The International Telecommunications Organization (ITO), operating within the United Nations to oversee global communication, recently unveiled significant insights in its 2023 Facts and Figures report.
The revelation revolves around the widespread reach of the Fifth Generation (5G) network, encompassing 40% of the world’s eight billion population since its initiation in 2019. However, beneath this overarching statistic lies a stark reality of uneven distribution.
Delving into the specifics, the report underscores that 89% of individuals in high-income countries benefit from 5G network coverage, showcasing the technology’s robust presence. In contrast, low-income countries grapple with a near absence of 5G services, compounding the existing digital disparities.
Notably, the report sheds light on the prevailing reliance on 3G networks in many low-income nations as a primary conduit for internet connectivity.
Despite 3G being a prevalent mode of connectivity, the report emphasizes its inadequacy in fully harnessing the benefits of digital technology, particularly for endeavors such as remote medical diagnostics and online learning. As a possible intermediary solution, 4G services emerge, offering a pathway to meaningful connectivity, yet they extend to only 39% of the population in low-income countries.
Zooming into a regional context, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) reported approximately 500,000 5G subscriptions in Nigeria as of mid-2023. However, this represents a mere 0.83% penetration of the country’s substantial population, exceeding 200 million. Noteworthy is the active pursuit of 5G penetration by key players in the Nigerian telecommunications landscape, including MTN and Airtel, with varying degrees of coverage across cities.
Taking a closer look at the global landscape, the report underscores the persistent and uneven progress in global internet connectivity. This digital divide disproportionately affects individuals in low-income countries, limiting their access to the transformative potential of technology.
The report introduces a novel perspective by incorporating an analysis of internet data usage, revealing that fixed-broadband services dominated with over 80% of global internet traffic in 2022.
This dominance of fixed networks raises pertinent questions about the existing global connectivity gap, particularly between high- and low-income nations. The report attributes the limited adoption of fixed-broadband subscriptions in low-income countries to the dual challenges of exorbitant prices and a lack of essential infrastructure. This further exacerbates the digital inequalities prevalent on a global scale.
In response to these challenges, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunications Union, highlights the urgent mission to connect everyone.
As technology advances at an accelerating pace, she emphasizes the crucial importance of fulfilling the promise of universal and meaningful connectivity.
This, she contends, stands as one of the most critical causes of our time, aligning with the broader vision of realizing a sustainable future that is inclusive and accessible to all.
