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ICT trends in the LDCs

​​​​By end 2018, almost one out of five people (19.5%) in the LDCs were online, and 18% of households in LDCs had Internet access at home.

LDCs registered some 750 million mobile-cellular subscriptions, about 72 per 100 inhabitants. At the same time, the number of mobile-broadband subscriptions reached close to 290 million by end 2018, translating into a penetration rate of 28 per cent. Close to 60 per cent of the population in LDCs was covered by a mobile-broadband signal, and an increasing number of LDCs launched 4G services. ​

Note: * Estimate. Source: ITU World Telecommunication / ICT indicators database

For more information on fixed and mobile broadband uptake, ICT prices, bandwidth development and much more, see the ITU Facts and Figures 2018 (in excel format)​, and the ITU's latest ICT statistics.
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Achieving universal and affordable internet on the least developed countries

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In January 2018, ITU launched the report on ICTs, LDCs and the SDGs: Achieving universal and affordable Internet in the least developed countries. This report highlights the opportunities that ICTs deliver to tackle development challenges in the most vulnerable countries in the world. This report analyzes ICT developments in the LDCs and tracks progress towards achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 9.c, to "significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020". ​ 
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​As the UN specialized agency for ICTs, ITU assists LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS by implementing activities, programmes and projects to increase their capacity to participate fully in, and benefit from the opportunities of, the information society.

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