The report outlines the challenges, anticipated costs, and collaborative strategies needed to ensure that everyone, everywhere, can use the internet, including the third of humanity that currently lacks internet access.
The majority of the investment—between $1.5 and $1.7 trillion—will be allocated to physical infrastructure, along with substantial funding for human and institutional capacity, primarily in developing countries.
“Digital connectivity means creating opportunities for education, employment, and access to essential services that can transform lives and communities,” said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. “While significant resources are needed to meaningfully connect everyone, these are investments that will contribute to a prosperous digital future for all.”
The challenge of connecting billions of people:
The ITU estimates that 2.6 billion people remain excluded from the digital world, and that connectivity is closely linked to levels of socioeconomic development. In 2024, it is estimated that 93% of the population in high-income countries used the internet, compared to only 27% in low-income countries.
The new report on achieving meaningful universal connectivity builds on the ITU's original 2020 study, Connecting Humanity, published under the auspices of the G20 during the presidency of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which identified critical gaps and the projected costs of addressing them.
“The world needs between $2.6 and $2.8 trillion to connect humanity by 2030. This figure is almost five times higher than the last assessment carried out in 2020 in collaboration with the ITU during Saudi Arabia’s G20 presidency,” said His Excellency Mr. Eng. Haytham AlOhali, Acting Governor of the CST.
"This dramatic increase underscores the urgency of international cooperation, collective investment, and the exchange of expertise if we are to realize the vision of universal and meaningful connectivity for all.".
The main costs highlighted in the report are as follows:
Digital infrastructure: between $1.5 and $1.7 trillion: Extending broadband networks to underserved populations represents the largest single cost. The report estimates the costs of deploying fiber optic networks in and around urban areas, 4G fixed wireless networks in rural regions, and satellites in the most remote areas.
Affordability: $983 billion: Reducing the cost of smartphones and broadband services, both fixed and mobile, is critical to enabling individuals and households worldwide, particularly in lower-income regions, to afford to connect and stay online.
Digital skills: $152 billion: Connectivity alone is not enough; people must have the skills to use the internet effectively. Investments to fund large-scale digital literacy initiatives can empower people to access online education, secure better jobs, and actively participate in a digitally driven society.
Policy and regulation: $600 million: Modernizing regulations and creating predictable policy environments worldwide is essential to unlocking efficiency and fostering innovation. While this represents the smallest cost component, it hinders digital transformation and perpetuates other gaps. Closing this gap would have a massive impact.
The Need for Public-Private Partnerships:
As highlighted in the Connecting Humanity Action Plan, global progress on connectivity has been uneven, with the world’s 46 least developed countries lagging far behind due to financial barriers, limited technical expertise, and unreliable infrastructure.
To address these challenges, the ITU advocates for innovative business approaches and renewed collaboration among governments, the technology industry, development finance institutions, and civil society to close existing gaps and prevent future ones, particularly in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI).
The report concludes with recommendations to accelerate digital inclusion worldwide, including using schools as gateways to the internet, investing in energy infrastructure in Africa, and improving data collection at the subnational level.
