UN Broadband Commission announces global measures for broadband development.

One of the key outcomes of the meeting of the UN Broadband Commission today in Geneva was agreement to create measurable broadband targets.

“If we are not careful”, said Dr. Touré, “we risk creating a world of broadband rich and broadband poor. We must therefore step up our efforts to make access to broadband networks and services equitable and affordable for all the world’s people, wherever they live and whatever their means.”

The targets agreed cover in particular affordability and uptake. The affordability target suggests a maximum percentage of monthly income as a target for broadband access tariffs. The uptake targets set minimum desired thresholds for households with Internet access, and Internet penetration as a whole.

The Broadband Commission for Digital Development, set up by ITU and UNESCO last year has brought together global leaders in a collective endeavour to push broadband to the top of the political agenda around the world. Dr Toure, Secretary General of the ITU was addressing “Heads of state, heads of UN agencies, government ministers, captains of industry and global thought leaders” – a truly star-studded cast.

Whilst broadband enthusiasts have struggled for decades to get air time at the top, this new top–down initiative is driven by realization that broadband will be the defining technology of the early 21st century - not least in delivering growth across all sectors of the economy. 

Dr. Touré and the UN’s Broadband Commissioners have understood how it can revolutionize the lives of everyone, everywhere – helping to deliver radical improvements in healthcare, education, transportation, utility supplies and government services as well as speeding the productivity of enterprise. And, of course, lest anyone should doubt the legitimacy of the work of this coalition of world leaders in politics and business, the Commission will “help us accelerate progress towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals, now only just over three years away.”

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Readers of this editorial also viewed CMA editorial 'UN Broadband Commission'.  The Commission's Summit meeting attracted attendence from governments and regulators around the world - with particularly strong representation from Africa, Asia and the Americas.  European countries (with the notable exception of the UK) were also well-represented.

Full details of the target measure for broadband development are available here

One of the UN Broadband Commissioners, Suvi Linden from Finland, will be speaking at NextGen 11 (15/16 November, Bristol) to give delegates insights into the wider global and European broadband scene.  In particular Suvi Linden will comment on her work to make broadband connectivity a 'citizen right' in Finland.  Full details of the NextGen 11 agenda can be found here