Broadband: A Vital Driver of Sustainable Development

Affordable broadband is a vital driver of economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection. Moreover, information communication technologies (ICTs) have been recognized as a means of implementation for the soon to be agreed upon Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yet it is unlikely that their potential can be fully realized while inequalities in access to and the availability of broadband persist between developed and developing countries. Is the digital divide still with us, and will it be bridged anytime soon? 2015’s State of Broadband 2015 report finds mixed messages.