AI can help close the digital divide, says Broadband Commission

Around 2.6 billion people are still not connected to the Internet, but artificial intelligence may be the key to changing that, according to a new report from the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development.

According to “The State of Broadband 2024: Leveraging AI for Universal Connectivity”, which was released on Thursday, the number of Internet users grew to 5.4 billion in 2023, and is projected to hit 5.5 billion by the end of this year.

But that leaves 2.6 billion people still offline, especially in developing and least-developed countries. An estimated 38% of the global population lives within mobile broadband coverage and not using it, while 5% of the population is not covered by mobile broadband at all.

The report says that AI solutions can help accelerate progress on the commission’s seven broadband advocacy targets for 2025: make broadband policy universal; make broadband affordable; get everyone online; promote digital skills development; increase use of e-finance; get MSMEs online; and bridge the gender digital divide.

For example, regarding Target Three (getting more people online), the report said that telcos are increasingly using AI to reduce costs and optimize deployment and data traffic management across their network, as well as improve operations and the overall customer experience. By mapping network data and performance metrics to operations, customer care, marketing, and sales from a subscriber perspective, telcos can identify and address most network issues, before they affect subscribers. The report highlights case studies from operators like Bharti Airtel and Vodacom that have done just that.

The report says that “emerging technologies [like AI] stand to revolutionize the way decisions are taken and services are provided”, adding that AI is already reshaping the delivery of traditional services in sectors such as government, education, healthcare and finance.

On the other hand, it also acknowledges challenges associated with AI and other emerging technologies, including energy consumption, misinformation, reinforcement of biases and gender discrimination. The key for telcos and policymakers is to figure out how to get the most out of AI while being realistic about its risks and finding ways to mitigate them.

In a statement, Rwanda’s Minister of Information Communication Technology and Innovation Paula Ingabire said that emerging technology trends like AI are anticipated to add trillions to the global digital economy, but added that “the ability to harness artificial intelligence to revolutionize access to broadband and other services as well as boost productivity for different sectors will require massive investments in the building blocks including power, connectivity and computing resources, particularly in emerging economies.”

Carlos Slim, founder and president of Grupo Carso and co-chair of the Broadband Commission added that the rapid development of Generative AI “highlights its potential for original content and new applications. We must redesign talent and retrain workers in digital skills to maximize these benefits.”

For all that, the Broadband Commission – which was established in 2010 by ITU and UNESCO – admits in the report that it is falling short of its 2025 advocacy targets.

The targets that are closest to being met include mobile broadband affordability and gender equality in access to broadband, the latter of which has been achieved for some countries, but not globally.

“Having two thirds of the world’s population now online is a cause for celebration. But with only half as many connected in least-developed countries, and even less among women, the new report shows the urgent work still to be done,” said UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay, co-vice chair of the Commission. “We must also address the risks faced by those online, through better governance of digital platforms, ethical use of AI and massive upscaling in digital skills, including media and information literacy.”

“The State of Broadband 2024: Leveraging AI for Universal Connectivity” is the first of a two-part report. The second part, to be released later this year, will propose recommendations on ways to achieve the commission’s advocacy targets.

During the report’s launch, the Broadband Commission also said it has launched a working group on data governance to “devise policy solutions to address and actively promote gender equality and digital sustainability amid the AI revolution.” Developing Telecoms