Connecting humanity action blueprint Advancing sustainable, affordable and innovative solutions – September 2025
In this issue
Connecting Humanity, a study undertaken in 2020 by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) with the support of the Saudi Arabian G20 Presidency, offered the first comprehensive global estimate of what it would cost to close the digital divide.
Five years later, that divide has narrowed slightly, to an estimated 2.6 billion people offline in 2024, but the gap persists at a time when the advent of artificial intelligence will only exacerbate its consequences.
Now ITU has published a fresh assessment of Connecting Humanity, examining where we stand in 2025 and what it will take to reach the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Prepared with the support of the Government of Saudi Arabia, the Connecting Humanity Action Blueprint updates and expands on the first study, and builds on the ITU’s Digital Infrastructure Investment Initiative white paper, published in January 2025.
This latest study evaluates the full extent of the global digital divide in terms of the gaps in digital infrastructure; policy and regulation; affordability; and digital skills. It estimates that nearly USD $3 trillion is needed to close the divide, underscoring a daunting task but at the same time offering a series of recommendations through market-tested case studies, partnership frameworks, monitoring and assessment guidelines, and, finally, visionary transformative projects that can help meet the demands of the moment.
In part I, the Connecting Humanity Action Blueprint analyses the goals, gaps, and costs for closing the global digital divide. In part II, it offers opportunities for all stakeholders to contribute to that goal, from governments and international organizations to funders, companies and civil society. Taken together, the report demonstrates ample cause for optimism as we work together to make connectivity not only accessible, but truly meaningful for everyone.
Connecting Humanity
