A third of the world's population still without internet, says the UN
In 2022, a third of the world's population remains without internet access and the pace of new connections has slowed, according to the latest UN statistics.
AFP/File
Text by: Dominique Desaunay Follow
3 mins
In 2022, a third of the world's population remains without internet access and the pace of new connections has slowed, according to the latest UN statistics.
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According
to the study conducted by the International Telecommunications Union
, the African continent has only 40% of its population benefiting from a permanent connection.
By way of comparison, Europe tops this ranking for internet penetration, which is now enjoyed by 89% of its residents.
Internet surge slows, leaving 2.7 billion people offline in 2022
ℹ️ https://t.co/7Jg5lANI78#ITUdata pic.twitter.com/YmJT3YU3Bi
— Int'l Telecommunication Union #Plenipot (@ITU) September 16, 2022
A slowdown in progress
But the figures communicated by the UN agency also show a worrying reality: the rise of Internet networks is slowing down almost everywhere in the world.
This trend is accelerating, notes the ITU, suggesting that without massive investment in infrastructure and new impetus to foster the digital skills of users, the chances of connecting the last of the internet and social networks here to 2030 are looking increasingly slim, says Bilel Jamoussi of ITU's Telecommunication Standardization Bureau.
“
The standardization of telecom networks orchestrated by the ITU makes it possible to guarantee international connectivity and the interoperability of fiber optic networks.
Today, 90% of the world's data, voice and even video traffic passes over these fiber optic networks which have been "standardized" by our UN agency",
he underlines
.
These networks therefore require significant investment.
"
Our mission is to ensure that they are deployed for a so-called inclusive digital transformation in the areas of remote health, online education or to promote mobile banking transactions, for example.
The objective of this standardization is to put quality networks in the hands of ITU Member States, manufacturers and equipment manufacturers who are committed to taking into consideration the needs of developing countries to quickly include the almost three billion of people around the world who until now have no access to the internet.
»
In its analysis, the International Telecommunications Union recommends that manufacturers in the telecom sectors take up two major challenges: rapidly develop universal connectivity for remote and difficult-to-reach areas where most of the Internet-excluded are concentrated.
It also recommends upgrading the existing networks to broadband in order to improve the living conditions of the populations.
Significant progress in Africa
The Covid pandemic has given “
a good boost in terms of connectivity
”.
But she also highlighted the recurring problems that plague internet networks.
In particular, connection speeds that are too slow, prices that are too high for equipment and telecom subscriptions, to which are added a lack of digital culture or even the cultural and linguistic barriers of billions of Internet users.
Not to mention that in some remote areas, users deprived of a reliable source of electricity simply cannot connect, points out the ITU report.
Africa, the least connected region in the world, has recorded a 13% annual growth in internet penetration.
Today, 40% of the African population is online, according to the IUT.
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