The Broadband Commission introduced its the 7th Advocacy Target: to achieve gender equality across all targets in 2013, drawing attention to the importance of gender equality among Internet users, so that the benefits of broadband Internet reach all. Since then, the Broadband Commission has hosted Working Groups and produced reports focused on actions to close the gender digital divide.  The reports highlighted key actions for closing the digital divide, which remain relevant today. The reports highlighted key actions for closing the digital divide, which remain relevant today. In ..read more

The 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland between 15-19 January set out to address the need for rebuilding trust in an increasingly uncertain world characterized by deep structural shifts, ranging from geoeconomics to climate change to artificial intelligence. The meeting focused on rebuilding trust at three levels: into the future, within societies, and among nations, emphasizing the crucial principles of transparency, consistency, and accountability. The annual event serves as a platform for open dialogue, bringing together leaders from governments, b ..read more

How improved take up and usage of digital connectivity, in particular for ecommerce, supports development objectives On 7 December 2023, the Broadband Commission Working Group on Connectivity for MSMEs, co-chaired by ITC and GSMA, hosted an in-person session at UNCTAD eWeek to explore the findings of their recent report, “Making Connectivity Work for MSMEs”, and discuss how improved uptake and usage of digital connectivity, especially for e-commerce, supports development.  The Working Group Co-Chairs invited global stakeholders and Working Goup members from ITU, Smart Africa and Master ..read more

What is COP28? The United Nations Conference of the Parties, commonly known as UN COP, is an annual event bringing together representatives from across the globe to address the global challenge of climate change. Organized under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the COP meetings serve as a platform for countries to negotiate and collaborate on international efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change.  The host of the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, or Conference of the Parties (COP28) is the United Arab Emirates (UAE). COP28 provid ..read more

The ITU World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23) was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 20 November to 15 December 2023, preceded by the Radiocommunication Assembly (RA-23). As an outcome of the Assembly, ITU has “published the framework for the development of standards and radio interface technologies for the sixth generation of mobile systems, popularly referred to as 6G.” This framework, referred to as IMT-2030 Framework Recommendation, identifies 15 capabilities for 6G technology. In a press release from ITU, the organization explains, “for the next phase of 6G developme ..read more

Broadband Commissioners are actively engaged in various international, regional, and national events worldwide, united in their commitment to achieving universal meaningful connectivity. Their collective efforts underscore the importance of digital access and inclusion and its potential to drive economic growth, innovation, and opportunity across different geographies.  Mobile World Congress in Kigali, Rwanda On October 17-19 2023, the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Kigali, Rwanda, celebrated Africa’s remarkable progress in digital connectivity and its increasing use of frontier tech ..read more

Broadband Commissioners stepping up digital support for the world's 2030 Agenda SDG Digital was organized alongside the 2023 SDG Summit, which was convened by the President of the General Assembly during the High-Level Week of UNGA78 to mark the midway point toward achieving the 2030 goals. Hosted at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, this high-level event was co-organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as part of the SDG Action Weekend.  SDG Digital brought together over 300 leaders from government, civ ..read more

Public-private partnership highlights investments and policies to bring digital benefits to all by 2030 Originally published on itu.int New York, 16 September 2023 The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development called for a joint global effort to achieve universal and meaningful connectivity by 2030 at its annual Fall Meeting held today at UN Headquarters in New York. According to the Commission, the collaborative effort must ensure that people around the world are not only connected, but that they also have the skills and knowledge to use that connectivity. The Broa ..read more

On June 27th, in celebration of MSME Day 2023, the Broadband Commission’s Working Group on Connectivity for MSMEs hosted a webinar titled “The Power of Connectivity and Digital Tools for Small Businesses.” The event was broadcasted through WSIS&SDG TalkX, a platform dedicated to sharing experiences and stories on ICT for development by stakeholders all over the world.  Co-chaired by Ms. Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director of ITC, and Mr. Mats Granryd, Director General of GSMA, the Working Group on Connectivity for MSMEs aims to examine the potential and obstacles in enabling ..read more

In May 2023, the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, UNESCO, and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) conducted a webinar on “Leading in the Digital Era: How can Public Sector Leaders Use AI for the Good of All?” hosted on the AI for Good platform.  This interactive webinar introduced the AI and Digital Transformation Competency Framework, a practical guide to support digital and AI capacity development for civil servants, international organizations, and regional and national actors. This framework was developed by the Broadband Commission Working Group on ..read more