Global broadband less affordable in 2021, says UN agency

With higher demand, people spent more on broadband, mobile internet, says report by ITU, Alliance for Affordable Internet

By Peter Kenny

GENEVA (AA) – Internet connectivity became less affordable worldwide in 2021, the latest statistical analysis by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) showed Thursday.

The two organizations said the share of people's incomes spent on fixed broadband and mobile Internet services increased globally last year, along with upticks in demand and usage compared to 2020.

"Broadband services have ceased to be a mere luxury," said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao.

"They are a necessity for communication, teleworking, online education, and other essential services," he said.

The ITU chief said that affordability needs urgent attention if the world wants to attain its goal of universal and meaningful connectivity.

"The affordability gap for Internet access between those living in low- and middle-income countries and those living in high-income countries is inexcusably high," said Sonia Jorge, Executive Director of A4AI.

"Moreover, people in rural areas, and women everywhere, are disproportionately affected.

Consumers in low- and middle-income economies typically paid five to six times more, relative to their income, to use information and ICT services than consumers in high-income economies did in 2021.

- African users pay more

At the regional level, users in Africa paid more than three times the global median price for mobile broadband services and over five times the global median for fixed broadband.

Among the world's 46 least developed countries, entry-level fixed or mobile broadband Internet costs less than 2% of GNI per capita in only four cases: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Nepal.

Relative prices of fixed broadband services climbed to 3.5% of gross national income (GNI) per capita globally in 2021, up from 2.9% in 2020.

The relative prices of mobile broadband services worldwide also edged up to 2% of GNI per capita, from 1.9% a year earlier.

Worldwide, only 96 economies met the UN Broadband Commission target for data-only mobile broadband prices in 2021, seven fewer than in 2020.

At the same time, only 64 economies met the Commission's target for fixed-broadband prices, down by two from 2020.

Kaynak:

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