ITU Report Finds Huge Disparity Between 5G in Rich and Poor Countries
An estimated 6 billion people were online in 2025, up from a revised estimate of 5.8 billion in 2024, ITU said in a report released Monday. Some 2.2 billion people remain offline, fewer than the estimated 2.3 billion in 2024. Last year, 5G covered about 55% of people worldwide, “reflecting strong momentum in advanced mobile technologies.” But, ITU found, only 4% of people in low-income countries had access to 5G, compared with 84% in high-income countries.
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“In a world where digital technologies are essential to so much of daily life, everyone should have the opportunity to benefit from being online," said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. The report “highlights how today's digital divides are being defined by speed, reliability, affordability, and skills, all of which we must prioritize as we work toward our mission of universal connectivity."
The report comes as ITU’s World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-25) takes place in Azerbaijan. WTDC is held every four years and sets out “work priorities for ITU's Telecommunication Development Sector, adopts regional digital development initiatives, and approves formal technical questions to be addressed by ITU-D Study Groups,” ITU said.
“WTDC-25 is our opportunity to forge the roadmap for digital development for the next four years: remarkable progress has been made to connect the world but more needs to be done to bridge remaining digital gaps, empower communities and uplift lives,” said Cosmas Zavazava, director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau.