Connectivity and social inclusion: bridging the digital gap

The event, which took place along the track of the Digital Economy Task Force, featured representatives of international organizations (European Commission, UNHCR, UNIDO, and OECD), G20 Members and Guests, and Members of the G20 Engagement Groups.

The discussion highlighted the essential role played by connectivity in fostering sustainable innovation and economic growth, while ensuring universal inclusion in the digital society and tackling the most pressing challenges exacerbated by the pandemic crisis. The event has also been an occasion for sharing connectivity best practices and policy solutions.

Minister Colao stressed the need to undertake measures to bridge connectivity gaps. In fact, despite recent improvements, 60% of the global population is offline and sizable gaps in digital inclusion still persist. Existing biases in digital connectivity may limit access to social and economic opportunities only to those with appropriate technologies, while excluding those without access.

Minister Colao emphasized the need to speed up the rollout of nationwide ultra-fast broadband to address infrastructure bottlenecks in areas with insufficient connectivity. Minister Colao expressed his wish to set the ambitious target of ensuring fast connectivity across the whole country by 2026, while safeguarding the principle of technological neutrality.

Furthermore, the Minister acknowledged that connectivity and inclusion should be addressed through international collaborative efforts, among public institutions, businesses and citizens. “In a connected world - he pointed out - no country can be a digital island”.

In a connected world, no country can be a digital island.