The UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development convened in Geneva, Switzerland, on Sunday, 6th July 2025, to celebrate 15 years of promoting universal broadband access and digital inclusion.
This meeting coincided with the upcoming World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)+20 High-Level Event 2025 and the AI for Good Global Summit 2025, both scheduled to take place in Geneva this week. Established in 2010 by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), UNESCO, Rwandan President H.E. Paul Kagame, and Carlos Slim Helú, this public-private initiative has placed universal broadband connectivity at the heart of global policy debates.
Currently, approximately 2.6 billion people worldwide lack internet access. The Broadband Commission’s efforts provide a framework for national and international actions aimed at broadband development and achieving universal connectivity. “Fifteen years ago, we started with the belief that broadband should be accessible to everyone, everywhere, as it is crucial for sustainable development,” said President Kagame, Co-Chair of the Commission. “Today, broadband drives economies, enhances access to knowledge in both rural and urban areas, and unites communities across continents.”
Carlos M. Jarque, representing Slim and Co-Chair of the Commission, remarked, “The work of the Broadband Commission over these 15 years has significantly impacted global connectivity and digital development. Since 2010, the number of Internet users has surged by billions. To build on this momentum, we must promote innovative regulatory frameworks, secure strong investments, foster digital transformation in businesses and public sectors, and enhance the digital skills of the population.”
Commission members, including global leaders, CEOs, and heads of international organisations, have advocated for broadband as a vital component of economic growth and sustainable development. Once regarded merely as a technical infrastructure, broadband now plays a crucial role in national competitiveness, delivering essential services that benefit economies, governments, and societies. “Since our inaugural meeting in 2010, this Commission has consistently placed broadband at the forefront of global development discussions and advocated for greater connectivity by establishing ambitious goals for access, usage, affordability, skills, and policy,” stated ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Co-Vice Chair of the Commission. “This initiative has been transformative in expanding digital connectivity and serves as a valuable model for future collaborative efforts to connect those who remain unconnected.”
