Closing the digital divide by 2030 could cost up to USD 2.8 Trillion, ITU report finds
A new ITU report says closing the digital divide by 2030 will cost USD 2.6–2.8 trillion, with infrastructure making up the largest share. The agency urges global cooperation to ensure affordable, inclusive, and meaningful connectivity for all.
Achieving universal, meaningful internet access for everyone by 2030 could require an investment of USD 2.6–2.8 trillion, according to a new report by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Saudi Arabia’s Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST).
The ‘Connecting Humanity Action Blueprint’ highlights the resources needed to close the world’s digital divide and ensure that billions of people can not only get online but also use the internet in ways that improve education, jobs, health, and access to essential services.
The scale of the challenge
Today, 2.6 billion people remain offline, with access levels closely tied to wealth. While 93% of people in high-income countries are connected, only 27% in low-income countries use the internet. This gap leaves vast populations excluded from digital opportunities.
The ITU warns that connecting everyone will require far greater resources than previously thought. The latest estimate is five times higher than ITU’s 2020 assessment.
Breakdown of the costs
The report estimates the following investments are needed:
- Digital infrastructure (USD 1.5–1.7 trillion): Expanding broadband, building fibre in urban areas, using 4G in rural regions, and satellites in remote zones.
- Affordability (USD 983 billion): Lowering the cost of smartphones and broadband services so households in poorer regions can afford to connect.
- Digital skills (USD 152 billion): Funding large-scale training so people can use the internet effectively and benefit from online opportunities.
- Policy and regulation (USD 600 million): Modernising rules to unlock investment and innovation; while this is the smallest cost, the ITU notes it has an outsized impact.
collaboration across sectors
The Connecting Humanity Action Blueprint stresses that progress so far has been uneven, especially in the world’s 46 least developed countries, where poor infrastructure, limited expertise, and lack of financing remain barriers.
To meet the 2030 target, ITU calls for partnerships between governments, industry, financial institutions, and civil society. These collaborations should not only expand networks but also address affordability and ensure that people have the skills to make meaningful use of digital technologies.
The report also suggests practical measures such as using schools as hubs for community internet access, improving energy infrastructure in Africa to support digital networks, and gathering better local-level data to guide investment.
Why it matters
The ITU’s Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin emphasised that digital connectivity is about more than cables and devices: ‘Digital connectivity means creating opportunities for education, jobs, and access to essential services that can transform lives and communities. While significant resources are needed to meaningfully connect everyone, these are investments that will contribute to a prosperous digital future for all.‘
