EXPLORING AI TO BRIDGE DIGITAL DIVIDE

SONNY ARAGBA-AKPORE writes that AI and other emerging technologies can help to achieve universal meaningful connectivity

As humanity grapples with the race to bridge the digital divide,global inequality  remains a threat. For instance, an estimated 2.6 billion people around the world remain offline, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN Agency for Digital Technologies.

   While overall Internet use is increasing, the benefits of access are unevenly distributed, reinforcing persistent digital divides affecting women and people in countries with lower economic development. 

  The elderly and people with disabilities are among other groups being left behind.

“Broadband is fundamental to ensure that everyone can benefit from digital technologies when so many people are still offline around the world,” according to ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Co-Vice Chair of ITU Broadband Commission.“AI and other emerging technologies can help efforts to achieve universal meaningful connectivity, and it’s our job to make sure this happens in a way that is responsible for people and the planet.”

ITU Broadband Commission recently reviewed progress on its 2025 Advocacy Targets, comprising seven objectives for action in broadband development and universal connectivity. One target for mobile broadband affordability is close to being achieved. A target for gender equality in access to broadband has been achieved for some countries, although not globally.

The Commission noted that AI and emerging technologies can drive progress on broadband and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

But balancing the promotion of AI benefits while managing the challenges is a key task for policymakers who are“racing to catch up” to the implications of the technologies according to ITU documents.

A worried ITU boss lamented recently about the divide which she and her team think could be addressed before 2030 under the SDGs.“With one-third of humanity still offline and women and other vulnerable groups on the wrong side of the globe’s digital divides,regulators should raise standards if this one third offline population could be accommodated in the dividends of digital services.”She spoke at the 2024 Global Regulators Symposium (GSR-2) whose focus was on “Best Practice Guidelines that highlight the innovation, trust, and inclusivity that we need in the policy and regulatory environment,”  She told the regulators that “With change being the only certainty facing regulators and policymakers, we must work together to pursue regulatory approaches to leverage transformative technologies such as AI, promote the space economy, encourage innovation, and support climate action and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.” The regulators who met in Kampala,Uganda, endorsed a set of guidelines to maximize the benefits of transformative information and communication technologies (ICTs) at the Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR-24) which closed July 4. GSR 24 highlighted Africa’s National Broadband Mapping Systems project, supported by the European Commission, to help establish broadband mapping systems to foster investment and digital transformation in Africa. With a budget of EUR 15 million over four years, the project will initially benefit 11 countries: Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The “GSR-24 Best Practice Guidelines​” agreed by ICT regulators include a series of considerations for balancing innovation with regulation to create a positive impact on societies and economies from emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI). Prior to the opening of GSR-24, the Regional Regulatory Associations (RA) and Digital Regulation Network (DRN) meeting shared experiences and knowledge as well as areas for collaboration. The meeting also featured the achievements of the successful first year of the DRN, focusing on capacity building, thought leadership, and regulatory experimentation and innovation. Key activities presented include knowledge sharing through the ITU Academy, the broadband mapping project, capacity building activities, contributions to ITU-D Study Groups, RA participation in interactive workshops and engaging on twinning experiences to learn from other Regional Regulatory Associations.

Also ahead of GSR-24, the Industry Advisory Group on Development Issues and Private Sector Chief Regulatory Officers (IAGDI-CRO) convened industry and private sector thought leaders to share

experiences and proposals with regulators to address the complex regulatory and business landscape of digital ecosystems. 

Apart from digital infrastructure development, implementation of regulatory ”sandboxes,” strategies to enable high-speed connectivity, participants discussed regulation of the future, including new domains such as AI, and technologies for the future. A session of Network of Women (NoW) in ITU’s Telecommunication Development Sector at GSR-24 explored mechanisms for greater participation of women in ICT-related fields and addressed the leadership gender gap in the ICT sector.

Ms. Jessica Alupo, Vice-President of the Republic of Uganda, opened GSR-24 on July 1, on behalf of  Mr. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda. Hosted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN Agency for Digital Technologies – the symposium brought together over 600 participants including Ministers, Heads of Regulatory Authorities, industry executives and academics to discuss pressing regulatory issues. “We are excited that the GSR provides a platform where all thought leaders, regulators, industry players and other key ICT stakeholders converge to dialogue and set the policy and regulatory agenda that will guide the global digital industry over the near future,” according

 to Uganda’s Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi.  “Best practice now calls for a coordinated and collaborative approach that is inclusive of all relevant stakeholders – if we are to achieve the impact that we all desire. We commit to align our national policies and regulatory frameworks around the well-thought-out Best Practice Guidelines that will encourage investment, innovation, and growth in the ICT sector.”

Regulators at GSR-24 noted that equal, global access to existing digital services would help countries leverage transformative technologies. AI, for example, could help network operators conduct better planning and prevent fraud, but it also raises challenges associated with privacy, bias, job displacement, and the reliability of information. “At GSR-24, we discussed core policy and regulatory issues to maximise the potential of digital technologies to improve lives. We addressed key topics, including new developments in the field of generative AI and robotics, building an inclusive, safe, and sustainable space economy, and required interventions in addressing climate change challenges,” according to Dr. Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau adding, “We brought the global community of regulators together to strengthen our collective capacity to navigate the fast-changing technology landscape and drive sustainable and inclusive digital transformation. We heard from young innovators and entrepreneurs and adopted action-oriented Best Practice Guidelines to help us chart the course of transformative technologies for positive impact. As we navigate the transformative landscape of digital technologies, the importance of impactful regulation cannot be overstated,” according to the Chairman of GSR-24 and Executive Director of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), George William Nyombi Thembo. “Our shared learnings and collaborative efforts are crucial in shaping a regulatory environment that not only fosters innovation but also ensures that the

benefits of technological advancements are widely shared. By recognizing the interdependencies with other sectors, we can create a cohesive framework that supports sustainable development, economic growth, and inclusivity. Together, we have the power to turn technology into a force for positive change, illuminating pathways to a brighter, more connected future.”

A session of Network of Women (NoW) in ITU’s Telecommunication Development Sector at GSR-24 explored mechanisms for greater participation of women in ICT-related fields and address the leadership gender gap in the ICT sector.

Aragba-Akpore is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board