By ITU, the UN agency for digital technologies, today announced new industry pledges to its Partner2Connect Digital Coalition, bringing total commitments to over USD 82 billion to expand global Internet connectivity and bridge the digital divide.
Launched in 2021, Partner2Connect serves as a mobilization 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.
The announcement was made by ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin at Mobile World Congress 2026, 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 USD 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 USD 82 billion in pledges through Partner2Connect means unlocking life-changing opportunities for hundreds of millions of people that are still offline.”
