Peer-reviewed article

GLOBAL CONNECTIVTY REPORT 2022. CHAPTERS 7, 10. POLICY AND REGULATORY STRATEGIES THAT DRIVE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION & MEASURING MEANINGFUL CONNECTIVITY: THE CASE FOR MORE AND BETTER STATISTICS

ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, Michael Kende, Sonia Livingstone, ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, Scott Minehane et al. · 1 Jan 2022

Abstract

The Global Connectivity Report 2022 takes stock of the progress in digital connectivity over the past three decades. It provides a detailed assessment of the current state of connectivity and how close the world is to achieving universal and meaningful connectivity, using a unique analytical framework. It goes on to showcase solutions and good practices to accelerate progress. The second part of the report consists of seven thematic deep dives on infrastructure, affordability, financing, the pandemic, regulation, youth, and data. Chapter 7 (Policy and regulatory strategies that drive digital transformation). The need to redefine policy priorities, the roles of stakeholders, and to identify new tools has never been more pressing. Tensions, nevertheless, persist between established and emerging approaches to policy and regulation and new strategies will need to prove themselves. As digital markets grow and move towards everything-as-a-service, an agile and iterative, lean approach to policy and regulation has started to develop. The agency of regulators and policy-makers and their agility will be the keys to making the implementation of digital policies more impactful. Chapter 10 (Measuring meaningful connectivity: The case for more and better statistics). Data are vital to universal and meaningful digital connectivity. While data volumes have grown exponentially, for many countries reliable statistics on digital connectivity remain surprisingly scant. To assess progress, data on the deployment and uptake of digital technologies are essential. ITU collects, analyses and disseminates statistics from administrative sources and household surveys conducted by national statistical offices. While much progress has been made in recent years, large data gaps remain, especially on indicators collected from household surveys. These gaps are symptomatic of wider data gaps elsewhere. More and better data are needed to understand and remove the barriers to meaningful connectivity, especially for the marginalized people who are still offline. Data cultures, funding and improving the collection, processing and use of data are integral to development.