Excellencies,
Esteemed colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is my great pleasure to officially launch ITU BDT Connectivity Planning Platform, or CPP.
As you know, our collective commitments to connectivity,
especially as codified in the Baku Action Plan,
now reach beyond mere coverage.
Our goal is to ensure connectivity is meaningful, reliable, and inclusive.
Otherwise, the digital divide will quickly become a development divide,
especially in an age of AI and other emerging technologies.
Indeed, rapid innovation is changing how we understand connectivity gaps.
Data-driven planning, geospatial intelligence, and new modelling tools are game-changers.
We now have the ability to move from broad assumptions to precise, evidence-based decisions.
The real question is how we translate this into impact on the ground.
Closing the connectivity gap is a shared responsibility.
It requires coordination across governments, regulators, industry, and development partners,
and the right tools.
That’s where the Connectivity Planning Platform comes in.
It is a practical step towards better planning and better decisions.
It brings together data, analytics, and modelling in one place to help answer simple but critical questions.
Where are the gaps?
Where should we invest?
And which technologies make sense in different contexts!
Because ultimately, connectivity is not just infrastructure.
It is the foundation for education, health, financial inclusion and economic growth.
And getting it right means building the right networks,
in the right places,
in a way that is sustainable.
The platform supports this by making connectivity more visible,
and decisions more informed.
It allows countries to align investments,
and plan with greater confidence.
And importantly, it creates a shared space for collaboration across the ecosystem.
This launch of CPP also reflects a broader shift.
We are moving from ambition to execution.
From fragmented approaches to more integrated planning.
And from general targets to precise, actionable interventions.
On that note, I would like to acknowledge the valuable contribution made by Ericsson.
Their technical expertise and practical experience have helped ensure that this platform reflects real world needs.
It is an excellent example of how partnership can accelerate progress.
The CPP is the result of extensive participation and engagement by a wide range of stakeholders throughout its development. Feedback and recommendations received during this process have been incorporated.
I extend my sincere appreciation to all those who contributed to making the CPP a reality, thereby ensuring that end-users can fully benefit from it to accelerate the deployment of resilient, inclusive, and financially viable connectivity solutions for all.
Looking ahead, this is just the beginning.
The platform will continue to evolve based on country needs,
with stronger data and deeper analytics,
and ongoing capacity building to ensure countries can fully own and use it.
Our goal is simple.
To enable every country to plan and deliver connectivity in a way that is efficient, inclusive, and future ready.
If this platform helps accelerate progress,
align investments,
and extend connectivity to those who need it most,
then it will have achieved its purpose.
I am confident that it will do so.
Thank you!
