Telecommunications operators have pledged over $82 billion to expand global Internet connectivity and bridge the digital divide.
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the UN agency for digital technologies, which announced this yesterday at the ongoing 2026 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain, said the pledges were through its Partner2Connect Digital Coalition, bringing total commitments to over $82 billion since the 2021 launch.
The Partner2Connect serves as a mobilisation platform to rally commitments from governments, the private sector, and civil society for projects and investments that support connectivity and digital inclusion – particularly in the world’s most remote communities.
ITU Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, at MWC 2026, said the pledge is against a backdrop of 2.2 billion people remaining offline, missing out on opportunities afforded by digital technologies, from education and healthcare to entrepreneurship and artificial intelligence. With P2C pledges steadily growing, the initiative is firmly on track to meet its $100 billion target by the end of 2026.
“Today’s milestone shows what’s possible when we pool our collective resources towards making connectivity universal and meaningful,” said Bogdan-Martin. “Reaching $82 billion in pledges through Partner2Connect means unlocking life-changing opportunities for hundreds of millions of people that are still offline.”
Last year, Nigeria’s Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, disclosed that some 23 million Nigerians in about 4,834 communities, mostly rural areas, lack access to basic mobile connectivity.
ITU said the pledges announced at MWC 2026 include a $1.715 billion investment in data centres, submarine cables, and 5G and next-generation network infrastructure.
Mobily reaffirms its commitment to supporting inclusive global connectivity in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030 aspirations towards becoming a hub connecting the East with the West. Through its investment, Mobily aimed at scaling Saudi Arabia’s AI and cloud computing capabilities, enabling competitive, resilient, and future-ready national development and meaningful global collaboration.
The Ooredoo Group also pledged a $500 million investment in submarine and terrestrial optical fibre infrastructure, aiming to expand high-capacity connectivity across the MENA region, strengthening regional and international digital links and supporting inclusive economic growth through resilient, future-ready network infrastructure.
These commitments directly support ITU’s goal of achieving universal, meaningful connectivity — ensuring everyone has access to affordable, reliable Internet and the skills to use it safely and effectively.
Since its inception, the Partner2Connect Digital Coalition has secured over 1,000 pledges from 149 countries, featuring investments in digital infrastructure, policy modernisation, capacity-building initiatives, and innovative technologies designed to connect the hardest-to-reach populations.
By including existing projects alongside new ones, Partner2Connect enables governments, companies and NGOs to align their ongoing work with the coalition’s mission and showcase their contributions through regular updates.
Overall, ITU estimated that achieving universal, meaningful connectivity by 2030 could require $2.6 trillion to $2.8 trillion. Every effort to advance digital inclusion matters. ITU calls on the public and private sectors to scale up their commitments through P2C and help connect a quarter of the world’s population still unconnected.
Looking ahead, Partner2Connect will continue to mobilise resources, foster innovative partnerships, and track progress to ensure pledges deliver tangible outcomes for communities worldwide.
