…Targets 2.2Bn People For Internet Access
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has secured over $82 billion in commitments under its Partner2Connect Digital Coalition, as it continues to rev up efforts to expand internet access to 2.2 billion people who are yet to have access to the techno link globally.
The ITU Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, hinted on this investment feat on Monday at Mobile World Congress 2026.
Bogdan-Martin noted that with total pledges now exceeding $82 billion, the Partner2Connect Digital Coalition remained on course to meet its $100 billion target by the end of 2026.
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She said: “Today’s milestone shows what’s possible when we pool our collective resources towards making connectivity universal and meaningful.”
The ITU Secretary-General noted that the $82 billion in pledges could unlock life-changing opportunities in education, healthcare, entrepreneurship and artificial intelligence for hundreds of millions of people.
Among the latest commitments announced at the Mobile World Congress 2026 is a $1.715 billion investment by Mobily in data centres, submarine cables and 5G and next-generation network infrastructure.
According to the company, the investment aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 and is intended to strengthen the country’s position as a digital hub linking East and West.
This is even as Ooredoo Group pledged $500 million toward submarine and terrestrial optical fibre infrastructure across the Middle East and North Africa region, for the purposed of expanding high-capacity connectivity and supporting inclusive economic growth.
Since its launch in 2021, the Partner2Connect Digital Coalition has attracted more than 1,000 pledges from 149 countries, spanning investments in digital infrastructure, policy reform, capacity building and emerging technologies designed to reach the hardest-to-connect populations.
The ITU estimates that achieving universal, meaningful connectivity by 2030 will require between $2.6 trillion and $2.8 trillion in investment.
The Partner2Connect Digital Coalition is serving as a mobilization platform that brings together governments, private sector players and civil society groups to fund projects designed to expand digital infrastructure and promoting inclusion, particularly in remote and underserved communities worldwide.
