The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has announced that its Partner2Connect (P2C) Digital Coalition has surpassed $100 billion in commitments, marking a major milestone in the global effort to expand Internet access, strengthen digital infrastructure, and bridge the digital divide. The announcement was made during the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2026 in Geneva. Despite reaching the landmark, ITU said achieving universal and meaningful connectivity by 2030 will still require an estimated $2.6 trillion to $2.8 trillion in total investment.
Launched in 2021, the Partner2Connect Digital Coalition has become one of the world’s largest multistakeholder initiatives focused on mobilizing investments for broadband infrastructure, digital skills, cybersecurity, and inclusive digital transformation.
Several organizations announced significant new commitments during Geneva Digital Week. Asian Development Bank pledged to mobilize $20 billion by 2035 through the Asia-Pacific Digital Highway initiative, aiming to improve digital connectivity for up to 650 million people by expanding cross-border digital infrastructure and strengthening regional cooperation.
Microsoft unveiled two major initiatives. The company plans to connect more than 450 rural community hubs in Kenya using satellite-enabled Azure Space infrastructure to expand broadband access in underserved communities. Microsoft also reaffirmed its previously announced investment of approximately $18 billion in Australia through 2029, supporting AI infrastructure, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and digital skills development.
Boston Consulting Group committed $500 million to AI-for-social-impact initiatives covering education, healthcare, workforce development, and poverty reduction. ZTE pledged $450 million between 2026 and 2028 to accelerate AI ecosystem partnerships and intelligent digital transformation.
South Africa’s Telkom announced a $6.1 million investment to establish the Telkom AI Institute, supporting AI talent development and digital innovation. SoftBank committed investments in AI-RAN technologies, AI-ready communications infrastructure, and open innovation, while the GSMA pledged support for African AI language models to improve AI accessibility across diverse local languages.
ITU said digital infrastructure continues to receive the largest share of Partner2Connect funding, reflecting the urgent need to expand broadband networks across underserved and rural regions. The coalition has now attracted more than 1,000 pledges involving participants from 149 countries, with projects being implemented across more than 190 countries. Africa and the Asia-Pacific region remain the most active deployment markets.
Beyond network expansion, investment priorities are increasingly shifting toward digital skills, AI readiness, cybersecurity, and digital inclusion. ITU noted that women represent the largest beneficiary group across Partner2Connect projects, followed by children and persons with disabilities, highlighting the coalition’s focus on inclusive digital development.
Artificial intelligence is also emerging as a major driver of connectivity investment. Rather than treating broadband deployment and AI as separate initiatives, governments and technology companies are combining investments in communications infrastructure with AI platforms, satellite connectivity, cloud services, and workforce development. Microsoft’s satellite-enabled community hubs, ZTE’s AI ecosystem strategy, SoftBank’s AI-RAN initiatives, and Boston Consulting Group’s AI-for-social-impact program demonstrate how AI is becoming central to future digital inclusion efforts.
Despite surpassing the $100 billion milestone, ITU warned that approximately 25 percent of the global population still lacks Internet access. Closing this connectivity gap by 2030 will require between $2.6 trillion and $2.8 trillion in additional investment, underscoring the importance of sustained collaboration between governments, development banks, telecom operators, technology companies, and international organizations.
ITU said the next phase of Partner2Connect will focus on accelerating project implementation, measuring real-world outcomes, and ensuring investments translate into meaningful digital access for underserved communities. As digital infrastructure becomes increasingly important for economic growth, education, healthcare, financial inclusion, and AI adoption, the coalition is expected to play a central role in mobilizing capital and supporting sustainable digital transformation worldwide.
FASNA SHABEER
