During the Mobile World Congress 2024, ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin announced US $9 billion new investments in global connectivity projects in Africa and other parts of the world.

Mobile operator groups have committed to a total planned investment of $9b in infrastructure, services and support with a total of $46 billion to ITU’s Partner2Connect Digital Coalition.

Launched in September 2021, Partner2Connect aims to galvanize stakeholders to enhance universal connectivity.

Among the announcements, e& (Etisalat and) pledged US$6 billion between 2024 and 2026 to enhance accessible and affordable network connectivity and digital services across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

Ooredoo, a Qatar-based telecommunications company, allocated US$1.1 billion for connectivity in developing markets spanning North Africa to the Indian Ocean

China Telecom committed over US$1.4 billion for fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) deployment, benefiting over 80 million people in remote Chinese villages.

Additionally, Veon committed US$600 million to bolster Ukraine’s infrastructure, facilitating vital connectivity and digital services for the country’s reconstruction efforts.

ITU data highlights that 2.6 billion people globally lack internet access, underscoring the need for US$100 billion in investments by 2026 to ensure universal connectivity and sustainable digital transformation. Partner2Connect commitments extend beyond infrastructure to encompass digital skills development and digital inclusion initiatives.

These commitments from e&, China Telecom, Ooredoo, and Veon are slated for implementation over the next two to five years. Concurrently, the UN Digital Agency announced a milestone of over 1,000 industry, academia, and organizational members, alongside its 193 Member States, marking its largest and most diverse membership to date.