As humanity races to bridge the digital divide, global inequality continues to be a significant threat. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), an estimated 2.6 billion people worldwide remain offline. While overall internet usage is increasing, access benefits are unevenly distributed, reinforcing persistent digital divides affecting women and people in lower-income countries. The elderly and people with disabilities are also among the groups being left behind.
“Broadband is fundamental to ensuring that everyone can benefit from digital technologies when so many people are still offline around the world,” says ITU Secretary-General and co-Vice Chair of the ITU Broadband Commission Doreen Bogdan-Martin. “AI and other emerging technologies can help efforts to achieve universal meaningful connectivity, and it’s our job to make sure this happens in a way that is responsible for people and the planet.”
The ITU Broadband Commission recently reviewed progress on its 2025 advocacy targets, comprising seven objectives for broadband development and universal connectivity. One target for mobile broadband affordability is close to being achieved, and a target for gender equality in broadband access has been met in some countries, although not globally. The commission noted that AI and emerging technologies could drive progress on broadband and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, balancing the promotion of AI benefits while managing its challenges remains a key task for policymakers, who are “racing to catch up” with the implications of these technologies.
A concerned ITU secretary-general recently lamented the digital divide, which she and her team believe could be addressed before 2030 under the SDGs. “With one-third of humanity still offline and women and other vulnerable groups on the wrong side of the globe’s digital divides, regulators should raise standards to ensure this offline population can benefit from digital services,” she said at the 2024 Global Regulators Symposium (GSR-24), which focused on “Best Practice Guidelines that highlight the innovation, trust and inclusivity needed in the policy and regulatory environment.”
At the symposium, she emphasised the need for collaborative efforts to pursue regulatory approaches that leverage transformative technologies such as AI, promote the space economy, encourage innovation and support climate action and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The regulators, who met in Kampala, Uganda, endorsed a set of guidelines to maximise the benefits of transformative information and communication technologies (ICTs) at GSR-24, which concluded on July 4.
GSR-24 highlighted Africa’s National Broadband Mapping Systems project, supported by the European Commission, to establish broadband mapping systems that foster investment and digital transformation in Africa. With a budget of EUR 15 million over four years, the project will initially benefit 11 countries: Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The “GSR-24 Best Practice Guidelines” agreed upon by ICT regulators include considerations for balancing innovation with regulation to create a positive societal and economic impact from emerging technologies such as AI.
Before the opening of GSR-24, the regional regulatory associations (RA) and Digital Regulation Network (DRN) meeting shared experiences and knowledge and explored areas for collaboration. The meeting featured achievements from the first year of the DRN, focusing on capacity building, thought leadership and regulatory experimentation and innovation. Key activities presented included knowledge sharing through the ITU Academy, the broadband mapping project, capacity building activities, contributions to ITU-D Study Groups, RA participation in interactive workshops, and engaging in twinning experiences to learn from other regional regulatory associations.
Additionally, the Industry Advisory Group on Development Issues and Private Sector Chief Regulatory Officers (IAGDI-CRO) convened industry and private sector thought leaders to share experiences and proposals with regulators to address the complex regulatory and business landscape of digital ecosystems. Discussions included digital infrastructure development, regulatory “sandboxes,” strategies to enable high-speed connectivity, and the regulation of new domains such as AI and future technologies.
A session of the Network of Women (NoW) in ITU’s Telecommunication Development Sector at GSR-24 explored mechanisms for greater participation of women in ICT-related fields and addressed the leadership gender gap in the ICT sector.
Vice-president of Uganda, Ms. Jessica Alupo opened GSR-24 on July 1 on behalf of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Hosted by the ITU, the symposium brought together over 600 participants, including ministers, heads of regulatory authorities, industry executives and academics, to discuss pressing regulatory issues.
“We are excited that the GSR provides a platform where all thought leaders, regulators, industry players, and other key ICT stakeholders converge to dialogue and set the policy and regulatory agenda that will guide the global digital industry over the near future,” said Uganda’s Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi. “Best practice now calls for a coordinated and collaborative approach that includes all relevant stakeholders if we are to achieve the impact we all desire. We commit to aligning our national policies and regulatory frameworks around the well-thought-out best practice guidelines that will encourage investment, innovation, and growth in the ICT sector.”
Regulators at GSR-24 noted that equal, global access to existing digital services would help countries leverage transformative technologies. AI, for example, could help network operators with better planning and fraud prevention, but it also raises challenges related to privacy, bias, job displacement and information reliability.
“At GSR-24, we discussed core policy and regulatory issues to maximize the potential of digital technologies to improve lives. We addressed key topics, including new developments in generative AI and robotics, building an inclusive, safe, and sustainable space economy, and required interventions to address climate change challenges,” said director of ITU’s telecommunication development bureau, Dr. Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava. “We brought the global community of regulators together to strengthen our collective capacity to navigate the fast-changing technology landscape and drive sustainable and inclusive digital transformation. We heard from young innovators and entrepreneurs and adopted action-oriented Best Practice Guidelines to help us chart the course of transformative technologies for positive impact.”
“As we navigate the transformative landscape of digital technologies, impactful regulation is essential,” said the Chairman of GSR-24 and Executive Director of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) George William Nyombi Thembo. “Our shared learnings and collaborative efforts are crucial in shaping a regulatory environment that fosters innovation while ensuring that technological advancements’ benefits are widely shared. By recognizing the interdependencies with other sectors, we can create a cohesive framework that supports sustainable development, economic growth, and inclusivity. Together, we have the power to turn technology into a force for positive change, illuminating pathways to a brighter, more connected future.”
The discussions and outcomes of GSR-24 underscore the importance of collaborative efforts in bridging the digital divide and leveraging AI and emerging technologies to achieve universal meaningful connectivity. As policymakers, regulators and industry leaders continue to work together, the vision of a digitally inclusive world becomes increasingly attainable.
