‘3.9bn people can’t access internet’

 New data released at the weekend by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the United Nations (UN) specialized agency for information and communication technology (ICT), show that 3.9 billion people remain cut-off from the vast resources available on the Internet, despite falling prices for ICT services. ICT Facts & Figures 2016 shows that developing countries now […]

 New data released at the weekend by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the United Nations (UN) specialized agency for information and communication technology (ICT), show that 3.9 billion people remain cut-off from the vast resources available on the Internet, despite falling prices for ICT services.
ICT Facts & Figures 2016 shows that developing countries now account for the vast majority of Internet users, with 2.5billion users compared with one billion in developed countries.
Nigeria has more than 100 million internet users, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
But Internet penetration rates tell a different story, with 81% in developed countries, compared with 40% in developing countries and 15% in the least developed countries.
“Global interconnectedness is rapidly expanding, however more needs to be done to bridge the digital divide and bring the more than a half of the global population not using the Internet into the digital economy,” said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao.
The Director of the ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, Brahima Sanou said its role is to facilitate the attainment of the 17 SDGs and their targets this year.