordable online experience has become the new imperative in the 2020-2030 Decade of Action.In everything we do,people must be at the centre.As Sir Donald and his colleagues acknowledged,“telecommunication is not an end itself”.Connect

29、ivity must be“for the people”a principle illustrated so beautifully in the cover of this report.viiWe,in ITU,are committed to working ever more closely with our partners and to using all our experience,expertise,creativity,and passion to bring universal and meaningful connectivity to everyone,everyw

30、here.We look forward to working with you!Doreen Bogdan-Martin Director,ITU Telecommunication Development BureauviiiAcknowledgements iiiForeword ivPreface viList of boxes,figures and tables xiAbbreviations xivExecutive summary xvChapter 1 Universal and meaningful connectivity:The new imperative 21.1

31、The promises of connectivity.31.2 The downsides of connectivity.91.3 Charting a path to universal,meaningful connectivity .11References.16Chapter 2 The journey to universal and meaningful connectivity 192.1 Measuring digital connectivity.192.2 The state of digital connectivity.192.3 Divides in conne

32、ctivity.232.4 Barriers to connectivity.262.5 Enablers of connectivity.292.6 Conclusions.42References.45Chapter 3 Accelerating progress towards universal and meaningful connectivity 483.1 Infrastructure.483.2 Digital skills.503.3 Affordability.513.4 Security and safety .533.5 Accelerating connectivit

33、y among disadvantaged groups.553.6 Minimizing environmental damage.583.7 Conclusions.59References.62Chapter 4 The critical role of middle-mile connectivity 684.1 Internet exchange points.684.2 Data centres.744.3 Cloud computing.774.4 Conclusions and recommendations.78Table of contentsixReferences.80

34、Chapter 5 Meaningful connectivity for all:the affordability factor 845.1 Introduction.845.1.1 Defining service affordability.855.2 Affordability gaps and trends around the world.875.2.1 Affordability of devices.875.2.2 Affordability of service mobile broadband is central to universal connectivity.88

35、5.2.3 Affordability gaps within countries.885.2.4 Affordability trends.905.2.5 More affordable broadband services,more subscriptions?.915.3 What are the drivers of affordability?.925.3.1 Geography and its impact on affordability.935.3.2 Size of the economy.945.3.3 Absent infrastructure barrier to af

36、fordability .945.3.4 Competition and affordability.955.3.5 Regulatory frameworks as a driver of affordability.955.3.6 What can governments do to improve affordability?.965.4 Conclusions.96References.98Chapter 6 Financing universal connectivity 1016.1 Creating a conducive regulatory environment .1016

37、.2 Current financing models.1026.2.1 Commercial deployment.1026.2.2 Universal service funds.1026.2.3 Governments.1036.2.4 International organizations.1036.2.5 Community networks.1036.3 Innovative funding models.1036.4 Conclusions.104References.106Chapter 7 Policy and regulatory strategies that drive

38、 digital transformation 1097.1 Introduction.1097.2 Strategy 1:Build ambidextrous leadership.1137.3 Strategy 2:Bridge silos and breakthrough insularity .1137.4 Strategy 3:Develop a common language.1157.5 Strategy 4:Reframe and operationalize policy agendas.1167.5.1 Reframing policy narratives from si

39、ngle-sector to whole-of-society.1167.5.2 Craft roadmaps.116x7.6 Strategy 5:Skill up,and up again.1197.7 Policy and regulation will enable digital transformation.1207.8 Everyone can be a winner.120References .121Chapter 8 Connectivity and the pandemic:building resilience for future crises 1268.1 Intr

40、oduction.1268.2 Connectivity supply and demand.1268.2.1 Short-to-medium-term impacts and responses.1268.2.2 Long-term impacts and responses.1288.3 Policy priorities for resilience in the new normal .1308.3.1 Addressing the digital divide.1308.3.2 Driving digital deepening.1318.3.3 Effecting digital

41、transformation.1328.3.4 Building digital resilience.1328.4 Conclusions.132References.134Chapter 9 The digital lives of children and youth 1389.1 Introduction.1389.2 The digital divide:taking stock of inequality in access and skills.1389.2.1 Access and use .1389.2.2 Digital skills .1419.3 Opportuniti

42、es and risks of digital connection .1439.4 Conclusions.1469.4.1 Initiatives that address the learning crisis.1469.4.2 Removing barriers and closing gaps.1469.4.3 Online learning initiatives need community support and more.1479.4.4 Working together to protect from harm.1479.4.5 More research,more dat

43、a needed on access,use,skills and outcomes.147References.148Chapter 10 Measuring meaningful connectivity:thecase for more and better statistics15310.1 The case for more and better data .15310.2 Measuring digital connectivity.15410.3 Exploring new frontiers in ICT statistics.15610.4 Improving the dat

44、a ecosystem.16010.5 Conclusions .161References.162xiList of boxes,figures and tablesBoxesBox 1.1:Connectivity for refugees.5Box 1.2:The Sustainable Development Goals and the Decade of Action.5Box 1.3:Impact of mobile money:achieving the SDGs.8Box 1.4:The impact of digital distrust.10Box 1.5:A histor

45、y of digital connectivity.13Box 2.1:The global speed divide.37Box 3.1:Niche technologies for expanding telecommunication infrastructure.50Box 3.2:Ensuring school connectivity and digital skills.51Box 3.3:Achieving universal and meaningful connectivity in Africa .60Box 3.4:Example of multistakeholder

46、 initiatives for improving connectivity.61Box 4.1:COVID-19 and IXPs.69Box 4.2:Kenya and Viet Nam:IXPs in action.74Box 5.1:ITUs approach to measuring ICT prices and affordability .85Box 5.2:Setting the affordability target.86Box 6.1:Giga initiative.103Box 7.1:Tensions between established and emerging

47、 approaches.110Box 7.2:Generations of regulation and the G5 Benchmark:guiding regulators .111Box 7.3:Collaboration frameworks and outcomes:insights from Mexico and Tanzania.115Box 7.4:The Kenya Digital Economy Blueprint.117Box 10.1:The start of the data lifecycle ITUs work in defining ICT indicators

48、,setting standards and building capacity.154Box 10.2:UN-CEBD and Big Data Guidelines.157Box 10.3:Disaster Connectivity Map(DCM):monitoring connectivity in near real-time.158FiguresFigure 1.1:Connectivity and human development.4Figure 1.2:Coverage gap and usage gap.11Figure 1.3:Broadband penetration,

49、2010 .14Figure 1.4:Mobile-broadband coverage and subscriptions,2021.15Figure 2.1:Framework for universal and meaningful connectivity.19Figure 2.2:Growth of Internet use between 1994 and 2021 .21Figure 2.3:Internet penetration around the world.21Figure 2.4:Internet use speed of diffusion.22Figure 2.5

50、:The global digital divide.24Figure 2.6:Development level and the offline population.24Figure 2.7:The urban-rural divide.25Figure 2.8:The gender digital divide.26Figure 2.9:The Internet use gender gap.27Figure 2.10:The age divide.27Figure 2.11:Connectivity barriers.28Figure 2.12:Level of education a

51、nd reasons for not using the Internet.29xiiFigure 2.13:Fixed-network coverage.30Figure 2.14:Fixed-broadband coverage.31Figure 2.15:Fixed broadband speed.31Figure 2.16:Mobile network coverage.32Figure 2.17:Regional mobile network coverage.33Figure 2.18:Coverage gap and usage gap.34Figure 2.19:The urb

52、an-rural digital access divide.35Figure 2.20:The rise of mobile telephony and mobile broadband.35Figure 2.21:Growth in international bandwidth.36Figure 2.22:Upload and download speeds in the pandemic period.37Figure 2.23:Affordability of mobile broadband.38Figure 2.24:Affordability of fixed broadban

53、d.39Figure 2.25:Mobile phone ownership and the gender gap.40Figure 2.26:ICT skills and education level.41Figure 2.27:What people do online.42Figure 2.28:Online activities and education level of users.43Figure 3.1:Performance in the ITU ICT Regulatory Tracker.49Figure 3.2:Trade in information technol

54、ogy products.52Figure 3.3:State of data privacy legislation .54Figure 3.4:Disability gap for smartphone ownership and mobile Internet use.55Figure 3.5:The inter-generational gap in Internet use.57Figure 3.6:Percentage of female and male population using the Internet,2020.58Figure 3.7:Countries with

55、an e-waste policy,legislation or regulation 2019.59Figure 4.1:The connectivity chain and the“miles”of connectivity.68Figure 4.2:The IXP ecosystem.69Figure 4.3:COVID-19-induced traffic increase on Asian IXPs.70Figure 4.4:IXP membership and traffic .72Figure 4.5:IXPs and stages of growth.73Figure 4.6:

56、Data centres penetration .75Figure 4.7:Data centre locations of top 20 MTDC operators.77Figure 4.8:Factors affecting successful operation of data centres(weight of importance,%).77Figure 5.1:Affordability a barrier to connectivity .84Figure 5.2:The ICT price baskets currently monitored by ITU.85Figu

57、re 5.3:Affordability of smartphones and feature phones.87Figure 5.4:Affordability of devices .88Figure 5.5:Fixed and mobile broadband affordability gaps.89Figure 5.6:Broadband prices are often beyond reach for the lowest-earning 40 per cent.90Figure 5.7:Affordability trends of ICT services .91Figure

58、 5.8:Progress towards achieving the affordability target.92Figure 5.9:Mobile broadband prices and subscriptions across time.92Figure 5.10:A non-linear relationship between broadband prices and adoption(20152021).93Figure 5.11:Urbanization and broadband prices.94Figure 5.12:Operator economics:mobile

59、market revenues and investment.95xiiiFigure 5.13:The advantages of international connectivity.95Figure 5.14:Average broadband price by G5 Benchmark readiness level.96Figure 7.1:Generations of regulation.111Figure 7.2:National and international bodies involved in the Digital Economy Blueprint.118Figu

60、re 8.1:Impacts of COVID-19 on demand for communication services.127Figure 8.2:Impacts of COVID-19 on the supply of communication services.129Figure 8.3:Policy priorities in the new normal .131Figure 9.1:Large disparities in childrens access to the Internet.139Figure 9.2:Large disparities in Internet

61、 access between the rich and poor.140Figure 9.3:Youth is the most connected age group.141Figure 9.4:Youth ICT skills.141Figure 9.5:Youth have more ICT skills than adults.142Figure 9.6:Finding information about health .144Figure 9.7:Children and youths exposure to online risks .145Figure 10.1:Populat

62、ion density map of Central Nigeria overlaid with location of cell towers .158Figure 10.2 Disruptions in Tongas telecommunication networks.159Figure 10.3 DCM map for Tonga before and after the volcanic eruption and tsunami.159TablesTable 1.1:The contribution of connectivity and the SDGs.6Table 2.1:As

63、pirational targets for 2030 and current situation.20Table 4.1:Top 10 companies by presence on an IXP,December 2021.71Table 4.2:Top 10 IXPs by traffic exchanged,December 2021.72Table 4.3:Top 20 MTDC operators,December 2021.76Table 9.1:The 4Cs of online risks to children .144Table 10.1:Percentage of e

64、conomies with available data,selected indicators(latest year 20182021).155xivAbbreviationsA4AIAlliance for Affordable InternetAIartificial intelligenceAISautomatic identification system CDNContent Delivery NetworkCO:REChildren Online:Research and EvidenceDCMDisaster Connectivity MapDE-CIXDeutscher C

65、ommercial Internet ExchangeDRTDigital Realty TrustEGHExpert Group on Household IndicatorsEGTIExpert Group on Telecommunication/ICT IndicatorsFTTHfibre-to-the-homeGDPgross domestic productGNIgross national incomeGPSGlobal Positioning SystemGSMAGSM AssociationGSRGlobal Symposium for RegulatorsICTinfor

66、mation and communication technologyIEAInternational Energy AgencyIoTInternet of ThingsISPInternet service providerITUInternational Telecommunication UnionIXPInternet exchange pointKIXPKenya Internet Exchange PointMeitYMinistry of Electronics and Information Technology(India)MICTMinistry of ICT Innov

67、ation and Youth Affairs of KenyaMTDCmulti-tenant data centreNBPNational Broadband PlanNGOnon-governmental organizationNSANon-StandaloneNSOnational statistical officeOECDOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and DevelopmentPPPpurchasing power paritySDGsSustainable Development GoalsSIDASwedish Intern

68、ational Development Cooperation AgencySIMsubscriber identity moduleSMEssmall and medium-sized enterprisesSMSShort Message ServiceTVWStelevision white spaceUASUniversal Access and ServiceUN-CEBDUnited Nations Committee of Experts on Big Data and Data Science for Official StatisticsUN DESAUnited Natio

69、ns Department of Economic and Social AffairsUNCTADUnited Nations Conference on Trade and DevelopmentUNESCOUnited Nations Educational,Scientific and Cultural OrganizationUNICEFUnited Nations Childrens FundUNSCUnited Nations Statistical CommissionUSAIDUnited States Agency for International Development

70、USFuniversal service fundUTCCoordinated Universal TimeVNIXViet Nam National Internet eXchangeVNNICViet Nam Internet Network Information CenterWHOWorld Health OrganizationWTOWorld Trade OrganizationxvExecutive summaryIn the 30 years since the creation of the ITU Telecommunication Development Sector i

71、n 1992,the number of Internet users surged from a few million to almost five billion.This trend has enabled a digital transformation that has been,and is,transforming our societies and our economies.Yet the potential of the Internet for social and economic good remains largely untapped:one-third of

72、humanity(2.9 billion people)remains offline and many users only enjoy basic connectivity.Universal and meaningful connectivity defined as the possibility of a safe,satisfying,enriching,productive,and affordable online experience for everyone has become the new imperative for the 2020-2030 Decade of

73、Action to deliver onthe Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs).The Global Connectivity Report 2022 takes stock of the progress in digital connectivity over the past three decades.It provides a detailed assessment of the current state of connectivity and how close the world is to achieving universal and

74、 meaningful connectivity,using a unique analytical framework.It goes on to showcase solutions and good practices to accelerate progress.The second part of the report consists of seven thematic deep dives on infrastructure,affordability,financing,the pandemic,regulation,youth,and data.Chapter 1:Unive

75、rsal and meaningful connectivity:The new imperativeIn 1984,the Independent Commission for World-Wide Telecommunications Development convened by ITU published The Missing Link a seminal report that for the first time identified the social and economic benefits of telecommunications and promoted conne

76、ctivity as a right and a priority for all countries.The report noted that it was“not right”that only a minority of the world benefits from“remarkable new technologies”.Since the publication of that report,there has been tremendous progress in connecting the world.The Internet a remarkable technology

77、 that did not exist in 1984 is now woven into the entire fabric of our daily lives.And the minority has become the majority:two-thirds of humanity use the Internet.Yet despite this progress,“the link is still missing”:one-third of the worlds population remains offline and many among the online popul

78、ation are not meaningfully connected.The“missing link”has morphed into multiple digital divides,across and within countries,between men and women,between youth and older persons,between cities and rural areas,between those who enjoy a fibre connection and those who struggle on a spotty 3G connection

79、.Linking everyone is no longer enough.Universal and meaningful connectivity,the possibility for everyone to enjoy a safe,satisfying,enriching,productive,and affordable online experience,has become the new imperative for the 2020-2030 decade.Depriving vast swaths of humanity from the possibilities of

80、fered by the Internet is unacceptable and costly,as it stunts economic development and deepens inequalities.The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a sharp uptake in usage of the Internet.For those privileged enough to be connected,the Internet allowed a measure of continuity.However,for others,the pandemi

81、c exacerbated the cost of digital exclusion.Connectivity has a profound and far-ranging impact.The catalytic and enabling role of connectivity for sustainable development is recognized in the Sustainable Development Goals.The Internet offers significant economic benefits and the potential to enhance

82、 welfare for individuals throughout their lives.It enables new forms of communication,entertainment,expression,and collaboration.It enables access to services where traditional services are lacking,access to an enormous amount of knowledge,learning resources,and job opportunities.The benefits of con

83、nectivity are considerable for everyone,including marginalized and vulnerable groups,who are often the least connected.In this Decade of Action,three challenges have emerged:Closing the coverage gap:Even though 95 per cent of the world population is now within range of a mobile broadband network,at

84、least 390 million people have no possibility to connect to the Internet.Closing the usage gap:One in three individuals who could go online choose not to,mainly due to prohibitive costs,xvilack of access to a device,and/or lack of awareness,skills,or purpose.Achieving universal and meaningful connect

85、ivity:This means upgrading connectivity from basic to meaningful for all.As the use of the Internet increases,so too does the exposure to the downsides of connectivity such as privacy infringements,cybercrime,harmful content,and the outsized power of large companies.Addressing these issues is part o

86、f the journey to universal and meaningful connectivity.Finally,digital connectivity alone cannot solve any of the global challenges the world is facing.It is only one of many enablers of sustainable development.“Analogue complements”,including governance,security,health,education,transport infrastru

87、cture,and entrepreneurship are needed.Chapter 2:The journey to universal and meaningful connectivityChapter 2 relies on the framework for universal and meaningful connectivity and the associated targets for 2030,developed by ITU and the Office of the Secretary-Generals Envoy on Technology,to analyse

88、 the current state of digital connectivity globally and progress towards reaching the targets by 2030.The framework considers usage by various stakeholders(universal dimension of connectivity)and the five enablers of connectivity(meaningful dimension of connectivity):infrastructure,device,affordabil

89、ity,skills,and safety and security.The assessment reveals that the world is still far from universal and meaningful connectivity.Infrastructure needs to be rolled out or improved to bridge the coverage gap.There are still significant differences between and within countries in network availability a

90、nd quality.Fixed broadband is a costly investment and is not available or is unaffordable for many.Mobile broadband offers greater flexibility and is less expensive,and most rely on this technology to go online.But in many rural areas of developing countries,only 3G is available,when meaningful conn

91、ectivity requires 4G.The coverage gap,currently at 5 per cent,is dwarfed by the usage gap:32 per cent of people who are within range of a mobile broadband network and could therefore connect,remain offline.Data compiled by ITU make it possible to classify the offline population based on who they are

92、 and where they live.These data reveal five divides:Income divide:The level of Internet use in low-income countries(22 per cent)remains far below that of high-income countries,which are close to universal usage(91 per cent).Urban-rural divide:The share of Internet users is twice as high in urban are

93、as as in rural areas.Gender divide:Globally,62 per cent of men are using the Internet,compared with 57 per cent of women.Generation divide:In all regions,young people aged between 15 and 24 are more avid Internet users(71 per cent of them are online)than the rest of the population(57 per cent).Educa

94、tion divide:In nearly all countries where data are available,rates of Internet use are higher for those with more education,far higher in many cases.Understanding why people and households do not use the Internet is critical for designing effective,targeted interventions.The main reasons cited by pe

95、ople for not using the Internet are the lack of affordability,of awareness about the Internet,of need,as well as the inability to use the Internet.Globally,connectivity became more expensive in 2021 due to the global economic downturn triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.After years of steady decline,

96、the share of income spent on telecommunication and Internet services increased in 2021.The global median price of an entry-level broadband plan in the majority of countries amounts to more than 2 per cent of the gross national income per capita,which is the affordability threshold set by the Broadba

97、nd Commission for Sustainable Development.People should not be forced to use the Internet.However,evidence suggests that introducing people to the Internet usually entices them to stay online.Based on activities people reported,use of the Internet leads to an improved social life,with the use of soc

98、ial networks,making Internet calls and streaming video the most common activities.xviiBeyond awareness about the merits of the Internet,making meaningful use of it requires specific skills.In the countries where data are available,they suggest that many people,sometimes the majority,do not have such

99、 skills.Chapter 3:Accelerating progress towards universal and meaningful connectivityThis chapter explores options to accelerate progress towards universal and meaningful connectivity.Expanding broadband networks is needed to eliminate the remaining blind spots and improve the quality of connectivit

100、y.Measures include reducing constraints on foreign direct investment to attract capital for upgrading and expanding digital infrastructure;ensuring sound ICT sector regulation to help build competitive markets and enhance predictability;promoting infrastructure sharing to reduce costs;ensuring the s

101、upply of adequate,inexpensive spectrum to help reduce coverage gaps;and ensuring sufficient capacity and a shift to new generations of mobile broadband.Solutions to ensure an adequate energy provision to power ICT infrastructure include policy incentives,reducing duties and taxes on green power equi

102、pment and allowing independent power producers.Recalibrating universal service funds(USFs)can help deployment of infrastructure in unserved areas to reduce gaps among vulnerable groups such as women and girls,persons with disabilities and older persons.Overcoming digital illiteracy is critical in br

103、idging the usage gap.Effective and large-scale programmes are needed to address the challenge,including providing digital literacy as part of the school curriculum.Funding school connectivity remains a challenge,however.In many low-and middle-income countries where equipping schools with electricity

104、 is already a struggle,Internet access and digital skills are often after-thoughts.The cost of devices and Internet service is a significant barrier that stops many people from using the Internet.Countries have limited options,but eliminating import duties and reducing taxes on services will make th

105、em more affordable.Governments should encourage operators to offer a variety of plans that cater to different income levels and circumstances.Other measures to improve affordability include the provision of unlimited broadband access to community centres and schools;maintaining the temporary COVID-1

106、9 concessions that were put in place by operators in many countries;subsidizing data use for the poorest;and applying zero ratings for critical services such as e-government,education and health sites.Meaningful connectivity implies safety of use.Threats include a breach of data privacy,misinformati

107、on and harmful content,and overuse of digital technology.It is important to know how to mitigate risks to preserve trust in the use of the Internet.Countries need to enact better data protection laws to safeguard privacy,social media companies need to moderate content to detect false and inciteful c

108、ontent,and media literacy must be part of any digital skills training.To achieve universal connectivity,disadvantaged groups such as women and girls,persons with disabilities,older persons,those with low incomes and people living in remote areas,require special attention.Greater collaboration is nee

109、ded across governments,agencies,advocacy organizations and digital companies to accelerate the acquisition of digital skills.To reduce the gender gap,non-governmental organizations should be supported in providing mentoring and digital skills training for women and girls.Technology companies,too,can

110、 play a role,not only by supporting skills initiatives but also by setting their own gender equity targets.Digital products and services should be customized to the needs of women in terms of design,safety and security.Training of older persons is necessary if they are to access online public servic

111、es.Measures to reduce the digital disability gap include raising awareness,enacting laws that require online public services to be accessible to persons with disabilities,adapting products by adhering to international design guidelines,and supporting entrepreneurs in the development of contextually

112、relevant digital assistive technologies.Since data are often lacking,there is a need to ensure that the scope of ICT surveys addresses disadvantaged groups as well.Among the challenges posed by increased digital connectivity,e-waste continues to grow,and what happens to over four-fifths of e-waste i

113、s unknown.As a minimum,the recycling process should be made easier for consumers.Connectivity will help reduce carbon emissions across the economy,for example video conferencing for work and education will xviiireduce travel while the greater use of sensors will generate energy efficiencies across m

114、any sectors.Furthermore,there is considerable untapped renewable potential from solar,wind,hydro and geothermal sources in many low-and middle-income countries.As major energy users,ICT companies can provide the scale of investment to make renewable energy economically feasible.Governments can help

115、enormously by creating climate friendly energy strategies and liberalizing markets,particularly by welcoming independent renewable power producers.Chapter 4:The critical role of middle-mile connectivityMiddle-mile infrastructure is essential for connectivity.It is composed of Internet exchange point

116、s(IXPs),data centres and cloud computing and is a critical link between international connectivity(first mile)and the infrastructure that connects users(last mile).IXPs enable Internet service providers(ISPs)and content providers to exchange their data traffic,which offers substantial advantages,inc

117、luding reduced cost,increased reliability through redundancy,improved quality,and reduction in time needed to retrieve data.Data centres play a fundamental role in the digital economy by providing space for data storage of domestic content and processing of large datasets.Despite their crucial role,

118、few data centres are found in low-and middle-income economies due to a range of elements including lack of demand,low income,natural disasters,political instability,energy supply,and ease of doing business.Cloud computing offers computing power,on-demand infrastructure,competitive cost,maintenance,a

119、nd advanced big data technologies.While it is attractive to store data on the cloud,cost,latency,and national security remain important considerations for countries.For a country to improve its middle-mile connectivity,investment is crucial.The building blocks of an attractive data ecosystem include

120、 liberalization of the telecommunication market;putting in place data protection laws to help attract investment on data centres and cloud computing;addressing energy supply by allowing independent renewable power producers and suppliers to enter the market;and collaboration between governments,IXPs

121、,ISPs,data centre operators,and investors.Chapter 5:Meaningful connectivity for all:The affordability factorMillions of people remain offline,or are not meaningfully connected,because of the high cost of the device and/or subscription.The global picture of affordability is one of many stark contrast

122、s.Connecting to the Internet remains prohibitively expensive for many in low-and lower-middle-income economies while it is relatively cheap in richer countries.There are also less-visible divides within countries due to income inequalities.Even in countries where the average earner can afford an ent

123、ry-level broadband service,poorer segments of the population often cannot.The“value-for-money”is also uneven across countries.Not only are entry-level fixed broadband connections out of reach in lower-income economies,but connection speeds are also far lower there than in high-income economies.The p

124、ast decade has seen significant improvements in affordability of broadband access,especially mobile broadband,but the majority of low-and middle-income economies fall short of the global affordability target.The economic crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic has set back progress.Affordability a

125、nd connectivity go hand in hand.The critical challenge for policies with a digital development focus is to release countries trapped in a vicious cycle of unaffordable broadband prices that perpetuate low subscription rates.These are countries where factors such as physical geographic conditions,une

126、ven population distribution or low levels of disposable income deter investments,where market size does not drive down prices,while unaffordable prices deter new subscribers.Evidence suggests that affordability and the maturity of the regulatory environment go hand in hand.Countries showing the high

127、est readiness levels in collaborative digital regulation and with tailored competition policy have the most affordable broadband service prices.This offers scope for countries to increase affordability as they improve their regulatory policy environment.Governments wishing to reduce the cost of broa

128、dband access can resort to a variety of measures,xixfrom conditioning regulatory approval on the provision of low-cost services,to negotiating public-private partnerships balancing investment incentives for network deployment with price capping.Governments may also consider reducing taxes or subsidi

129、zing access to free or low-priced devices,as well as free connection in public administration facilities such as libraries,hospitals,or schools or at other public hot spots.Measures to ensure affordable access to universal meaningful connectivity will ideally form part of more comprehensive broadban

130、d strategies.Chapter 6:Financing universal and meaningful connectivityUniversal connectivity holds significant development opportunity but many areas,especially rural areas,remain unserved or underserved.However,current investment models for broadband connectivity are not commercially viable for unc

131、overed areas due to the high cost of deployment and low demand.Policy and regulation can shrink the connectivity gap to some extent by removing obstacles to network deployment and by raising demand for broadband,but these are both inadequate and too slow in responding to the urgent need to close the

132、 gap.Both the base of contributors and the scope of investment to support deployment and adoption need to be broadened.Several options are available to broaden the base of contributors:Identifying new contributors:New contributors can include digital companies,such as those with an e-commerce or oth

133、er online focus,along with other companies deriving benefits from broadband,multilateral development banks,corporate social responsibility funds,and philanthropic donors.Contributions can come in a variety of forms,including investments and in-kind contributions such as digital skills training.Earma

134、rking existing contributions:These contributions from ICT sector participants to support connectivity and adoption include mandatory contributions such as operator licence fees,spectrum licence fees,digital taxes,fees to access rights of way for infrastructure,and equipment import duties.Further con

135、tributions could include digital taxes and other regulatory levies.Reforming USFs:Reform can be achieved by setting clear objectives,implementing regulations,and providing a sound governance structure.Further changes in focus could include adding coverage obligations in spectrum licences and enablin

136、g direct operator investment rather than USF payments.Several options are available to broaden the scope of investments:Operating expenditure:In addition to capital expenditure,contributing to operating expenditure can make a business plan more sustainable.These can include direct subsidies or incen

137、tives such as tax reductions and can include in-kind contributions.Risk protection:Governments and international institutions can offer guarantees and loss-guarantee schemes or insurance that limit risks beyond the investors control,for example,political or currency risks.Demand-side support:Governm

138、ents can ensure demand by becoming an“anchor tenant”with a future contract for connectivity in an underserved region.Indirect support for demand can be provided by subsidizing the cost of a device or data plans,increasing digital literacy,and developing locally relevant content.Chapter 7:Policy and

139、regulatory strategies that drive digital transformation The need to redefine policy priorities,the roles of stakeholders,and to identify new tools has never been more pressing.Tensions,nevertheless,persist between established and emerging approaches to policy and regulation and new strategies will n

140、eed to prove themselves.Five strategies are at hand for policy-makers and regulators to navigate the digital transformation and connect the unconnected.1.Build ambidextrous leadership:Policy leadership is built around embracing ambiguity and uncertainty with a growth mindset and out-of-the-box think

141、ing,so when new challenges emerge,policy-makers and regulators can combine the tried-and-tested with a new approach,and with equal ease.xx2.Bridge silos and break through insularity:Silos are still common in national institutions and policy implementation.Adopting a whole-of-ecosystem approach to po

142、licy inception,design,prototyping and implementation is an issue in many countries where these issues persist,they hinder digital market development,innovation and value-creation.3.Develop a common language:Building a common language across stakeholder groups is essential to avoid policy implementat

143、ion getting lost in translation.Leveraging stakeholder dialogue and data to guide decisions will co-create more diverse and resilient regulatory solutions.4.Reframe and operationalize policy agendas:In the wake of recovery from COVID-19,governments have an opportunity to reframe their policy agendas

144、 and mainstream new priorities along with a broad development perspective.The circular economy,digital innovation,and gender empowerment have moved to the forefront of a new systemic approach where new legal instruments will redefine the focus for global action in the face of economic,technological,

145、and climate disruption.5.Skill up,and up again:In the“new normal”,the speed of learning provides a competitive edge in business and technology.Problem-solving is impossible without building new skills and competences,formulating strategic thinking around new issues in digital markets and implementin

146、g novel regulatory approaches.A focus on emerging skills is key to building adequate institutional capacity and preparing for current and future challenges.As digital markets grow and move towards everything-as-a-service,an agile and iterative,lean approach to policy and regulation has started to de

147、velop.The agency of regulators and policy-makers and their agility will be the keys to making the implementation of digital policies more impactful.Chapter 8:Connectivity and the pandemic:Building resilience for future crisesWhile the COVID-19 pandemic triggered fundamental disruptions to the econom

148、y and our way of life,it also accelerated the pace of digitalization and connectivity for many.However,the impact of the pandemic on the connectivity landscape has been uneven,due to the interplay of positive and negative factors on different time horizons.In the immediate emergency phase,lockdown r

149、estrictions generated demand for connectivity and digital services,ranging from home delivery to government services.They also helped change peoples preferences for digital solutions such as using electronic payments or teleworking.At the same time,demand was tempered in many countries where connect

150、ivity was conditioned on physical presence,for example,in-person purchases or renewals of pre-paid SIM-cards or devices.In the short-and medium-term,operators boosted connectivity supply by increasing capacity limits and the availability of zero-rated content,while government policies helped speed u

151、p investments in network infrastructure or access to spectrum.However,the pandemic also took a toll on the financial capacity of governments and operators,created problems in the availability of a skilled labour force and the functioning of global supply chains,while the uncertain economic environme

152、nt deterred and sometimes distorted investments.The pandemic highlighted the indispensable role of connectivity and serves as a wake-up call for policy actions to better prepare for future shocks.Closing the digital divide,improving the quality of connectivity,and driving digital deepening are essen

153、tial to improving resilience.Among other benefits,such actions will protect already disadvantaged children against the loss of learning experienced in the pandemic due to no or poor connectivity and avoid the shocks felt by many as remote interactions were forced on often poorly prepared governments

154、,institutions and populations.Chapter 9:The digital lives of children and young peopleGlobally,71 per cent of young people aged between 15 and 24 use the Internet,far more than any other age group,and in every country for which data are available they are more connected than the rest of the populati

155、on.At the same time,only 40 per cent of school-age children have access to the Internet at home,with stark disparities across xxiand within countries.While young people in middle-income countries drive the digital transformation,accessibility and affordability remain key constraints in low-income co

156、untries.Access does not determine the value that children and young people gain from the Internet.A second level of the digital divide emphasizes the role of digital skills in mediating both the opportunities and risks of ICT use and digital engagement.Overall,young people have greater ICT skills th

157、an adults,and while there is gender parity for basic and intermediate skills,gender imbalances still exist for advanced skills such as programming.Opportunities and risks tend to be correlated:more access and higher digital skill levels are associated with more exposure to online risks,making it cha

158、llenging to increase the former without increasing the latter.Access and digital skills are key to ensure that children and young people enhance their prospects,however,stakeholders must collaborate effectively to protect them from online risks and harm.As the digital environment becomes more comple

159、x,children and young people need to critically understand the digital world in which they are increasingly immersed.Many initiatives are underway to support and enhance digital learning and engagement.Online learning platforms can provide opportunities for children and young people to learn and deve

160、lop new skills in many areas.Improving evidence on access,use,skills and outcomes of children and young people will require international cooperation to ensure comparable definitions and measures and establish benchmarks enabling us to measure progress,examine problems and identify good practice.Cha

161、pter 10:Measuring meaningful connectivity:The case for more and better statisticsData are vital to universal and meaningful digital connectivity.While data volumes have grown exponentially,for many countries reliable statistics on digital connectivity remain surprisingly scant.To assess progress,dat

162、a on the deployment and uptake of digital technologies are essential.ITU collects,analyses and disseminates statistics from administrative sources and household surveys conducted by national statistical offices.While much progress has been made in recent years,large data gaps remain,especially on in

163、dicators collected from household surveys.These gaps are symptomatic of wider data gaps elsewhere.Unequal development has disadvantaged lower-income countries,which lack the infrastructure,the financial resources,and the skills necessary to produce data and subsequently extract value from them.Big d

164、ata,driven by data harvested by technology companies,has attracted much attention and sparked interest in a range of subjects owing to the timeliness and volume of such data.Many organizations,including ITU,are leveraging the potential of big data,particularly from mobile networks and open-source da

165、ta from social media,crowdsourcing platforms,and online search engines.ITU has devised methodologies for using big data to complement traditional ICT statistics and has carried out pilot projects in several countries.Progress to date is promising,with guidelines prepared on how mobile phone data can

166、 be used to measure the information society.Closing the data gaps is crucial for closing the digital divides and achieving universal connectivity.More and better data are needed to understand and remove the barriers to meaningful connectivity,especially for the marginalized people who are still offl

167、ine.Data cultures,funding and improving the collection,processing and use of data are integral to development.Chapter 1:Universal and meaningful connectivity:The new imperative2Chapter 1 Universal and meaningful connectivity:The new imperativeIn 1983,ITU established the Independent Commission for Wo

168、rld-Wide Telecommunications Development and tasked it with identifying ways of stimulating the expansion of telecommunications across the world.Chaired by Sir Donald Maitland,the Commission published its recommendations in December 1984 in the seminal report The Missing Link(ITU 1984).The Commission

169、 recognized several disparities in the worldwide distribution of telecommunications.Notably,it estimated that three-quarters of the 600million telephones in the world were concentrated in just nine industrialized countries.The report underlined that it“cannot be right that in the latter part of the

170、twentieth century a minority of the human race should enjoy the benefits of the new technology while a majority lives in comparative isolation”.How has this situation changed and what has been the response to the recommendations of the Commission?Since the publication of that report,there has been t

171、remendous progress in connecting the world(for an overview,see Box 1.5 at the end of the chapter).The Internet a technology that did not exist in 1984,is now woven into the entire fabric of our daily lives.The minority has become the majority:two-thirds of humanity use the Internet.Yet to a large ex

172、tent“the link is still missing”.A third of the worlds population remains offline and many among the online population are not meaningfully connected.Their connection may be too slow,unreliable,or costly.Lack of skills may compromise their ability to get the most out of devices and services.This limi

173、ted connectivity is simply not sufficient to change the basic blueprint of their lives.The“missing link”has morphed into multiple gaps and divides across and within countries,between men and women,between youth and older persons,between cities and rural areas,between those who enjoy a fibre connecti

174、on and those who struggle on a spotty 3G connection,between the technology savvy and those who fall victims of the Internets dark side.The Internet offers formidable possibilities.Depriving vast swaths of humanity from such possibilities is becoming less acceptable and more costly,as it is deepening

175、 social and economic inequalities.And the COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the costs of digital exclusion.Connecting everyone is no longer enough.The possibility of making meaningful use of the Internet,leveraging it to its full extent depends on a myriad of factors.The connectivity challenge has bec

176、ome even more arduous.Championed by ITU,the United Nations specialized agency for ICTs universal and meaningful connectivity is the possibility for everyone to enjoy a safe,satisfying,enriching,productive,and affordable online experience.Only by achieving universal and meaningful connectivity will t

177、he world fully realize the promise connectivity holds for digital transformation and for socio-economic development.The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a sharp uptake in usage and reliance on the Internet for many individuals,businesses,schools,and governments.The Internet has enabled continuity during

178、 periods of lockdown,quarantine,and social distancing.Those who had fast,reliable,and affordable connectivity also had access to education,health care,shopping,social life,and entertainment.For others,the pandemic increased the cost of digital exclusion.School closures affected millions of students,

179、and an estimated two-thirds of all school children were deprived of essential education services because they had no fixed broadband access at home(UNICEF and ITU 2020).In addition,jobs in sectors not conducive to telework tend to be at the bottom of the pay scale and are held disproportionately by

180、lower-skilled,younger,and less educated workers.The pandemic profoundly disrupted those sectors with a high proportion of such jobs in tourism,logistics,and services,thus contributing to a deepening of social inequalities.Global Connectivity Report 2022311 The promises of connectivityThe impact of c

181、onnectivity is profound and far-ranging,extending to individuals,businesses and governments.The Internet has significant economic benefits and the potential to enhance welfare for individuals throughout their lives.The Internet enables access to online services where traditional services are lacking

182、 and to new forms of entertainment,expression,collaboration,and communication.It enables access to knowledge,learning resources,job opportunities,and drastically reduces search costs.The Internet enables businesses to expand their customer base and to integrate global value chains.It improves effici

183、ency and reduces transaction costs(World Bank 2016).It provides access to online resources for upskilling and reskilling,enables remote working and gives access to a larger pool of talent.The Internet enables innovation,leading to new business models.By generating productivity gains and innovation,t

184、he Internet contributes to job creation and economic development.Governments use the Internet to deliver essential public services such as education and health care and not just during the pandemic and some services are available at reduced cost and with greater reach.The Internet can also be used f

185、or other government services such as business registration and tax collection,and to deliver benefits,especially useful in areas of a country where there are few traditional government offices.An ITU study shows that a 1 per cent increase in fixed broadband penetration increases gross domestic produ

186、ct(GDP)in a country by 0.08 per cent,while a 1 per cent increase in mobile broadband penetration increases GDP by 0.15 per cent(ITU 20181).While the economic impact of fixed broadband is greater in more developed countries,mobile broadband benefits are maximized in developing countries,where mobile

187、tends to be the way most people access the Internet.In Africa,a 1 per cent increase in mobile penetration is estimated to increase GDP by 0.25 per cent(ITU 2019).Mobile broadband penetration in Africa increased from just under 30 per cent in 2018 to just over 40 per cent in 2021(ITU 2021),and this 1

188、0 percentage-point increase corresponds to an increase of 2.5 percentage points in GDP.The Internet:a lifeline for the marginalized and the vulnerableIn addition to economic advantages,the benefits of connectivity are considerable for society.There exists a very close relationship between connectivi

189、ty and human development(Figure 1.1),although the relationship works both ways,connectivity drives development and more development leads to more connectivity.Global Connectivity Report 20224Figure 11:Connectivity and human developmentNote:N=138.Sources:ITU estimates and UNDP 2020.The benefits of co

190、nnectivity are considerable for the marginalized and vulnerable.Such groups are typically the least connected populations.For refugees for example,connectivity will keep them in touch with their communities,and will provide them with online services including education,employment,and financial suppo

191、rt(see Box 1.1).The role of connectivity in sustained,sustainable,and inclusive development and growth is recognized in the SDGs(Table 1.1).Target 9.c focuses specifically on connectivity to“Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal an

192、d affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020”.Table 1.1 highlights additional indicators related to connectivity under Goals 4,5,and 17.The benefits of connectivity and its applications extend to the achievement of virtually every SDG.This table also shows ITU initiatives

193、 contributing to the SDGs and lists relevant ITU initiatives that contribute to specific goals.11 Box1.3 shows how one specific application,digital financial services,can contribute to multiple goals.Global Connectivity Report 20225Global Connectivity Report 2022Box 11:Connectivity for refugees“Conn

194、ectivity is not a luxury for refugees.It is a lifeline.”Filippo Grandi,United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees2There are 84 million forcibly displaced people worldwide,of which 48 million are internally displaced and more than 26 million are refugees.3 This number will rise in the mid-to long-

195、term,as climate change impacts agriculture and sea levels,and as other disruptive events force people to migrate.This will add to the number of displaced people fleeing civil war,sectarian violence,and poverty.For these people,connectivity is an absolute lifeline,and the challenges to its delivery a

196、re considerable.Once displaced,people need connectivity to communicate with family and friends,to let them know they are safe.As they move,they need to remain connected.They need information about their situation and options,and some of them will be able to continue with their livelihoods online.Con

197、nectivity is core to delivering a humanitarian response,such as cash transfers via mobile phone,education,and other essential digital services.People sacrificing food for connectivity and buying connectivity by the minute with precious cash to send messages(UNHCR 2016)are striking examples of how im

198、portant connectivity is to them in their hour of need.Connectivity challenges in hosting countriesIt is a challenge to stay online for displaced people.According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR),85 per cent of refugees are hosted in developing countries.More than a quarter

199、(27 per cent)are hosted in least developed countries,4 often in rural areas where connectivity is typically below the average for the country.In addition,displaced people may not only lack the necessary papers to obtain a mobile phone,but their difficult financial circumstances means that help will

200、be needed if affordable and accessible coverage is to be provided.Focus on tackling connectivity challengesKey organizations are addressing the connectivity challenge of displaced people.For example,UNHCR has a Connectivity for Refugees initiative to bring refugees online with available,affordable,a

201、nd usable connectivity.5 The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development(2019)reported on broadband connectivity for refugees in 2019,and experts developed a Global Broadband Plan for Refugees in 2016.6 The GSM Association(GSMA)Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation project develops research,create

202、s partnerships for new services,advocates for enabling policy environments,and evaluates performance.7 The GSMA published a Humanitarian Connectivity Charter in March 2015 that was signed by 159 mobile operators in 111 countries,and endorsed by members of the international humanitarian community,inc

203、luding UNHCR.8 GSMA forecasts that it is on track to reach 7 million people with access to mobile services by early 2022.Box 12:The Sustainable Development Goals and the Decade of ActionThe United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development sets 17 Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs)for humanity

204、.They address deep-seated challenges,such as ending poverty and hunger,protecting the planet,and fostering peaceful,just,and inclusive societies.Progress towards achieving many of the SDGs has been slow,and in 2019,the UN Secretary-General declared 2020-2030 the Decade of Action.9 While the COVID-19

205、 pandemic has made progress all the more critical,it has also made it harder to gain ground in achieving the SDGs,and progress continues to stall.10 6Global Connectivity Report 2022Table 11:The contribution of connectivity and the SDGsSDGDescriptionRole of connectivityRelated connectivity indicator(

206、if relevant)Selected relevant ITU initiatives End poverty in all its forms everywhereDigital financial inclusion helps to lift individuals out of poverty by reducing transaction costs,providing access to loans,and reducing theft(see below).ITU has worked to accelerate digital financial inclusion in

207、developing countries.End hunger,achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agricultureConnectivity can help to make agriculture more data-driven to increase crop yields.It can also enable farmers to check the prices of their crops to increase their income.ITU and the Food a

208、nd Agriculture Organization of the UN have a partnership to help promote ICT innovation in agriculture.12Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all agesHealth services can be delivered over the Internet,to enable interactions with patients among other benefits.For instance,reminders

209、can be sent to patients to take their medication,and data can be gathered from individuals about their symptoms and from entire populations to track diseases.ITU has several partnerships with the World Health Organization to help deliver health services,including Be He lthy Be Mobile.13Ensure inclus

210、ive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for allConnectivity can provide access to online education in general,as well as helping to develop the digital skills needed to work online and find jobs.Indicator 4.a.1:Proportion of schools offering basic services,by

211、type of service,includes Internet and computers among the services Indicator 4.4.1:Proportion of youth and adults with ICT skills,by type of skillsITU is partnering with the International Labour Organization(ILO)to develop digital skills for youth to promote employment.14 See also the Giga initiativ

212、e under SDG 16.Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girlsThe benefits of connectivity should be available to all equally,but currently there is a digital gender gap.Indicator 5.b.1:Proportion of individuals who own a mobile telephone,by sexITU is involved in a number of gender equality

213、initiatives,including EQUALS,a global network to improve womens access to technology,and that promotes female leadership in the tech sector.15Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for allInternet of Things(IoT)devices can facilitate smart water and sanitation managem

214、ent,for instance to measure consumption and for quality monitoring.The ITU Focus Group on Smart Sustainable Cities examines key trends in urban smart water management.16Ensure access to affordable,reliable,sustainable and modern energy for allSmart power grids can build more efficient energy systems

215、 with fewer emissions,for instance by enabling consumers to monitor and moderate their usage.ITU has addressed smart power grids,along with helping develop greener ICT equipment.7Global Connectivity Report 2022SDGDescriptionRole of connectivityRelated connectivity indicator(if relevant)Selected rele

216、vant ITU initiatives Promote sustained,inclusive and sustainable economic growth,full and productive employment and decent work for allInternet connectivity can offer opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship to create jobs and companies,and digital transformation can generate economic growt

217、h.ITU has a Digital Innovation Framework to help accelerate these impacts,and established I-CoDI,the International Centre of Digital Innovation,to work with partners to develop strategies to accelerate digital transformation.17Build resilient infrastructure,promote inclusive and sustainable industri

218、alization and foster innovationThe Internet is a key enabler of digital infrastructure,the digital economy and innovation.Target 9.c addresses connectivity specifically.Indicator 9.c.1:Proportion of population covered by a mobile network,by technologyITU works to close the digital divide,including a

219、s part of the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development in partnership with UNESCO(see Chapter 5).Reduce inequality within and among countriesAccess to technologies and the knowledge that can be reached through connectivity can provide jobs and enable remote work to help reduce inequalities.I

220、TUs work to reduce the digital divide can contribute.Make cities and human settlements inclusive,safe,resilient and sustainableSmart technologies can help to make cities more sustainable,helping to manage traffic,trash collection,and air quality.ITU has a partnership with the UN Economic Commission

221、for Europe(UNECE)and UN-Habitat to help with the transition to smart sustainable cities.18Ensure sustainable consumption and production patternse-waste from ICTs is significant and increasing.ITU has initiatives to address the challenge of sustainable management of e-waste,including the Global E-was

222、te Monitor,a collaborative effort with other partners to monitor and reduce e-waste.19Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impactsICT products and services consume energy.ITU has been developing standards on green data centres and power feeding systems to reduce the energy footprint o

223、f connectivity.On the other hand,as highlighted during the pandemic,Internet services can reduce the need for commuting to work or traveling for business.Table 11:The contribution of connectivity and the SDGs(continued)8Box 13:Impact of mobile money:achieving the SDGs21Mobile financial services are

224、important in developing countries,where the level of fixed connectivity is low,and the number of unbanked individuals is high.At the end of 2019,there were 2.3 billion users of mobile financial services,including more than 1 billion registered mobile money accounts.The most famous of these services

225、is M-PESA in Kenya,offered by Safaricom,which now generates 11 billion transactions a year,and has clearly helped address pandemic restrictions.22Greater financial inclusion lowers the cost of transactions,eliminates risk from handling cash,allows full and fair wage and social payments,and facilitat

226、es savings and loans.One study showed that women particularly benefited in developing countries,moving out of agriculture and into business,with increased financial resilience and savings.This same study(Suri and Jack 2016)showed that 194000 households were lifted out of poverty as a result,some 2 p

227、er cent of all households in Kenya.Global Connectivity Report 2022SDGDescriptionRole of connectivityRelated connectivity indicator(if relevant)Selected relevant ITU initiatives Conserve and sustainably use the oceans,seas and marine resources for sustainable developmentSatellite imagery plays a sign

228、ificant role in monitoring oceans and terrestrial ecosystems.ITU allocates the use of spectrum needed to operate the satellites and coordinates the satellite orbits.Protect,restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems,sustainably manage forests,combat desertification,and halt and re

229、verse land degradation and halt biodiversity lossPromote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development,provide access to justice for all and build effective,accountable and inclusive institutions at all levelsConnectivity can be used to deliver government services to all,particularly

230、underserved citizens,including for schools and hospitals,and it can also be used for general social inclusion and to assess the delivery of services.ITU is working with UNICEF on a programme called Giga to deliver connectivity to schools(as described below).Strengthen the means of implementation and

231、 revitalize the global partnership for sustainable developmentPublic-private partnerships are key to delivering connectivity to all,particularly in un-or underserved areas.Indicator 17.6.1:Fixed Internet broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants,by speedIndicator 17.8.1:Proportion of individuals u

232、sing the InternetITU is partnering with the International Labour Organization(ILO)to develop digital skills for youth to promote employment.20 See also the Giga initiative under SDG 16.ITU works on such partnerships,including the ones in this table,to help to achieve the SDGs.Table 11:The contributi

233、on of connectivity and the SDGs(continued)9How is mobile money helping across the SDGs?SDG 1:No Poverty.In Burkina Faso,mobile money users are three times more likely to save for unpredictable events and emergencies,shielding them from economic shocks.In Uganda,a study showed that mobile money helpe

234、d small businesses to save and make payments,benefiting owners and workers.SDG 2:Zero Hunger.Mobile money can help farmers increase their productivity by demonstrating creditworthiness to buy equipment and can help to reduce food insecurity by providing financial services used to purchase food.SDG 3

235、:Good Health and Well-Being.Mobile money allows individuals and households to save for health emergencies,to purchase health insurance,and to pay their bills,enabling increased access to health services.SDG 4:Quality Education.Mobile money helps households to manage their savings for education and m

236、ake school payments efficiently,also lowering cost for providers.It can also lower the cost and risks of schools making payments to teachers.SDG 5:Gender Equality.Mobile money empowers women by giving them control over their money and reducing cash insecurity.In Cte dIvoire,men are twice as likely t

237、o have a traditional account with a financial institution as women,but there is no such gap with mobile money accounts.Mobile money also helps women to get credit to start businesses.SDG 6:Clean Water and Sanitation.Pay as you go(PAYG)solutions enable users with mobile money accounts to pay for wate

238、r,including a loan for their initial water connection,allowing users to pay in small instalments and have access to services.SDG 7:Affordable and Clean Energy.PAYG solar panels enable the use of mobile money to pay for electricity in small amounts,when it is needed,thereby also purchasing the solar

239、panel over time.As a result,children can study and businesses can operate after dark.Around 4.2 million panels were sold in Africa in 2019,increasing access to a clean source of power.SDG 8:Decent Work and Economic Growth.In addition to using mobile money for payments,individuals earn income by beco

240、ming mobile money agents there were 7.7 million in 2019.Small businesses use mobile money to efficiently and safely receive payments from their customers and pay their vendors,thereby increasing their revenues.SDG 10:Reduced Inequalities.Financial remittances are important for migrants and their fam

241、ilies,and the cost of sending them is significantly lower using mobile money.The average cost is actually below the 3 per cent target of SDG 10.C.These remittances,in turn,contribute to progress across many of the SDGs with increased income and resources.SDG 11:Sustainable Cities and Communities.Mob

242、ile money enables easy access to public transportation and enables payments for ride-sharing platforms to lower the cost of commuting.SDG 16:Peace,Justice and Strong Institutions.Mobile money transfers help reduce fraud and theft.For instance,when the Afghan National Police began to be paid with M-P

243、ESA instead of cash,salaries increased up to a third for some officers,while payments to ghost workers were stopped.In order to promote digital payments,ITU works as part of the Financial Inclusion Global Initiative(FIGI)with the World Bank Group and the Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructu

244、re of the Bank for International Settlements.23Digital financial services offer broad benefits for development,and mobile money is especially powerful given its availability,the convenience it brings,and its usefulness.Mobile money is a platform for a wealth of services that help progress in achievi

245、ng the SDGs.12 The downsides of connectivityAs the range of Internet uses continues to increase,exposure to the downsides of connectivity also increases.Concerns have intensified in recent years as Internet access has proliferated,such as privacy,cybersecurity,harmful content,and the outsize power o

246、f large companies.The data protection balance Privacy and data protection regulations are important in determining how personal data is used and protected.On the other hand,countries have to enable official access for law enforcement to counter terrorism and to prevent money laundering.This tension

247、generates difficult policy discussions on the use of encryption and access to data stored in other countries.Global Connectivity Report 202210Online harm:the world is struggling with an array of issuesThe focus on protecting individuals especially children has intensified in recent years.How can we

248、best ensure adults and childrens safety,while at the same time protecting freedom of expression?There are challenges even with non-harmful content:many channels exist where only one viewpoint is expressed an“echo chamber”where views,sometimes extreme,are reinforced and unchallenged.Excessive amounts

249、 of time spent online,particularly for the young in their formative years,can impact adversely on their personal relationships and on the wider community(see Chapter 9 on connectivity among the young).Events where misinformation and disinformation have been injected into this void are well documente

250、d,sometimes with long-term,far-reaching political consequences.During the pandemic,greater use of sensitive services has added to privacy concerns,while more access from home,with lower cybersecurity,has seen higher levels of attacks(see Box 1.4).In addition,harmful content has had serious consequen

251、ces,not least life and death consequences as COVID-19 misinformation and conspiracy theories have flourished.Online platforms:the role of regulation is still unclearRecently,the tide has begun to turn against harmful content on online platforms,in part to prevent misinformation about the pandemic.On

252、line platforms such as Twitter provide a medium for direct communications between politicians,officials,voters and other users,generally staying clear of editorial decisions and allowing for endless points of view and broad discussion.Platforms in many countries are allowed to operate with no editor

253、ial responsibility other than an obligation to remove illegal content when notified.Platforms can develop their own policies to guide decisions on how to moderate content.However,these policies have proven difficult to formulate and enforce due to the subjectivity and sheer quantity of uploaded cont

254、ent.Some platforms are increasing controls on misinformation One consequence of a lack of regulation on social platforms has been the rise of populist politicians using these platforms to make direct appeals to voters.Evidence has emerged that organized misinformation and disinformation campaigns ha

255、ve impacted outcomes in the 2016 elections in the United States and United Kingdom.In the light of such evidence,platforms have begun to address such issues by flagging,blocking,and banning some users.For example,a number of platforms now have in place policies that prohibit the posting of conspirac

256、y theories and remove anti-vaccination content.Global Connectivity Report 2022Box 14:The impact of digital distrustDigital distrust was highlighted during the pandemic by the publics response to contact tracing applications.Countries where manual contact tracing was used to isolate those who came in

257、to contact with people infected with COVID-19 were soon overwhelmed and attention quickly turned to the use of smartphones in automating contact tracing.In April 2020,an Oxford study suggested that if 60 per cent of the population used contact tracing apps,the pandemic could end earlier,and that sur

258、veys had indicated people would use them.24 Concerns quickly emerged about data privacy however as apps traced individuals location and proximity to others.And while Google and Apple collaborated in developing an Exposure Notification application that addressed these concerns,take-up remained far be

259、low 60 per cent.While studies showed contact tracing apps did indeed prevent infections,their efficacy fell short of expectations.11Connectivity both contributes to,and helps mitigate,emissionsConnectivity and data centres require increasing amounts of power and contribute to the generation of green

260、house gases.Bitcoin“mining”is estimated to consume enough energy per year to power a country such as Malaysia or Sweden(Carter 2021).More positively though,digital connectivity facilitates working from home and online meetings,thereby reducing the environmental impact of travel,a trend that exploded

261、 during the pandemic and is likely to endure(Pearson et al.2021).Moreover,connectivity contributes across a wide range of fronts that help mitigate climate change.A balanced view:connectivity is not an end in itselfAddressing the downsides of connectivity is a balancing act and will become more so a

262、s meaningful connectivity becomes universal.The challenge is to harness the potential of online interaction and open a world of connections,while mitigating the harms,a particularly difficult challenge given the borderless nature of communications and the freedom of online platforms to devise their

263、own content policies.However,connectivity is a means to an end,not an end in itself.For instance,to achieve SDG 2(zero hunger),connectivity can help increase agricultural production with an ICT application designed specifically for a particular crop and region.To have full effect however,such an app

264、lication needs the support of crucial elements such as a skilled farm workforce,transport,and well-functioning markets.A dual approach is needed to support a balanced development.First,the Internet must be made universally accessible.Second,stronger“analogue complements”are needed to ensure that the

265、 Internet provides for economic and social development(World Bank 2016).These analogue complements then ensure that there is a strong policy and regulatory framework,inclusive skills training,and accountable institutions.13 Charting a path to universal,meaningful connectivity There are three clear c

266、hallenges in this Decade of Action:1.Closing the coverage gap.Ninety-five per cent of the world population is within range of a mobile broadband network(3G or above).However,lack of infrastructure and services in the poorest areas of the world mean that blind spots remain(Figure 1.2).Figure 12:Cover

267、age gap and usage gapNote:*3G or more recent.Source:ITU.2.Closing the usage gap.ITU estimates that one in three individuals(33 per cent)who could go online today,choose not to do so.3.Achieving universal and meaningful connectivity.Closing the digital divide means much more than getting everybody on

268、line.Meaningful connectivity allows for a safe,satisfying,enriching,and productive online experience at an affordable cost.Increasingly,the digital divide is defined as the ability to make meaningful use of connectivity and to enjoy the full benefits of the digital age.Global Connectivity Report 202

269、212How the usage gap is closed and universal and meaningful connectivity is achieved depends on a number of elements that are covered in the following chapters of this report:Infrastructure.Coverage,speed,reliability in infrastructure underwrites the possibility of connecting and the quality of onli

270、ne experience(see Chapters 3 and 4 for further discussion).Affordability.More affordable services will enable many people to come online,while those already online will be able to extend their usage(see Chapters 3 and 5).Digital skills.Improving digital literacy is essential.Many people do not use t

271、he Internet because they do not know what it is or how to use it,while many users fear or are unable to navigate cyberattacks,scams,fake news,or harmful content(Chapters 3 and 9).Devices.Internet-enabled devices need to be affordable,taking into account that device sharing is limiting and that basic

272、 devices will make for a less enriching online experience(Chapters 3 and 5).Safety and security.We need to strive for an Internet that is safe and secure,one that will engender trust when people go online(Chapter 3).Addressing any one of these elements is a considerable challenge,and incremental imp

273、rovements are required for all of them.If just one is neglected,meaningful connectivity will not be achieved.Policy-makers and other stakeholders can intervene using a number of tools at their disposal and further chapters in this report showcase examples of successful policies,regulation,and invest

274、ments across all areas.25The pandemic has not only magnified the importance of connectivity but also the heavy cost of its absence.It has also highlighted the need to strive beyond universal connectivity towards meaningful connectivity that enables remote work,education,health care,and entertainment

275、.To achieve this goal,the work needed to counter the downsides of connectivity should be fully recognized.Meaningful connectivity will help advance the achievement of the SDGs and ensure that the Decade of Action delivers tangible social and economic benefits for all.Global Connectivity Report 20221

276、3Box 15:A history of digital connectivityConnectivity has gone through three main stages over the past decades.Understanding these stages helps understand how the digital divide has developed and how to address it.Since the 1990s,the Internet has grown beyond its academic roots in user numbers and i

277、n the depth of online use.Access has migrated from dial-up fixed access to broadband,while mobile broadband was introduced with continuous upgrades of generations.Devices moved from static personal computers to smart devices and to the Internet of Things(IoT).And finally,services morphed from text-b

278、ased serial communications and downloads to real-time multimedia interactions.The Internet of today is unrecognizable compared to the one that existed when Tim Berners-Lee conceived the World Wide Web in 1989 in Geneva.The commercialization of the web brought the Internet into popular view.The Inter

279、net has increased steadily from almost zero users in 1990 to an estimated 4.9 billion users within three decades(see Figure2.2 in Chapter 2).26 Stage 1:1990s dial-up,fixed broadband,and the emergence of mobileIn the 1990s,connectivity used fixed infrastructure.Fixed telephone networks were fairly un

280、iversal in developed countries,enabling early analogue dial-up services slow access speeds and a phone call was needed to go online.The introduction of integrated services digital network(ISDN)provided a digital connection at speeds that could exceed those offered by dial-up connections,but take-up

281、was relatively low.Towards the end of the decade came the introduction of fixed broadband.Fixed telephone networks were upgraded to offer broadband using digital subscriber line(DSL)technology,while some countries also had widespread cable television networks that were upgraded to offer broadband.In

282、creased fixed-broadband bandwidth enabled new multi-media content and was always-on connectivity and spawned new services.However,many developing countries had limited fixed-telephone networks,with long waiting lists,offering few opportunities for Internet access.As a result,the connectivity focus i

283、n developing countries was necessarily on extending fixed networks,which is costly and slow,and limited the promise of connectivity.At the same time,mobile-cellular networks were emerging,leap-frogging cumbersome fixed networks and offering voice services to users in more and more countries.Mobile I

284、nternet services did nothing less than transform the connectivity landscape.Global Connectivity Report 202214Stage 2:The rise of mobile broadband in the new millenniaIn the 2000s,mobile broadband emerged as the primary means for many to go online,beginning with 3G services.Mobile broadband had three

285、 advantages.First,the cost of upgrading existing mobile cellular networks to offer broadband was relatively low.Second,the deployment cost of mobile networks was significantly lower than deploying fixed networks and adding mobile Internet to voice revenues made it financially viable.Third,while fixe

286、d networks have many attributes of a natural monopoly,mobile services could be offered competitively,as was the case in most countries.Early uses of mobile Internet were restricted by the device.Either a device captured the signal for use with a personal computer,effectively turning mobile into a fi

287、xed service,or it was used with basic devices that enabled e-mail and rudimentary web services.The release of the iPhone in 2007 and the Android phone in 2008 coupled with the launch of third-party apps accelerated adoption and the mobile Internet revolution.The smartphone transformed use of the Int

288、ernet.Not only did it give access to existing services where there was no fixed coverage,it also enabled new services based on features such as location-awareness.By the end of the decade,the penetration of mobile Internet had significantly outpaced fixed broadband,particularly in regions where ther

289、e was little fixed connectivity,notably in Africa.It was clear that the future of connectivity in those regions was to be built on mobile(Figure 1.3).Figure 13:Broadband penetration,2010 Fixed-and active mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsNote:CIS=Commonwealth of Independent States.So

290、urce:ITU.Global Connectivity Report 202215Stage 3:Global dominance of mobile broadband from 2010 From 2010 onwards,mobile broadband spread throughout the world,building on existing cellular networks and then expanding and upgrading to new generations of networks.As a result,the connectivity challeng

291、e in developing countries was fully and positively turned on its head.In the 1990s,the challenge had been the supply of connectivity.In the following decades,the population coverage of mobile broadband networks quickly overtook demand.And since it was inexpensive to upgrade mobile networks to offer

292、broadband,the supply of mobile broadband was able to come on-stream at high volume.Furthermore,as mobile broadband networks expanded,they did so with 3G technology,offering mobile broadband,and then 4G as it began to be rolled out.Figure 1.4 compares the population coverage of mobile broadband with

293、the uptake of mobile broadband services in 2021.Mobile broadband coverage is nearing 100 per cent in many regions of the world,and in many countries within those regions it is at 100 per cent.But there is a big usage lag in certain regions,even allowing for multiple subscriptions,and with adoption l

294、ower than availability,particularly in Africa.This reveals a major shift:the connectivity challenge is shifting from the supply-side,where fixed broadband deployment lags,to the demand-side,where mobile broadband nears ubiquity,in most parts of the world.Figure 14:Mobile-broadband coverage and subsc

295、riptions,2021Notes:The number of subscriptions can exceed 100 as individuals can have subscriptions for multiple devices.CIS=Commonwealth of Independent States.Source:ITU.Global Connectivity Report 202216Global Connectivity Report 2022ReferencesBroadband Commission for Sustainable Development.2019.T

296、he State of Broadband:Broadband as a Foundation for Sustainable Development.https:/broadbandcommission.org/publication/the-state-of-broadband-2019/Carter,N.2021.“How Much Energy Does Bitcoin Actually Consume?”Harvard Business Review,5 May.https:/hbr.org/2021/05/how-much-energy-does-bitcoin-actually-

297、consumeGSMA.2019.Harnessing the Power of Mobile Money to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.https:/ obileforde velopment/resources/harnessing-the-power-of-mobile-money-to-achieve-the-sustainable-development-goals/GSMA.2020.2020 Mobile Industry Impact Report:Sustainable Development Goals.Septe

298、mber.https:/ ITU.1984.The Missing Link Report of the Independent Commission for World-Wide Telecommunications Development.https:/www.itu.int/en/history/Pages/MaitlandReport.aspx.2018.“The economic contribution of broadband,digitization and ICT regulation”.Geneva:ITU.https:/www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Regul

299、atory-Market/Documents/FINAL _1d _18-00513 _Broadband-and-Digital-Transformation-E.pdf.2019.“Economic contribution of broadband,digitization,and ICT regulation:Econometric modelling for Africa”.Geneva:ITU.https:/www.itu.int/dms _pub/itu-d/opb/pref/D-PREF-EF.BDT _AFR-2019-PDF-E.pdf.2021.Facts and Fig

300、ures 2021.Geneva:ITU.https:/www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Pages/facts/default.aspxITU and UN-OHRLLS.2021.Connectivity in the Least Developed Countries,Status Report 2021.https:/www.itu.int/itu-d/reports/statistics/connectivity-in-the-least-developed-countries-status-report-2021/Kilic,T.;Serajuddin

301、,U.;Uematsu,H.;and Yoshida,N.2017.“Costing Household Surveys for Monitoring Progress Toward Ending Extreme Poverty and Boosting Shared Prosperity”.Working Paper.World Bank Group Open Knowledge Repository.https:/openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/25960Pearson,A.M.;Patel,T.;and Wilkes,W.2021.“Fo

302、rever Changed:CEOs Are Dooming Business Travel Maybe for Good”.Bloomberg.31 August.https:/ Jack,W.2016.“The long-run poverty and gender impacts of mobile money”.Science.9 December.https:/www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.aah5309UNDP.2020.The 2020 Human Development Report.New York.https:/repor

303、t.hdr.undp.org/UNHCR.2016.“Connectivity for everyone”.UNHCR Innovation Service:Year in Review 2016.UNHCR:Geneva.https:/www.unhcr.org/innovation/connectivity-for-everyoneUNICEF and ITU.2020.How many children and young people have internet access at home?Estimating digital connectivity during the COVI

304、D-19 pandemic.UNICEF:New York.https:/data.unicef.org/resources/children-and-young-people-internet-access-at-home-during-covid19/University of Oxford.16 April 2020.“Digital contact tracing can slow or even stop coronavirus transmission and ease us out of lockdown”(blog).https:/www.research.ox.ac.uk/a

305、rticle/2020-04-16-digital-contact-tracing-can-slow-or-even-stop-coronavirus-transmission-and-ease-us-out-of-lockdownWorld Bank.2016.World Development Report 2016:Digital Dividends.https:/www.worldbank.org/en/publication/wdr2016171 The economic contribution of broadband,digitization and ICT regulatio

306、n.Geneva,International Telecommunication Union(https:/www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Regulatory-Market/Documents/FINAL _1d _18-00513 _Broadband-and-Digital-Transformation-E.pdf)2 Grandi,Filippo.“Connectivity is not a luxury for refugees.It is a lifeline.”World Economic Forum blog,19 January 2017.https:/www.we

307、forum.org/agenda/2017/01/connectivity-is-not-a-luxury-for-refugees-it-is-a-lifeline/3 UNHCR.Refugee Data Finder.Accessed 27 January 2022.https:/www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics/4 ibid.5 See:https:/www.unhcr.org/innovation/connectivity-for-refugees/6 See:https:/www.broadband4refugees.org7 GSMA.Mobile

308、 for Humanitarian Innovation.https:/ obileforde velopment/mobile-for-humanitarian-innovation/8 GSMA.Humanitarian Connectivity Charter.https:/ obileforde velopment/mobile-for-humanitarian-innovation/humanitarian-connectivity-charter/9 UN.Decade of Action.https:/www.un.org/sus tainablede velopment/dec

309、ade-of-action/10 UN.Progress Charts.https:/unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2021/progress-chart/11 For more on how ITU contributes to the SDGs,see:https:/www.itu.int/en/action/environment-and-climate-change/Pages/ITU-in-the-UN-Environmental-Agenda.aspx12 ITU.Food and Agriculture Organization Partnership.h

310、ttps:/www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/ICT-Applications/Pages/fao-partnership.aspx13 WHO.Be He Lthy,Be Mobile.https:/www.who.int/initiatives/behealthy14 See:https:/www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Digital-Inclusion/Youth-and-Children/Pages/Digital-Skills.aspx15 See:https:/www.equalsintech.org16 ITU.Focus Group on Smart Sus

311、tainable Cities.https:/www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/focusgroups/ssc/Pages/default.aspx17 ITU.I-CoDI ITUs International Centre of Digital Innovation.https:/www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Pages/I-CoDI.aspx18 ITU.United 4 Smart Sustainable Cities.https:/www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/ssc/united/Pages/default.aspx19 See:https:/www

312、.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Environment/Pages/Spotlight/Global-Ewaste-Monitor-2020.aspx20 ITU.“ILO-ITU Digital Skills for Jobs Campaign to equip 5 million youth with job-ready digital skills”.21 This table is based on GSMA(2019)and GSMA(2020)22 For instance,within weeks of the lockdown imposed in Rwanda in Ma

313、rch 2020,the number of mobile money transfers increased five-fold,while the value of the transfers increased six-fold.It is too soon to know if this increase will outlast the pandemic,but nonetheless it demonstrates the benefits of mobile money to enable transactions.See:“The covid-19 crisis is boos

314、ting mobile money”.The Economist.30 May 2020.23 See:https:/figi.itu.int24“Digital contact tracing can slow or even stop coronavirus transmission and ease us out of lockdown”.University of Oxford blog,16 April 2020.https:/www.research.ox.ac.uk/article/2020-04-16-digital-contact-tracing-can-slow-or-ev

315、en-stop-coronavirus-transmission-and-ease-us-out-of-lockdown25 The report does not consider broader factors,such as economic development and technological innovation,which also have significant impact on the level of connectivity and the relationship runs both ways,as explained above.26 See:http:/ww

316、w.itu.int/factsandfigures2021Global Connectivity Report 2022EndnotesChapter 2 The journey to universal and meaningful connectivity19Chapter 2 The journey to universal and meaningful connectivityThis chapter introduces the framework for universal and meaningful connectivity and assesses where the wor

317、ld is today on the road to reaching this goal by 2030.The framework follows on from the United Nations Secretary-Generals Roadmap for Digital Cooperation1 and has been developed by ITU and the Office of the Secretary-Generals Envoy on Technology(OSET).The framework includes aspirational targets to b

318、e met by 2030(ITU and OSET 2022).21 Measuring digital connectivityUniversal connectivity means connectivity for all,measured across four categories:people,households,communities,and businesses.Meaningful connectivity is a level of connectivity that allows users to have a safe,satisfying,enriching,an

319、d productive online experience at an affordable cost and with a sufficiently large data allowance.Meaningful connectivity is reliant on the“connectivity enablers”of infrastructure,affordability,device,skills,and safety and security(see Figure 2.1).Much of what is set out in this chapter builds from

320、this framework.This chapter uses this framework and its targets to assess the state of digital connectivity around the world and how close the world is to achieving universal and meaningful connectivity.Table 2.1 shows the targets and where the world currently stands on these targets.22 The state of

321、 digital connectivityThis section provides an overview of Internet use,broken down into three categories:individuals,households,and schools.Individuals use of InternetThe headline indicator to assess universal connectivity is the percentage of individuals using the Internet.Some individuals however

322、choose not to use the Internet so while the universality target in this context is a penetration rate of 100 per cent for the population aged 15 and above,2 this is Global Connectivity Report 2022Figure 21:Framework for universal and meaningful connectivitySources:ITU and UN OSET 2022.20Global Conne

323、ctivity Report 2022Table 21:Aspirational targets for 2030 and current situationIndicatorTargetCurrent situation globally aNumber of countries meeting the target bInternet users(%of pop ulation)Aged 15 and above Gender parity ratio(1=parity)100%163%c0.9213/151c40/112Households with Internet access(%)

324、100%66%13/126Schools connected to the Internet(%)100%40%(primary)51%(lower sec.)66%(upper sec.)42/93 50/94 50/97Businesses using the Internet(%)0 employees or more 10 employees100%100%n.a.n.a.6/2423/47Mobile network coverage(%of population)3G 4G 5G95%88%n.a.2/29 d 66/157n.a.Fixed-broadband speed(%of

325、 subscriptions)10 Mbit/s100%91%25/150School connectivity Min.download speed(Mbit/s per school)Min.download speed(kbit/s per student)Minimum data allowance(GB)2050200n.a.n.a.n.a.8/24n.a.n.a.Entry-level broadband subscription price%of gross national income per capita%of average income of bottom 40 per

326、cent of earners 2%2%1.9%(mobile)3.5%(fixed)2.5%(mobile)6.0%(fixed)96/185 64/17450/110 21/106 Individuals using a mobile phone Gender parity ratio(1=parity)1 n.a.29/56Individuals owning a mobile phone (%of population)Aged 15 and above Gender parity ratio(1=parity)100%1 n.a.n.a.22/7830/72Population ag

327、ed 15+with basic digital skills(%)Gender parity ratio(1=parity)70%1 n.a.n.a.8/775/70Population aged 15+with intermediate digital skills(%)Gender parity ratio(1=parity)50%1 n.a.n.a.11/765/70100%for the most ad-vanced technology already in use in the country with minimum coverage of 40%Notes:n.a.=not

328、available(global situation cannot be assessed due to limited data coverage).a:Data are either for 2021,2020,or the latest year available in the last four years;more details are provided in this chapter.b:Among countries for which data is available.x/y means that in x out of y countries for which dat

329、a are available the target has been achieved or almost achieved(see text for details).c:Percentage of total population instead of population aged 15 and above.d:Number of countries where coverage of 4G has not reached 40 per cent of the population.See ITU and OSET(2022)for details.Sources:ITU;UNCTAD

330、(retrieved May 2022);UNESCO-UIS database(retrieved February 2022).21considered“met or nearly met”when the share is 95 per cent or higher.The World Wide Web was invented in 1989 and the Internet is a relatively young technology.3 In 1994,an estimated 20 million people browsed the Internet,less than h

331、alf a per cent of the world population.Penetration grew at double-digit rates until 2010,when it reached a 29 per cent penetration rate.Growth continued gradually until the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic sparked a surge in Internet use and in 2020 an estimated 466 million people began using the In

332、ternet for the first time,an increase of 10.3 per cent in penetration.By the end of 2021,4.9 billion people were online,some 63 per cent of the world population.Figure 2.2 shows growth in the number of people using the Internet from 1994,the year when the first ITU World Telecommunication Developmen

333、t Conference(WTDC)was held.4Figure 22:Growth of Internet use between 1994 and 2021 Number of individuals(millions)using the InternetSource:ITU.Global usage rates in Figure 2.2 hide the disparities between regions.Figure 2.3 shows that Europe,the Commonwealth of Independent States(CIS),and the Americas are close to achieving 95 per cent usage.The Arab States and Asia-Pacific are also on a clear pat