Global - Broadband a Platform for Progress - An Analysis

Synopsis

Archived report. Following discussions with the ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré in October 2009 the organisation adopted a trans-sector policy for the deployment of broadband infrastructure.

This led to the ITU and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) establishing the Broadband Commission for Digital Development.

This Commission promotes the use of high-speed broadband communication networks worldwide to help accelerate achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. The Commission has the backing of the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and is co-chaired by Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and Mr Carlos Slim, with ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun I Touré and UNESCO’s Director-General Irina Bokova holding the vice-chairs.

The Commission is made up of a group of 58 eminent global leaders from government, business, civil society and international organisations, who are serving as commissioners. It reported to a UN Summit in New York in September 2010.

This report analyses the results of the Commission and indicates what’s next.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Commission aimed to influence heads of state
• 3. Report is a starting point, not an end station
• 4. Trans-sector concept based on sharing infrastructure
• 5. Recommendations aimed at government leaders
• 6. No reinvention – rather pushing implementation forward
• 7. Platform for further work
• 8. Private vs public approaches
• 9. Technologies
• 10. Related Reports

• Exhibit 1 - Broadband Commission Declaration 2010: Broadband Inclusion for All
• Exhibit 2 - United Nations Millennium Development Goals
• Exhibit 3 - Recommendations and proposed plan of action