Foreword
Foreword by Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General, International Telecommunication Union
2 min
Preface
Preface by Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau, International Telecommunication Union
2 min
Chapter 1: The connectivity journey
Chapter 1 traces the evolution of connectivity from a scarce resource to an essential pillar of daily life, emphasizing the need for universal and meaningful connectivity (UMC), while addressing the adverse effects and challenges of a "connectivity duplicity".
2 min
Chapter 2: Assessing progress toward universal and meaningful connectivity
Chapter 2 assesses global progress toward the universal and meaningful connectivity (UMC) 2030 aspirational targets, analysing persistent divides (income, gender, age, urban-rural) and reviewing the state of the six key UMC enablers.
3 min
Chapter 3: Infrastructure for universal and meaningful connectivity
Chapter 3 examines how the performance of telecommunication infrastructure – the technical backbone of connectivity – is fundamentally reliant on stable, predictable institutional governance and policy levers, with a focus on core global systems like submarine cables and satellites which form the foundation of international data exchange and global connectivity.
3 min
Chapter 4: Making connectivity affordable for all
Chapter 4 details how high price for ICT services and devices acts as a barrier to universal and meaningful connectivity, analyses affordability gaps both between and within countries, and explores policy levers – such as competition and cross-sectoral regulation – to improve access for low-income populations.
4 min
Chapter 5: Developing digital skills and opportunities for all
Chapter 5 underscores how limited digital skills pose a major barrier to fully harnessing digital benefits, and demonstrates how assessing skill levels can guide targeted national strategies for upskilling all segments of the population.
3 min
Chapter 6: Measuring what matters: Strengthening national data ecosystems
Chapter 6 advocates that a robust system for statistical measurement is fundamental for evidence-based digital policy, detailing the UMC measurement framework, assessing national statistical capacity gaps, and proposing innovative financing and data sources to strengthen global data ecosystems.
2 min
Promoting and Measuring Universal and Meaningful Connectivity Project
To accelerate progress toward universal and meaningful connectivity (UMC), the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau and the European Commission launched the project Promoting and Measuring Universal and Meaningful Connectivity, funded by the European Union.