Connectivity cost removes 359m from Internet in developing countries

The international Telecommunications Union (ITU) has said that rising connectivity costsare slowing development and have cut off about 359 million people from the Internet, especially in landlocked developing countries. ITU noted that the challenge of connectivity had intensified over the past decade, saying it was no longer sufficient to simply connect everyone.

The telecoms body pointed out that mobile broadband service remained unaffordable in half of LLDCs, where the price of a basic 2GB monthly plan exceeds two per cent of gross national income (GNI) per capita, the commonly used affordability threshold.

It stressed that Fixed broadband was even less accessible, with prices exceeding this threshold in most LLDCs. According to it, universal and meaningful connectivity (UMC), which is defined as the opportunity for everyone to have a safe, satisfying, enriching, and productive online experience at an affordable cost, has emerged as the new imperative.

ITU Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau, Dr Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, said data indicated that LLDCs were at various stages in their journey toward UMC, yet they shared common obstacles and could benefit from mutual learning.

Zavazava said infrastructure development was part of the solution, but added that robust policy frameworks that promote investment, adoption, and innovation in ICTs were equally vital.

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