BDT Director Doreen Bogdan-Martin delivered opening remarks to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2021 High-Level Policy Session 3 on ''Bridging Digital Divides.''
Pointing to existent global recognition that digital exclusion must be addressed, Ms Bogdan-Martin explained that collaboration between various actors will be the key to delivering connectivity to those that remain offline, and those that struggle with connections that are not fit-for-purpose.
In this regard, she underscored the role of ITU and multi-stakeholder platforms like the WSIS community, to bring together the private sector, governments, academia and civil society, and work together to accelerate and expand their connectivity goals. She noted, '' Bringing partners together around shared connectivity goals is what the WSIS process is all about.''
Governments and regulators all over the world look for credible, impartial expertise and advice, and for trusted partners who understand their local operating environment and unique challenges. Furthermore, broad cooperation is necessary to meet the required, estimated investment of US$ 428 billion to connect the 3.7 billion that remain offline to broadband by 2030.
In conclusion, Ms Bogdan-Martin urged, ''Let us use this crisis, and the power and reach of the WSIS community, to make real and rapid progress on digital inclusion, so that when we reach our target date of 2030, we can not only point to a connected planet, but to what we have been able to achieve through that connectivity for all 17 SDGs.''
