The International Telecommunication Union has secured more than $82 billion in pledges through its Partner2Connect Digital Coalition, ramping up efforts to connect the 2.2 billion people who remain offline globally.
The milestone was announced on Monday at Mobile World Congress 2026 by ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin.
Established in 2021, Partner2Connect is a global mobilization platform that unites governments, private sector stakeholders, and civil society to finance projects focused on expanding digital infrastructure and advancing inclusion, particularly in remote and underserved areas.
With total commitments now surpassing $82 billion, Bogdan-Martin said the initiative remains on track to achieve 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,” the ITU Secretary-General said.
She added that the pledged funds have the potential to unlock transformative opportunities in education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and artificial intelligence for hundreds of millions of people worldwide.
One of the key commitments announced at the telecoms conference is a $1.715 billion investment by Mobily in data centres, submarine cables, and 5G and other next-generation network infrastructure.
The firm said the funding supports Saudi Vision 2030 and aims to reinforce Saudi Arabia’s role as a digital gateway between East and West.
Meanwhile, Ooredoo Group committed $500 million to develop submarine and terrestrial optical fibre networks across the Middle East and North Africa, targeting greater high-capacity connectivity and broader economic inclusion.
ITU projects that between $2.6 trillion and $2.8 trillion will be needed to achieve universal, meaningful connectivity by 2030.
It has therefore urged governments, development partners, and private sector players to deepen their engagement with the coalition to help narrow the global digital gap.
What you should know
In its State of Digital Development in Africa report published last year, the ITU stated that Africa records the lowest internet penetration rate worldwide, with only 38 per cent of its population online in 2024, compared to the global average of 68 per cent.
Although internet usage on the continent continues to grow, the report highlighted that millions remain offline due to high connectivity costs, low digital skills, and weak infrastructure, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
