Internet access is only escalating: 40% of the world’s people are already online, and the number of Internet users is expected to rise from 2.3 billion in 2013 to 2.9 billion by the end of this year.
That’s according to the United Nations’ Broadband Commission for Digital Development, which reveals that more than 2.3 billion people will access mobile broadband by end of 2014, climbing steeply to a predicted 7.6 billion within the next five years.
Also, the report highlights the importance of wireless penetration: there are now more than three times as many mobile broadband connections as there are conventional fixed broadband subscriptions.
“This report demonstrates the essential role that Broadband technology plays in promoting human growth – and the work that is still left to do in terms of connecting under-served communities around the world,” said Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al-Thani, chairman of Ooredoo Group and a commissioner to the UN Broadband Commission. “At Ooredoo, we believe that broadband access is a fundamental right for every citizen – and we are working hard to connect people across our footprint in the MENA region and Southeast Asia.”
“Despite the phenomenal growth of the Internet, despite its many benefits, there are still too many people who remain unconnected in the world’s developing countries,” said UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova. “Providing Internet connectivity to everyone, everywhere, will take determined policy leadership and investment. As we focus on infrastructure and access, we must also promote the rights skills and diversity of content, to allow women and men to participate in building and participating in knowledge societies. As the new State of Broadband report shows, ICTs are making a significant contribution to social development, economic development and environmental protection, the three pillars that will underpin the post-2015 international development agenda and move us towards a more sustainable world.“
