ICTs, LDCs and the SDGs - Achieving universal and affordable Internet in the least developed countries

This report shows that LDCs have also made great progress towards achieving universal access to and affordability of the Internet. Several LDCs are also on track to largely achieve SDG Target 9.c by 2020. In 2016, close to 60 per cent of the population in LDCs was covered by a mobile broadband network and, in a growing number of LDCs, mobile broadband services have become relatively affordable. At the same time the report highlights some variations among the LDCs. It documents differentiated economic, demographic and social features and development challenges across LDCs, including those that are also land-locked developing countries (LLDCs) or small island developing states (SIDS). The report provides specific recommendations in areas including regulation and public-private partnerships, building on successful experiences in LDCs. Another key finding is that, at current growth rates, less than one-quarter of the population in LDCs will be online by 2020. The key barrier is the lack of the skills needed to use the Internet. Governments are therefore encouraged to adopt strategic ICT sector plans on building skills and enhancing collaboration with the education sector. This finding highlights the importance for policy makers to address broader socio-economic challenges that lie outside the ICT ecosystem, such as educational levels, but also gender equality.