O International Telecommunication Union (ITU acronym in English) presented a new report called Measuring Digital Development: Facts and Figures 2020 where it states that, virtually all urban areas in the world are covered by a mobile broadband network, but worrying gaps in connectivity and Internet access persist in rural areas.
The report states that connectivity gaps in rural areas are particularly pronounced in less developed countries, where 17% of the rural population lives in areas without mobile coverage and 19% of the rural population is covered only by a 2G network. In addition, according to 2019 data, globally about 72% of households in urban areas have Internet access at home, almost twice as much as in rural areas with 38%.
The survey reveals that about a quarter of the population in less developed countries and landlocked developing countries, and about 15% of the population in small island developing states do not have access to a mobile broadband network, falling short of the Sustainable Development Goals Goal 9.c to significantly increase access to information and communication technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020 .
Predominant Internet use among young people
- However, Internet use is consistently more widespread among young people, regardless of region or level of development. While just over half of the total global population uses the Internet, the proportion of Internet use increases to almost 70% among young people aged 15 to 24.
- In least developed countries, 38% of young people are using the Internet, while the overall proportion of people using it, including young people, is 19%.
- In developed countries, practically all young people are using the Internet, while the highest proportion of young people - total is present in Asia and the Pacific.
The report notes that the latest ITU data shows that the roll-out of mobile broadband networks has slowed in 2020.
“Between 2015 and 2020, 4G network coverage doubled globally and almost 85% of the global population will be covered by a 4G network by the end of 2020,” says ITU.
However, annual growth has been decelerating gradually since 2017, and the coverage of 2020 is only 1,3 percentage points higher than 2019.
In addition to the deployment of infrastructure, the digital gender divide, the lack of digital skills and accessibility remain the main barriers to meaningful participation in a digital society, especially in the developing world, where mobile telephony and Internet access continue. being very expensive for many.
