The call for collaboration was made at the organisation’s annual meeting held on Friday at the UN Headquarters in New York.
According to the Commission, the collaborative effort must ensure that people around the world are not only connected, but that they also have the skills and knowledge to use that connectivity.
The Broadband Commission added that accelerating universal and meaningful connectivity through partnership and cooperation is essential to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The Commission also called for innovative investment models to bring together private and public stakeholders to deliver meaningful access and content to those most in need.
Carlos Slim, co-chair, Broadband Commission, said, “We need to build a digital future that is inclusive, affordable, sustainable, safe and people-centred. There should be no digital deserts in the world, and there should be no one excluded from connectivity.
“People have the right to enjoy a safe, productive and affordable online experience. Broadband should enhance the quality of life of everyone.”
The Commission’s meeting comes amid the recent ITU announcement that 2.6 billion people across the world still lack access to the Internet in 2023. The reduction from the estimated 2.7 billion people offline in 2022 leaves about one-third of the global population unconnected.