UN Broadband Commission turns 15 amid push for global connectivity

While the UN Wide Band Commission celebrates its 15th anniversary, leaders reflect the need for global progress and the need to close the digital division of 2.6 billion still offline, Paul Budde.

As the International Telecommunications Association (ITU) Celebrating its 160th anniversary and the UN Wide Band Commission for Sustainable Development While watching a 15 -year global advocacy, it reflects myself on a journey that begins with a bold vision: a wide band for everyone.

In 2010, I had the privilege of establishing a large band commission with ITU Secretary General Dr. Hamadoun Touré. ITU, the first organ established under the United Nations System based on 1865, agreed to raise its wide band access from a technical debate to a central global development target.

In the same year, I was honored to serve as the chief author of the opening report presented to the UN Secretary General of the Commission. Ban Ki-Moon. He summarized our basic vision and set the first ambitious goals for universal wide band access, disability, digital skills and inclusive policy frames.

The formation of the commission brought together global leaders from governments, private sector, civil society and academy. There was president among them Paul Kagame Mexican philanthropist Rwanda Carlos Slim and Irish Denis O’Brienfounder Digital. Together, we acknowledged that Broadband is no longer optional, but in the 21st century, economic progress, education, health and civilian participation became backbone.

Fifteen years later rightly emphasized Important achievements of the commission. More than 100 information products have been produced. More than 70 concrete policy proposals helped shape national digital strategies. Commission, such as the initiation of large global initiatives supported. Giga project (To connect every school to the internet until 2030) and Children’s online security universal declaration.

These results strengthen what we know from the very beginning: this wide band is not only infrastructure – the driving force of strengthening and incorporating.

And still, as we celebrated, we remind you that 2.6 billion people remain offline. The job is over. Through the commission leadership, ITU continues to emphasize that real difficulties are not only in expanding networks, but also for significant, affordable access for those in marginal communities.

From my point of view, this vision is Australia’s national wide band network (Nbn) and Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands and White House and FCC. These efforts strengthened the main role of the national commitment in achieving the global goals of the commission.

When we look forward, digital transformation accelerates through artificial intelligence, satellite wide band and developing data governance frames, and we should not overlook the basic principle inspiring the commission: technology should serve people. Equality should promote opportunities and sustainable development.

I am proud to be there at the beginning, now to help give shape and sound to a global movement covering continents. Under the UN umbrella and with the management of ITU and UNESCO, the broad band commission continues to be one of the most effective platforms to ensure that the promise of the digital age is shared by everyone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6a8rkqhmtq

Paul Budde is an independent telecommunications research and consultancy manager and general manager Paul Budde Consulting. You can follow Paul on Twitter/X @Paulbudde.

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