Commission reviews progress on bringing benefits of broadband to all
The UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development met today in Geneva, Switzerland, to commemorate 15 years of advancing universal broadband access and digital inclusion.
The meeting took place as digital technology communities get set to join together for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)+20 High-Level Event 2025 and the AI for Good Global Summit 2025, both taking place in Geneva this week.
Founded in 2010 by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), H.E. President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, and Carlos Slim Helú, the public-private collaboration has elevated universal broadband connectivity to the forefront of global policy discussions.
With 2.6 billion people around the world still offline, the Broadband Commission's work serves as a policy and programmatic guide for national and international action in broadband development and for achieving universal connectivity.
"Fifteen years ago, we began with the simple conviction that broadband must reach everyone, everywhere, because it is an essential driver of sustainable development," said President Kagame, Co-Chair of the Commission. “Today, broadband powers economies, expands access to knowledge in rural as well as urban areas, and brings communities closer, across continents."
"The Broadband Commission´s work over 15 years has helped change global connectivity and digital development," said Carlos M. Jarque, representing Slim, Co-Chair of the Commission. "Since 2010, the number of Internet users has grown by the billions. To expand on this progress, we need to encourage forward-looking regulatory frameworks, strong investment, digital transformation in businesses and public institutions, and digital skills of the population."
Commissioners, including global leaders, CEOs and heads of international organizations, have championed broadband as a cornerstone of economic growth and sustainable development.
Once seen as technical infrastructure, broadband is now central to national competitiveness and essential services that benefit economies, governments, and societies.
"Since our first gathering in 2010, this Commission has put broadband at the front and centre of every global development conversation, and consistently championed connectivity by setting ambitious targets for access, use, affordability, skills and policy," said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Co-Vice Chair of the Commission. “This work has been transformative for expanding digital connectivity, and is a valuable precedent for future collaborative, multistakeholder work to connect the unconnected."
Supporting broadband connectivity since 2010
To date, the Commission's key outcomes include:
- 15 annual State of Broadband reports, offering a comprehensive overview of progress and challenges in broadband connectivity, and proposing solutions to close connectivity gaps.
- 35-plus Working Groups conducting research on health, education, gender equality, and other issues, producing actionable recommendations to drive universal connectivity.
- Catalyzing major global initiatives: EQUALS, the Global Partnership for Gender Equality in the Digital Age; Giga, the ITU-UNICEF initiative aiming to connect every school to the Internet by 2030; and the Child Online Safety Universal Declaration.
- Advocating globally by engaging nearly 200 high-level leaders and informing key UN processes and international development agendas.
- Issuing over 100 knowledge products and more than 70 concrete recommendations to guide policies on affordability, infrastructure, skills, and investment.
Guiding policymakers as technology evolves
During the meeting, the Broadband Commission reviewed the results of the Data Governance Toolkit: Navigating Data in the Digital Age.
The toolkit provides practical guidance for policymakers reviewing data regulation, cross-border flows, and responsible data use in the era of AI and emerging technologies.
The report of the Commission's Working Group on Data Governance will be formally issued on Tuesday, July 8 at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)+20 High-Level Event 2025.
“In this landmark year for the Broadband Commission, it is heartening that 95 per cent of humanity is within reach of broadband, however, the real challenge is ensuring that everyone can afford access, express themselves, and use information in a meaningful way," said Tawfik Jelassi, UNESCO Assistant Director-General. “UNESCO, together with its partners, is working to address the barriers – including those related to skills development and local language content – to ensure that the promise of connectivity for sustainable development becomes a reality for all."
Looking ahead
To mark its 15th anniversary, the Commission will launch a series of State of Broadband 2025 reports.
The four-part series will focus on global progress toward the Commission's seven Advocacy Targets; the evolving satellite broadband landscape; regional digital developments in Sub-Saharan Africa; and the broader transformation of digital societies shaped by infrastructure, AI, and data governance.
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About the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development
The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development was established in 2010 by ITU and UNESCO with the aim of boosting the importance of broadband on the international policy agenda and expanding broadband access in every country as key to accelerating progress towards national and international development targets. Led by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Carlos Slim Helù of Mexico, it is co-chaired by ITU's Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin and UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay. It comprises over 50 Commissioners who represent a cross-cutting group of top CEO and industry leaders, senior policymakers and government representatives, and experts from international agencies, academia and organizations concerned with development. Learn more at: www.broadbandcommission.org
About ITU:
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations agency for digital technologies, driving innovation for people and the planet with 194 Member States and a membership of over 1,000 companies, universities, civil society, and international and regional organizations. Established in 1865, ITU coordinates the global use of the radio spectrum and satellite orbits, establishes international technology standards, drives universal connectivity and digital services, and is helping to make sure everyone benefits from sustainable digital transformation, including the most remote communities. From artificial intelligence (AI) to quantum, from satellites and submarine cables to advanced mobile and wireless broadband networks, ITU is committed to connecting the world and beyond. Learn more: www.itu.int
About UNESCO
UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It contributes to peace and security by promoting international cooperation in education, sciences, culture, communication and information. UNESCO promotes knowledge sharing and the free flow of ideas to accelerate mutual understanding and a more perfect knowledge of each other's lives. UNESCO's programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in the 2030 Agenda. In the field of Communication and Information, UNESCO defends and promotes freedom of expression, media independence and pluralism, and the building of inclusive knowledge societies underpinned by universal access to information and the innovative use of digital technologies. For more information, visit: www.unesco.org
