Global Push for Digital Access Comes with $2.8T Cost

Achieving universal and meaningful Internet connectivity by 2030 will require between $2.6 trillion and $2.8 trillion, according to the Connecting Humanity Action Blueprint released by the International Telecommunication Union  and Saudi Arabia’s Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST).
  
The report highlights that around 2.6 billion people remain offline, with access deeply tied to socio-economic development. 
 
While Internet use stands at 93% in high-income nations, it falls to just 27% in low-income countries.
 
The largest cost driver is digital infrastructure, estimated at $1.5–1.7 trillion, covering fiber expansion in urban areas, 4G wireless in rural zones, and satellites for remote communities.

 
Affordability measures for devices and services account for $983 billion, while digital skills programs will need $152 billion to ensure effective use. 
 
Policy modernization adds another $600 million.
 
ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin stressed that connectivity is essential for education, jobs, and access to services. CST’s Eng. Haytham AlOhali warned that costs are nearly five times higher than ITU’s 2020 estimates, urging urgent global collaboration.
 
 
The report calls for public-private partnerships, innovative business models, and targeted investments to accelerate digital inclusion, especially in least-developed countries.