Despite Growth in Global Internet Connectivity, Disparities Persist as ITU Moves to Close Gaps

Emma Okonji

A steady but uneven progress in global Internet connectivity highlights the disparities of the digital divide, a new development that is leaving people in low-income countries behind, the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) has said.

ITU in its Facts and Figures report said analysis on global internet traffic and 5G network coverage highlights the gaps between high-income and low-income countries, despite growth in global internet connectivity data.

Analysis on internet data usage, featured for the first time in the ITU’s annual connectivity report, it showed that fixed-broadband services accounted for over 80 per cent of global internet traffic in 2022.

The report revealed that the volume of internet traffic across fixed-broadband networks, which remain common in office and home settings, far exceeded that of mobile-broadband networks. But the dominance of the fixed networks underscores the global connectivity disparity between high- and low-income countries, with only one fixed-broadband subscription per 100 people in low-income countries due to high prices and a lack of infrastructure.

Worried about the new global development, the ITU Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, said: “The further and faster technology advances, the more urgent our mission to connect everyone becomes. Fulfilling the promise of universal and meaningful connectivity is one of the most important causes of our time in our effort to realise the sustainable future we want and need.”

ITU, the United Nations specialised agency for information and communication technologies, reported earlier this year that an estimated 2.6 billion people, or one-third of the global population, remained offline in 2023. 

The ITU’s flagship Facts and Figures tracks global connectivity with estimates on key indicators, including those related to infrastructure, affordability, gender, and location. It now includes new indicators on global 5G network coverage and internet traffic data.

But in Nigeria, the development about internet connectivity data is different, as internet traffic across mobile-broadband networks, far exceeded that of fixed-broadband networks. 

According to statistics, which THISDAY obtained from the official website of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the total number of internet subscriptions in Nigeria as at August 2023, was 159,034,717, which is a combination of mobile-broadband networks, fixed-broadband networks and the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).     

Out of the total 159,034,717 internet subscriptions number in Nigeria as at August this year, mobile network (GSM) alone accounted for 158,475,341, while the fixed wired network accounted for only 17,157 and the VoIP accounted 333,607 and wired/wireless network from Internet Service Providers (ISPs) accounted for 208,612.

The NCC statistics also showed that mobile network subscriptions maintained a steady lead over fixed wired network subscriptions since January this year.

In January, mobile network subscription was 155,675,178, while fixed wired network subscription was only 16,144. In February and March this year, mobile network subscriptions were 156,420,881 and 156,989,223 respectively, while the fixed wired subscriptions were 16,320 and 16,457 respectively.

Similarly, in April and May this year, mobile network subscriptions were 157,667,708 and 159,038,028 respectively, while the fixed wired subscriptions were 16,531 and 16,690 respectively.

In June and July this year, mobile network subscriptions were 158,944,660 and 158,982,962 respectively, while the fixed wired subscriptions were 16,897 and 17,098 respectively.