Global internet connectivity saw steady but uneven progress in 2024, according to the latest edition of “Measuring digital development: Facts and Figures 2024,” an annual compendium of the most important ICT indicators gathered by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN specialized agency for digital technology.
While an estimated 32 per cent of the world’s population, or 2.6 billion people, are offline in 2024, down from an estimated 2.8 billion for 2023, stubborn digital divides persist and about one-third of the world’s people remain offline.
For Giga, a partnership between ITU and UNICEF whose mission is to connect the world’s schools to the internet by 2030, “Facts and Figures 2024” presents data that points to the challenge of that mission and to valuable insights on the global progress towards digital inclusion. Connecting schools increases opportunities for connectivity and socio-economic development of surrounding communities.
In high-income countries, 93 per cent of the population is estimated to be using the internet in 2024, while in low-income countries only 27 per cent of the population is estimated to be online.
The gaps in school connectivity around the world largely mirror this discrepancy in digital development.
“Facts and Figures 2024 is a tale of two digital realities between high-income and low-income countries,” said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. “Stark gaps in critical connectivity indicators are cutting off the most vulnerable people from online access to information, education and employment opportunities.
Quality of access, another of the many findings in the report, is especially relevant to Giga’s mission. In keeping with ITU recommendations, Giga calls for the realization of at least 20 Mbps of dedicated download speed to ensure high-quality connectivity for students. Significantly, disparities in access are also determined by income levels.
Noting that the underlying technology impacts connection speeds and what users can achieve online, the report points out that while 84 per cent of people in high-income countries are covered by 5G, that service extends to only 4 per cent of those in low-income countries, where nearly 20 per cent have no access at all, and another 28 per cent rely exclusively on 3G.
“By helping countries to connect schools with high-quality connectivity, Giga plays an essential role in narrowing the digital divide and achieving a more inclusive digital economy,” said Irene Kaggwa, the ITU Giga Programme Manager. “Giga’s recognition in the UN’s recently signed Global Digital Compact, a framework for achieving a safe and sustainable digital future for all, is testament to the importance of this cause.”
ITU’s flagship “Facts and Figures” publication tracks global connectivity with estimates of key indicators, including those related to internet use, infrastructure, affordability, internet traffic, gender and location.
The full report, including an online reader with interactive charts, can be accessed here.