Stevens: Cross-border Collaboration Will Drive Global Internet Traffic, Mobile Phone Users

Emma OKonji

The United States Consul General, Will Stevens, has called for cross-border collaboration among countries in order to grow global internet traffic and mobile phone users, while maintaining global security in cyberspace.

Stevens who spoke on the theme: “The Role of Technology in Fostering International Collaboration in an Interconnected World,” while presenting a keynote address during the Omniverse Summit organised by the US Consulate General in Lagos, stressed the need cross-border collaboration to combat the challenges that faced the entire world.

According to him, “The world is changing at an unprecedented pace, fueled by the relentless innovation from an increasingly interconnected world. In the past decade, global internet traffic has grown by 700 per cent, and mobile phone users have surpassed 6.6 billion. This increased connectivity creates boundless potential for cross-border collaboration – creating a global village where ideas can spark across oceans, and innovations can blossom through collective efforts.”

While stressing the need for global collaboration, Stevens said: “Imagine a world where researchers from across continents collaborate on groundbreaking medical discoveries, where engineers work together to tackle climate change, and where entrepreneurs share ideas and resources to build a more sustainable future.  This is a present that we are already beginning to experience and a future that I am certain will mean a better world for our children and our children’s children.  Together, we are using the latest technological innovations to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges in the areas of climate change, education, healthcare, agriculture, and other vital areas of development and economic growth.” 

He however said building these bridges would require more than just technological prowess, as the world needs to overcome challenges like cultural and linguistic barriers, unequal access to resources, and cybersecurity concerns. He said the challenges were not insurmountable, and insisted that by embracing inclusivity, bringing capital to markets that need infrastructure investment, and developing robust cybersecurity measures, the world could pave the way for fruitful international partnerships.