The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has revealed that between $2.6 trillion and $2.8 trillion will be required to connect the 2.6 billion people still offline by 2030, according to its new “Connecting Humanity Action Blueprint,” launched in partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST). The report underscores the growing urgency of bridging the global digital divide, stressing that investment, collaboration, and policy reforms are critical to achieving universal Internet access.
Currently, Internet penetration highlights deep inequalities: 93 percent of people in high-income countries are connected, compared to just 27 percent in low-income nations. The largest share of the projected investment—about $1.5 trillion to $1.7 trillion—will go into building digital infrastructure such as fiber-optic networks, 4G in rural areas, and satellite systems to reach underserved communities.
Beyond infrastructure, affordability remains a key barrier. The report estimates that $983 billion will be required to make smartphones and broadband services accessible in low-income regions, while an additional $152 billion should be directed toward digital literacy programs to ensure people can effectively use the Internet. ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin emphasized that digital connectivity is not just about access, but about “creating opportunities for education, jobs, and essential services that transform communities.”
The blueprint also identifies a need for $600 million in policy and regulatory reforms, which it says are vital to unlocking efficiencies and fostering innovation, especially in the 46 least-developed countries. H.E. Eng. Haytham AlOhali of CST noted that the current cost estimate is nearly five times higher than the ITU’s 2020 assessment, reflecting both the rising urgency and the challenges of financing global connectivity.
To meet these goals, ITU calls for innovative business models and stronger collaboration between governments, technology companies, development finance institutions, and civil society. The report recommends leveraging schools as Internet hubs, strengthening Africa’s energy infrastructure to support digital expansion, and improving sub-national data collection. Without such coordinated global action, experts warn that the digital divide risks widening further, leaving billions excluded from the opportunities of the digital age.
Source: Business day