Page 26 - SAMENA ELITE - June-September 2025

INDUSTRY UPDATES
26 JUN-SEP 2025

ITU Projects $2.8 Trillion Investment Needed to Achieve Universal
Internet by 2030

Achieving universal, meaningful
Internet connectivity by 2030
could require an investment of
USD 2.6 trillion to USD 2.8 trillion
at current prices, according to
the Connecting Humanity Action
Blueprint released by the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) – the
UN agency for digital technologies –
and the Communications, Space &
Technology Commission (CST) of the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The report outlines the challenges,
projected costs, and collaborative
strategies needed to make sure
everyone, everywhere, can use the
Internet, including the estimated one-
third of humanity currently offline.

The largest investment component
— USD 1.5 trillion to USD 1.7 trillion —
is required for hard infrastructure,
alongside substantial funding for
human and institutional capacity,
mainly in developing countries.

“Digital connectivity means creating
opportunities for education, jobs, and
access to essential services that can
transform lives and communities,"
said ITU Secretary-General Doreen
Bogdan-Martin. "While significant
resources are needed to meaningfully
connect everyone, these are
investments that will contribute to a
prosperous digital future for all."

The challenge of connecting billions
ITU estimates that 2.6 billion people
are still excluded from the digital
world, with connectivity closely
linked to levels of socio-economic
development. In 2024, an estimated on ITU's original 2020 Connecting “The world needs between USD 2.6
93 per cent of the population in Humanity study, published under trillion and USD 2.8 trillion to connect
high-income countries was using the the direction of the G20 during the humanity by 2030. This figure is
Internet, compared to just 27 per cent presidency of the Kingdom of Saudi nearly five times higher than the
in low-income countries. Arabia, by identifying critical gaps with last assessment conducted in 2020
the anticipated costs for addressing in partnership with ITU during the
The new report on achieving universal them. Saudi chairmanship of the G20," said
meaningful connectivity builds H.E. Eng. Haytham AlOhali, Acting

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