Empowering Connectivity through Broadband Mapping

Broadband Maps

A GIS tool aiming at helping to address connectivity gaps and enhance affordability and resilience strategies. It offers expert assistance in geospatial technologies, including map visualization of key ICT networks indexes, such as optical fibre networks presence.

The map has been updated in 2025

What's new in the latest update?

Enhanced with advanced analytical features, multi-layer data integration, and a new RAG chatbot, enabling users to access information

View the map

Explore the Infrastructure Connectivity Mapping Toolkit

Geospatial Analysis Toolkit

The toolkit is updated to offer a range of learning materials, platforms, and professional development resources, including ITU Academy training courses, designed to promote capacity building.

What's new in the latest update?

APIs to determine the proximity of a location to a Transmission Fiber node

Explore the API

Broadband Map

The Broadband map demonstrated infrastructure connectivity layers, consolidating the results of ITU research on transmission networks, and other relevant information. This initiative aims to promote capacity on geospatial concepts and technologies applied to the ICT sector for increasing affordable connectivity.
Infrastructure Maps for applied connectivity analysis are prepared through BDT projects and assistances. They offer granular and in-depth analysis focusing specific connectivity targets (e.g. schools, health centres). maps here
The Toolkit of maps and geospatial from BDT can be accessed here
Read the ITU Background on Geospatial here.

Artificial Intelligence to close connectivity gaps

Programe exploring how AI can help mapping ICT infrastructure access to close connectivity gaps.

Terrestrial Fibre Data Harmonization

ICT Geospatial Catalogue

The BDT Geospatial Catalogue aims to facilitate the finding of spatially referenced resources related to ICT infrastructure that can support analysis towards closing connectivity gaps and network deployment
The Geocatalogue includes the ICT Infrastructure Data Dictionaries that serve as reference for assistance on broadband mapping

Broadband Capacity Transmission Indicators

The Broadband Capacity Transmission Indicators (BCTI) were defined by ITU's WTIM-2012, Bangkok, Thailand
The definitions of the 7 BCTI indicators are presented here

Open Fibre Data

Fibre Open Data has the potential to promote increased knowledge of ICT infrastructure and foster innovative solutions to extend connectivity reach. Learn more about the Open Fibre Data work here

Data Research, Validation Framework

Data Research

Connectivity project implementation requires the execution of data research of ICT networks, including transmission networks. The details of the validation framework in place are presented here. The site contains a user guide. Also, data sources, and validation tools (*ITU account is needed for some of the features, click here to create an account)

Data Research Framework on Terrestrial Transmission Networks

Here is the defined Framework and Methodology for the data research on terrestrial Fibers. The Circular Letters / RFIs sent for establishing the pillars of the work, and the End of Validation Process Letters to validate information to be publicized

ICT Infrastructure Business Planning Toolkit

The ICT infrastructure business planning toolkit addresses business planning challenges with mobile and fibre-optic networks and it continues to offer a clear and practical methodology for the accurate economic evaluation of broadband infrastructure installation and deployment plans. The present edition also addressed the design of networks to support sustainable 5G technology roll-out.

Connectivity Planning Platform (CPP) is a data-driven tool that supports governments, regulators, operators, and partners with evidence-based decisions through integrated data, dynamic modelling, and actionable insights for broadband and last-mile planning.

Projects, Partnerships and Collaboration

Announced during GSR-24: The Africa's National Broadband Mapping Systems project, Africa-BB-Maps, supported by the European Commission, will help establish broadband mapping systems to foster investment and digital transformation in Africa. With a budget of EUR 15 million over four years, the project will initially benefit 11 countries: Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe
Signed on 14/06/2024, Strengthening collaboration on ICT infrastructure mapping ITU and the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly indicated their intent to collaborate in the areas of broadband connectivity data, network planning, evidence-based decision-making processes and benchmarking through data analytics, as well as interconnection of networks across WATRA member states, and through improved socio-economic mapping for targeted infrastructure investment opportunities and new partnerships
Africa-BBmaps-Project: Is an initiative dedicated to transforming digital connectivity across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), supporting harmonized broadband mapping systems
Use cases:

School Connectivity (FNS page)
ICT infrastructure and Financial Inclusion Map for Mexico (FIGI): Financial Inclusion Interactive Map; Guide [English]
ICT Regulatory Tracker / G5 Benchmark: The ICT Regulatory Tracker is an evidence-based tool to help decision-makers and regulators make sense of the rapid evolution of ICT regulation. Learn more about the ICT Regulatory Tracker and the 5G Benchmark
Machine learning and satellite imagery to automatically detect telecommunication towers around a given location, supporting ICT infrastructure research for development, proof-of-concept app.

Training

Impact story on the Digital Impact Unlock: Improving Mapping Skills to Increase Last-Mile Connectivity
ITU Academy Training on Infrastructure Mapping and ICT Business Planning (2026)

The ITU Academy Self-Paced Training on 'Introduction to Broadband Mapping' is available to the membership. This training brings together information on how to get started with Geographical Information Systems (GIS) applied to proceed with ICT network gap analysis and planning, among other introductory concepts and practices sharing
The ITU Academy Advanced Broadband Mapping training, adds advanced topics and builds upon the existing "Introduction to Broadband Mapping" training, namely geospatial data management, advanced geospatial tools for infrastructure analysis, and Open Fibre data framework
The ITU Academy online training: on "Introduction to the ICT Infrastructure Business Planning Toolkit". The course offers regulators, policymakers, and stakeholders a practical approach for the accurate economic evaluation of broadband infrastructure installation and deployment plans, based on the ITU ICT infrastructure business planning toolkit - 5G networks

ICT Infrastructure development related list of Events

Contact:

- Future Networks and Spectrum Management Division (FNS) website

- email: fns@itu.int

* ITU Account / TIES required. For more information, please consult the TIES service website

Connecting the world and beyond

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