UN broadband commission pushes for increasing broadband connectivity

Kigali, May 8: Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, set up by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and UNESCO, on Monday pushed for more concerted global efforts to increase broadband connectivity. ”As we discuss Fifth Generation (5G) broadband connectivity. it is up to us to lead the way in driving innovation both in policy and business models in order to speed up the provision of broadband where it has been slowest to reach,” said Rwandan president Paul Kagame during a two-day meeting of the broadband commission that kicked off on Sunday in the Rwandan capital Kigali, Xinhua reported. The two-day event focused on global internet connectivity, vulnerable countries, epidemic preparedness, digital entrepreneurship and digital health, according to organisers. ”The reality is that all other digital services whether in commerce or education or healthcare run on top of broadband. Africa’s economic transformation requires broadband infrastructure with an emphasis on both access and affordability,” said Kagame, who is a co-chair of the commission along side Mexican magnate Carlos Slim and ITU Secretary-General Zhao Houlin. IANS