ITU tops US$100bn connectivity milestone

by AKANI CHAUKE
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – THE International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has announced that its Partner2Connect (P2C) Digital Coalition has secured more than US$100 billion in commitments to expand internet access and digital inclusion worldwide, marking a major milestone in efforts to close the global digital divide.

The announcement was made during the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2026 in Geneva, where governments, development banks, technology companies and international organisations reaffirmed their commitment to achieving universal, meaningful connectivity.

The milestone comes as around one-quarter of the world’s population remains offline, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing global efforts to ensure that everyone has access to affordable, reliable internet and the digital skills needed to participate safely and effectively in the digital economy.

ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin described the achievement as a landmark moment for global digital development.

“Partner2Connect having surpassed its US$100 billion goal is a landmark achievement in global efforts towards universal meaningful connectivity,” she said.

“Today is a powerful reminder that every pledge makes a difference in bringing everyone on board our shared digital future.”

Launched in 2021, the Partner2Connect Digital Coalition brings together governments, private sector companies, development finance institutions, civil society organisations and international agencies to accelerate digital inclusion.

The initiative focuses on expanding broadband infrastructure, strengthening digital skills, encouraging innovation and improving access to digital services, particularly in underserved communities.

Several significant new commitments were announced during Geneva Digital Week.

The Asian Development Bank pledged to implement the Asia-Pacific Digital Highway, with plans to mobilise US$20 billion in public and private investment by 2035.

The programme aims to improve digital connectivity for up to 650 million people through expanded cross-border digital infrastructure, regional digital hubs and enhanced broadband access.

Microsoft announced two major commitments: connecting more than 450 rural and underserved community hubs in Kenya through satellite-enabled infrastructure integrated with Azure Space and investing approximately US$18 billion in Australia by 2029 to expand artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud infrastructure, strengthen cyber resilience and equip more than three million Australians with AI and digital skills.

Boston Consulting Group committed US$500 million towards AI for social impact initiatives spanning education, workforce development, healthcare and poverty reduction, while ZTE Corporation pledged US$450 million over three years to strengthen global AI ecosystem partnerships and accelerate intelligent digital transformation.

South Africa’s Telkom committed US$6.1 million to establish the Telkom AI Institute, aimed at equipping South Africans with AI and digital skills, fostering innovation and supporting broader participation in the digital economy.

Other announcements included a pledge by SoftBank Corp. to advance AI-ready connectivity infrastructure through AI-RAN technologies and industry collaboration, while the GSMA committed to supporting inclusive AI development across Africa through its African AI Language Models project, designed to create AI systems that better reflect African languages, cultures and knowledge.

Although ITU coordinates the coalition and monitors progress, participating organisations remain responsible for delivering their individual commitments.

Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, said the focus must now shift from securing commitments to delivering measurable results.

“Reaching US$100 billion in Partner2Connect pledges is a defining milestone in our journey toward universal digital development,” he said.

“Now is the time to turn these pledges into impactful projects, aligning countries’ and regional priorities with partner commitments, and ensuring results across all regions.”

Since its launch, the coalition has received more than 1,000 pledges from 149 countries, with projects now underway in over 190 countries.

Africa and Asia-Pacific currently account for the highest levels of implementation.

According to ITU, women are the primary beneficiaries targeted by many of the projects, followed by children and persons with disabilities.

Investment in digital infrastructure continues to represent the largest share of commitments, reflecting the urgent need to expand connectivity in underserved areas.

Despite the progress, ITU estimates that achieving universal, meaningful connectivity by 2030 will require between US$2.6 trillion and US$2.8 trillion, underlining the scale of investment still needed to bridge the global digital divide.

As the Partner2Connect initiative enters its next phase, ITU says it will focus on accelerating project implementation, strengthening partnerships, tracking progress and demonstrating the real-world impact of investments.

The organisation also acknowledged the support of its Partner2Connect Champions—Amazon, and, Google, the Inter-American Development Bank, Microsoft and ZTE—for helping to expand the coalition’s global reach.

– CAJ News