BDT Director Doreen Bogdan-Martin gave a keynote address to the SPIDER DINE Digital Impact and Networking event, on ''the impact of digital transformation on equity, opportunity & access to information.''
She noted the relevance of the event and topic, given the critical role that digital technologies are playing to help confront ''new realities'' imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
While some have been privileged to have access to digital to ensure continuity of daily life, Ms Bogdan-Martin pointed out that 3.7 billion people – every second person on the planet – has never accessed the internet. She underscored how profoundly transformational an internet connection can be, and underscored that in today's times, ''leaving no-one behind means leaving no-one offline.''
She presented examples of how digital technologies have been accelerating socio-economic development across various sectors, such as in agriculture, health and education, including in developing countries. ITU is working with partners across the world on initiatives in these areas, as well as to include marginalized groups such as the elderly, persons with disabilities, and girls and women, in the process of digital transformation.
''Universal digital connectivity is the vital catalyst we so urgently need to dramatically accelerate progress towards the 17 SDGs,'' stated Ms Bogdan-Martin. She emphasized that a post-COVID normal needs to include broadband access for all.
