This page features all ITU-D Publications released in 2025-2026. Publications from previous years can be found under the respective tabs.
For publications released prior to 2023, please refer to the
ITU-D publications archive.
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This report undertakes a review of telecentre and community networks and examines sustainability across the six dimensions of financial sustainability, sociocultural sustainability, organisational sustainability, operational sustainability, policy sustainability and environmental sustainability.
Publication Date: July 2026
Read More » Artificial intelligence and ageing: inclusive pathways for older persons in a digital world provides a comprehensive assessment of how artificial intelligence is shaping the lives of older persons in an era of rapid demographic and technological change.
Publication Date: July 2026
Read More » Leveraging AI to Enhance Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems discusses the use of artificial intelligence for early warning systems (EWS). The report, produced by the Early Warnings for All (EW4All), demonstrates AI's potential to address existing gaps in EWS and to make the systems more effective, resilient, and inclusive. The report builds on the work of the AI for EW4All Group and allows policymakers, humanitarian partners, and local leaders to leverage emerging technology for protecting lives and livelihoods.
Publication Date: July 2026
Read More » The 2026 edition of ITU’s ICT Development Index (IDI) highlights continued global progress towards universal and meaningful connectivity. Covering 159 economies, it is the fourth edition based on the methodology introduced in 2023. The global average score increased again, with the strongest improvements recorded in low- and lower-middle-income economies. While digital divides are narrowing in some areas, significant disparities persist in affordability, Internet use and the quality of connectivity.
Publication Date: June 2026
Read More » This guide covers the design, implementation, and management of a regulatory framework for emergency roaming service agreements1 when mobile network operators seek to establish emergency roaming services. It is intended for regulatory authorities but also serves as a reference for mobile network operators (MNOs) seeking to establish bilateral agreements for emergency roaming services.
Publication Date: June 2026
Read More » This practical guide provides policymakers and regulatory authorities with a decision-oriented framework to design, select, and guide different types of experimentation spaces in the public sector. It presents key principles, criteria and operational tools to support evidence-based policymaking and more adaptive regulatory approaches in response to emerging digital technologies.
Publication Date: June 2026
Read More » Based on the Global Guidelines for NETPs and developed as a general framework, this model framework will provide sixteen countries in West Africa with a practical step-by-step process to develop and tailor their own NETPs according to their specific national priorities, contexts, and levels of development.
Publication Date: May 2026
This report explores creative and innovative solutions to address the digital divide in South Africa and enhance last-mile connectivity through alternative and complementary technologies.
Publication Date: May 2026
This case study from Indonesia showcases a rural village in South Sulawesi which has used the Dana Desa (Village Fund) Programme to finance and manage its own internet network through community-centred planning and transparent local governance..
Publication Date: May 2026
The GSR-26 Best Practice Guidelines constitute an important practical resource for regulators as they navigate the growing complexity of digital markets and ecosystems. They convert broad policy ambition into a clear and actionable governance essentials, enabling regulatory authorities to strengthen oversight, enhance coherence, and deliver more tangible outcomes for people, markets and societies.
Publication Date: May 2026
The GEMS Tool report introduces both a comprehensive methodological framework and the analytical econometric tool designed to support policymakers, regulators, operators, and industry stakeholders. The report serves as a contribution to ongoing global efforts, but also as a practical instrument to support country-level action.
Publication Date: May 2026
The ITU ICT Regulatory Tracker has become the reference benchmark for assessing ICT regulatory maturity, used by Member States, international organizations and academia. Its value lies in a robust, neutral and well-established methodology applied consistently across 194 countries, drawing on official inputs to the ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Regulatory Survey and structured desk research.
Publication Date: May 2026
This report examines satellite telecommunications policy practices in five key countries (Brazil, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa), aiming to understand how satellite technology has been used to reduce connectivity disparities.
Publication Date: May 2026
Botswana is experiencing a rapid increase in the consumption and disposal of electronic devices, particularly mobile phones and ICT equipment, resulting in growing volumes of e‑waste that pose risks to both public health and the environment. The National E-waste Management Strategy for Botswana underscores the Government’s commitment to establishing an enabling regulatory environment that supports investment, innovation, and safe, sustainable e‑waste management nationwide.
Publication Date: March 2026
The report ‘Innovation landscape of Malta: Best practices and future directions’, developed in collaboration with the Ministry for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects and the Malta Digital Innovation Authority, highlights the best practices that underpin Malta’s innovation ecosystem and explores the future directions and capabilities needed to sustain momentum in a rapidly changing global environment.
Publication Date: February 2026
This report emphasizes the necessity of incorporating digital accessibility requirements, principles, and standards at the design stage to ensure that digital products, services, applications, and solutions cater to the widest range of end-users, encompassing a diverse range of abilities and needs.
Publication Date: February 2026
This report examines policies to improve meaningful connectivity indicators in Brazil, focusing on two critical challenges: the affordability of fixed broadband services and access to devices. The aim of this report is to identify effective policy mechanisms to accelerate progress toward universal meaningful connectivity, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Publication Date: February 2026
This report draws on the recently developed national meaningful-connectivity indicators and aims to identify potential public policies which could improve the two with the weakest performance: the affordability of fixed broadband services and the affordability of computers for household use.
Publication Date: January 2026
The ninth World Telecommunication Development Conference of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), held from 17 to 28 November 2025 in Baku, Azerbaijan, represented a pivotal moment in the global push for global connectivity and digital progress. Convened under the theme “Universal, meaningful, and affordable connectivity for an inclusive and sustainable digital future.”
Publication Date: November 2025 PoP guiding principles to facilitate children's access to protection and support through digital means.
Publication Date: December 2025 This updated Guide is designed as a practical reference for national leaders, policymakers, regulators, industry representatives, civil society, and other parties involved in the development of an NCS. Recognizing the importance of multistakeholder engagement, the Guide’s emphasis on government entities in some sections seeks to highlight where a government entity’s leadership is pivotal to the sustainability of the process.
Publication Date: December 2025 The Global Connectivity Report 2025 provides a comprehensive assessment of the evolution of global connectivity, which has progressed from a scarce resource in 1994 to an essential pillar of daily life, with approximately 6 billion people estimated to be online by 2025. The report frames its analysis around the policy imperative of achieving universal and meaningful connectivity (UMC), defined by six interdependent dimensions: Quality, Availability, Affordability, Devices, Skills, and Security.
Publication Date: November 2025 ITU’s Measuring digital development: Facts and Figures series presents annual global, regional and income-group estimates for key connectivity indicators. The 2025 edition shows that almost three-quarters of the world’s population are now online. Yet progress is slowing, and 2.2 billion people remain offline – most of them in low and middle income countries.
Publication Date: November 2025 This report examines the strategies and policies essential for fostering broadband adoption in developing countries. Through a comprehensive analysis of the current landscape, identification of key challenges, and exploration of successful case studies and best practices, it provides actionable recommendations for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and international development partners.
Publication Date: November 2025 This report explores the evolution of broadcasting technologies, focusing on the transition to digital systems worldwide.
Publication Date: November 2025 This report emphasizes the importance of emerging technologies, early warning systems, and effective policies for disaster preparedness, response, and resilience. It highlights case studies and the need for inclusive, accessible communication systems to save lives and reduce societal impacts.
Publication Date: November 2025 This report addresses issues like affordability, infrastructure-sharing, and the impact of emerging technologies. It explores topics such as cost models, innovation, digital transformation, and the role of ICTs in economic recovery and development.
Publication Date: November 2025
Study period 2018-2021 Revised Edition 2025
This report has been revised in 2025 with the addition of new information from contributions received in the 2022-2025 ITU-D study period. It addresses economic aspects including charging methods, consumer price evolution and infrastructure-sharing models.
Publication Date: November 2025 This report presents findings on ICT solutions for rural and remote areas, focusing on cost-effective connectivity, quality of service, and sustainable business models. It explores the role of universal service funds, renewable energy, and satellite technology, offering guidelines for bridging the rural-urban divide and improving access to telecommunication services.
Publication Date: November 2025 This report explores consumer protection in the digital age, focusing on frameworks to empower and safeguard consumers in the rapidly evolving ICT sector. It examines regulatory tools, digital literacy, transparency, and the protection of vulnerable groups, emphasizing the need for coordinated action and adaptability to emerging technologies.
Publication Date: November 2025 This report highlights the critical need for universal access to ICTs as a cornerstone of digital inclusion, underscoring the role of policy-makers, businesses, and organizations in ensuring accessible ICTs for disadvantaged groups, particularly persons with disabilities, to bridge the digital divide and support inclusive development across sectors.
Publication Date: November 2025 The report offers a comprehensive framework for developing smart cities globally by examining key areas like connectivity, infrastructure, policies, and smart services. It synthesizes experiences and practices to promote resilience, inclusivity, and sustainability in urban planning and development.
Publication Date: November 2025 The report explores how emerging technologies drive digital transformation, detailing e-services in sectors like health and education. It highlights user-focused applications and national strategies, providing insights to improve global connectivity and digital integration.
Publication Date: November 2025 The report compiles national experiences to help develop strong cybersecurity strategies, focusing on awareness, capacity building, CIRTs, 5G security, and threats like smishing. It provides a strategic blueprint for enhancing cybersecurity and securing the digital future.
Publication Date: November 2025 The report addresses C&I challenges by leveraging global experiences, focusing on frameworks, MRAs, IoT compliance, and combating counterfeiting and theft of mobile devices. It synthesizes national experiences to enhance market surveillance and protect network integrity worldwide.
Publication Date: November 2025 The report synthesizes global case studies on ICT adoption, focusing on connectivity, affordability, digital skills frameworks, and public-private partnerships. It offers stakeholders a framework to accelerate inclusive digital transformation worldwide, addressing key strategic challenges effectively.
Publication Date: November 2025 The report synthesizes global practices in climate action and e-waste management, highlighting ICTs, Big Data, and Earth observation. It offers guidelines for integrating ICTs with sustainability goals and details actions for effective e-waste management and promoting a circular economy.
Publication Date: November 2025 The report outlines recent strategies on human exposure to electromagnetic fields, synthesizing national experiences in risk communication, management, setting RF-EMF limits, and ensuring compliance. It aids administrations in adopting robust regulations to protect and inform citizens effectively.
Publication Date: November 2025 The publications are the principal result of each Study Group question and are based on contributions received from ITU-D membership. All stakeholders, especially those in developing countries, can use the insights and findings to: adapt guidelines from the report into their national policy, connect to countries and partners for capacity building and in-country implementation actions, and move closer to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), targets and their specific development priorities.
Publication Date: November 2025 The Digital Transformation Centres (DTC) Initiative began with a clear vision: to help more people, particularly those in rural and underserved areas, acquire the digital skills they need to thrive in today’s connected world. Launched in September 2019 through a partnership between ITU and Cisco, the Initiative has grown into a global effort to support communities left behind in the digital age.
Publication Date: October 2025 In an increasingly connected world, access to meaningful and affordable connectivity is not a privilege it is a fundamental enabler of social and economic development. Yet, for billions around the globe, especially in underserved and remote communities, this promise remains unfulfilled. Bridging the digital divide requires more than expanding coverage; it demands a new paradigm of transformational connectivity, one that unlocks opportunity, drives innovation, and ensures no one is left behind.
Publication Date: October 2025
The GSR-25 Best Practice Guidelines provide timely and practical direction for regulators ready to lead in building inclusive, resilient and innovation-driven digital ecosystems.
Publication Date: September 2025
This Toolkit provides policymakers and other industry actors with a practical, step-by-step guide to establishing an inclusive and fair e-waste management system, enhanced by the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). It features insights from ICT and environmental experts to support decision-making, especially in countries with emerging or no e-waste policies.
Publication Date: September 2025
This report explores sustainable connectivity and digital skills models aimed at broadening digital access and skills opportunities for youth not in employment, education or training (YNEETs) in rural and township communities in South Africa.
Publication Date: August 2025
This special edition of ITU’s Facts and Figures series presents a comprehensive overview of digital progress in LLDCs, with key data and analysis on connectivity, affordability, and digital policy. It highlights both the diversity of experiences across LLDCs and the common challenges they face, offering insights to guide action toward universal and meaningful connectivity.
Publication Date: July 2025
This report explores sustainable connectivity and digital skills models aimed at broadening digital access and skills opportunities for youth not in employment, education or training (YNEETs) in rural and township communities in South Africa.
Publication Date: August 2025
This special edition of ITU’s Facts and Figures series presents a comprehensive overview of digital progress in LLDCs, with key data and analysis on connectivity, affordability, and digital policy. It highlights both the diversity of experiences across LLDCs and the common challenges they face, offering insights to guide action toward universal and meaningful connectivity.
Publication Date: July 2025
This revised Universal Access Funding Toolkit reflects the rapid digitalization of all sectors of the economy, beyond basic connectivity to the convergence of technologies and the broader concept of Universal Meaningful Access and Service.
Publication Date: July 2025
The 2025 edition of ITU’s ICT Development Index (IDI) confirms steady progress toward universal and meaningful connectivity. The global average score rose for the third consecutive year, with low-income economies achieving the fastest gains. However, persistent disparities remain, especially in affordability and usage.
Publication Date: June 2025
This report analyses the costs of connecting to the Internet and providing Internet services in Nigeria, and seeks to provide clear recommendations for the telecommunication business and policy in the country.
Publication Date: June 2025
The fourth edition of the Greening Digital Companies: Monitoring Emissions and Climate Commitments report continues to track greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, energy use and climate commitments of 200 digital companies. The Greening Digital Companies report is based on the most recent full fiscal year for which consistent data can be obtained across all companies — currently 2023.
Publication Date: June 2025
Measuring digital development - The affordability of ICT services 2024 presents timely insights and recent trends on the affordability of ICT services. Based on ITU’s ICT price data collection 2024 for five connectivity services, the analysis also addresses affordability divides across and within countries that continue to hamper universal and meaningful connectivity.
Publication Date: May 2025
This report seeks to demystify the complex world of digital service taxation, offering a comprehensive comparative analysis across countries and regions. The study examines taxes imposed on operators in the digital economy, as well as those affecting the consumption of digital services by enterprises and consumers.
Publication Date: May 2025 Rapidly evolving technologies are exacerbating existing information asymmetries in our digital worlds; hence, it is even more important to safeguard consumers and develop protection mechanisms that support consumers in making purchase-, subscription- and use-related decisions in the market and, in so doing, enable citizens and businesses to participate in, and fully harness the benefits of, the digital economy and society.
Publication Date: April 2025 The extension of high-quality broadband infrastructure to rural and remote areas is crucial to bridge the digital divide. USFs are a valuable source of funding in addition to commercial and non-profit operators, for both infrastructure and the development of innovative technologies, to serve communities in rural and remote areas.
Publication Date: April 2025 In a world characterized by increasing data, mobility, vulnerability to threats and inequality, the reach and resilience of satellite systems can help expand connectivity in every part of the globe. The successful deployment of satellite services depends on an enabling policy and regulatory environment at the national, regional and global levels fostering growth, innovation and continuous investment from industry.
Publication Date: April 2025 The rapid deployment of 5G technology presents a paradigm shift in telecommunications, offering unparalleled speed and connectivity that can revolutionize various sectors. However, the complexity of 5G networks introduces cybersecurity challenges that must be addressed to protect the networks and the critical infrastructure.
Publication Date: April 2025
Using econometric models, the study reveals the impact of ICT on innovation, productivity, and digital inclusion. Although growth has slowed, the ICT sector remains a key driver of economic transformation, with ongoing advancements in connectivity expected to sustain its long-term influence. Broadband adoption continues to rise, supported by greater coverage and affordability.
Publication Date: May 2025
The CIS region is advancing toward universal digital connectivity, with high Internet use and mobile broadband affordability. However, disparities in infrastructure, regulatory maturity, and digital skills remain. This report examines key trends and showcases impactful initiatives driving digital development across the region.
Publication Date: April 2025
Africa is at a key point in its digital transformation. While progress is underway, the region continues to face challenges in infrastructure, affordability, and regulation. This report provides an assessment of digital development trends and highlights key policy initiatives shaping connectivity across the region.
Publication Date: April 2025
The Americas region showcases strong progress in digital development, yet challenges such as connectivity gaps, affordability, and digital inclusion persist. This report explores key trends, policy developments, and regional initiatives driving digital transformation across the region.
Publication Date: March 2025
Asia and the Pacific is a powerhouse of digital transformation, yet stark inequalities remain. This report examines connectivity expansion, innovation, affordability, and digital inclusion, outlining strategies to achieve universal and meaningful connectivity across this diverse region.
Publication Date: March 2025
The joint ITU–World Bank case study, "Measuring National ICT Sector Environmental Impact: Arcep Case Study – France," highlights how France adopts a collaborative approach to collecting environmental data from the ICT sector and using it to integrate digital and environmental strategies into national policymaking.
Publication Date: March 2025
Europe leads in digital connectivity, with near-universal broadband access and advanced regulatory frameworks. This report analyzes trends, investment gaps, cybersecurity challenges, and sustainability efforts, highlighting how the region can maintain its leadership in the digital economy.
Publication Date: February 2025
The Arab States region is making strides in digital development, with 95 per cent mobile broadband coverage. However, disparities persist in usage, affordability, and digital skills. This report explores key trends, regulatory developments, and initiatives shaping the region’s digital transformation.
Publication Date: February 2025