Broadband Commission for Digital Development

What Broadband Commission for Digital Development does

The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development is an international multistakeholder policy advocacy body established in 2010 by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), H.E. President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, and Mr. Carlos Slim Helu of Mexico. Its mission is to elevate broadband on the international policy agenda and accelerate progress toward universal, affordable, and meaningful connectivity, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Over a 15-year mandate the Commission convened more than 170 Commissioners from government, private sector, civil society, and international organizations, organized 35+ multistakeholder Working Groups, and produced 15 editions of its annual State of Broadband report alongside 100+ knowledge products and 70+ practical policy recommendations.

The Commission's product portfolio consists of policy publications, research frameworks, and Working Group outputs rather than technology products. Core offerings include the State of Broadband annual report series, the 2025 Advocacy Targets framework (seven strategic goals covering policy, affordability, access, skills, e-finance, MSME connectivity, and gender equality), the Data Governance Toolkit launched in 2025, the AI and Digital Transformation Competency Framework for Civil Servants, the MSME Connectivity Framework, and the Virtual Health and Care Framework. All outputs are distributed free of charge as global public goods through the Commission's website and through ITU and UNESCO channels.

The Commission does not generate commercial revenue. It operates as a joint initiative under ITU and UNESCO, funded through member contributions, parent organization support, and external funders such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Distribution and engagement occur via the Commission's website, newsletters, social channels, participation in UN processes (WSIS, HLPF, Summit of the Future), and industry events such as Mobile World Congress. The Commission's strategic framework and Advocacy Targets formally expired at the end of 2025.

Name

Broadband Commission for Digital Development

Legal name

Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development

Website

https://broadbandcommission.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The ITU/UNESCO Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development was a Geneva-based multistakeholder policy advocacy body, active 2010-2025, convening 170+ Commissioners to advance global broadband connectivity through the State of Broadband report series, 35+ Working Groups, and 70+ policy recommendations for governments, UN agencies, and industry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Development Policy Advocacy

NAICS

Regulation and Administration of Communications, Electric, Gas, and Other Utilities (926130)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

United Nations System & Specialized Agencies (BPADAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

Keywords

• Digital development advocacy
• Broadband policy research
• Multistakeholder partnerships
• Universal connectivity
• Policy recommendations

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Others: The Broadband Commission is an international policy commission established by ITU, UNESCO, and founding partners. It does not generate revenue through commercial activities. The Commission operates through member contributions, funders, and partners to advance broadband connectivity advocacy.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The ITU/UNESCO Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development is an international multistakeholder policy advocacy body that advances broadband connectivity globally. It produces the annual State of Broadband report series, convenes 35+ Working Groups on connectivity topics, develops policy recommendations through seven Advocacy Targets, and contributes to UN policy processes. The Commission does not sell products or services; it disseminates all publications and resources free of charge.

Product overview

The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development operates as a multistakeholder advocacy organization established in 2010 by ITU, UNESCO, and national leaders. Rather than a unified software product, its portfolio consists of policy publications, research frameworks, and working group programs. The core offering is the annual State of Broadband Report series, a 15-edition publication tracking global broadband access and policy progress. This is complemented by the Working Groups Program covering 35+ multistakeholder initiatives addressing specific connectivity challenges. The 2025 Advocacy Targets framework provides seven strategic goals guiding international broadband policy. Key specialized products include the Data Governance Toolkit for policymakers, the AI and Digital Transformation Competency Framework for Civil Servants, the MSME Connectivity Framework, and the Virtual Health and Care Framework. The Commission also publishes ad hoc research reports including the 21st Century Financing Models report. Together these products form an integrated advocacy ecosystem supporting universal broadband connectivity through evidence-based research, policy recommendations, and multistakeholder collaboration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• State of Broadband Report Series Annual flagship publication series presenting global snapshots of broadband access, affordability, and use. The 15-edition series tracks progress on the Commission's Advocacy Targets and provides policy recommendations for achieving universal connectivity.
• Data Governance Toolkit A practical, capacity-building resource for policymakers, regulators, and governments providing actionable guidance on data governance priorities including legal frameworks, institutional roles, cross-border data flows, digital self-determination, and data for AI.
• Working Groups Program Multistakeholder working groups examining key issues affecting broadband access, affordability, and use. Over 35+ working groups developed cross-sector recommendations on topics including Data for Learning, MSMEs connectivity, Data Governance, AI Capacity Building, and Virtual Health and Care.
• 2025 Advocacy Targets Seven strategic goals serving as policy and programmatic guide for national and international action in broadband development: broadband policy universalization, affordability, universal access, digital skills, e-finance, MSME connectivity, and gender digital divide elimination.
• Data for Learning Working Group Report Report on leveraging data to improve learning with five recommendations to make education data landscape less polarized and more equitable, ethical, and effective for learners everywhere.
• MSME Connectivity Framework A five-part framework with four core recommendations developed by the Working Group on Connectivity for MSMEs to enable connectivity for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in low and middle-income countries.
• AI and Digital Transformation Competency Framework for Civil Servants Competency framework spelling out AI and Digital Transformation Competencies needed by civil servants to implement digital transformation initiatives, with nine recommendations for governments, academia, and private sector.
• Virtual Health and Care Framework Working Group report providing practical recommendations for the future of virtual health and care with a maturity framework consisting of six policy pillars for building hybrid physical-virtual health systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• 155 countries had national broadband plans by 2022
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and founding.

• Bill and Melinda Gates FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2025Funder and supporter of Working Group research, particularly MSME connectivity studies in Africa and Asia.
• African Union CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Co-chair of Working Group on Data Governance. Contributes to inclusive, interoperable data governance frameworks for digital transformation.
• UNDPcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Co-chair of Working Group on Data Governance. Supports development of responsible data governance policies.
• GSMAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Co-chair of Working Group on Connectivity for MSMEs. GSMA contributes research on mobile connectivity and digital inclusion of micro-entrepreneurs in LMICs.
• International Trade Centre (ITC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Co-chair of Working Group on Connectivity for MSMEs. ITC provides research on MSME connectivity and digital transformation in Francophone Africa.
• NokiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Co-chair of Working Group on AI Capacity Building. Contributes expertise on AI and digital transformation for civil servants.
• WHOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Co-chair of Working Group on Virtual Health and Care. Provides expertise on telehealth and digital health integration.
• Novartis FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Co-chair of Working Group on Virtual Health and Care. Contributes to policy frameworks for virtual health and care accessibility.
• Smart AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Commissioner organization advancing Africa's digital transformation agenda. Contributes continental perspective on connectivity goals.
• SAMENA Telecommunications CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Co-chair of Working Group on 21st Century Financing Models. Provides expertise on telecommunications financing and investment strategies.
• Zain GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Co-chair of Working Group on 21st Century Financing Models. Contributes operator perspective on broadband infrastructure investment.
• Access PartnershipsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Knowledge Partner for State of Broadband reports, providing research and analytical support.
• ITU (International Telecommunication Union)foundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Co-founding organization of the Broadband Commission. ITU serves as a key institutional partner providing technical expertise in telecommunications and digital development.
• UNESCOfoundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Co-founding organization of the Broadband Commission. UNESCO contributes expertise in education, culture, and communication for digital transformation.
• Government of Rwanda (H.E. President Paul Kagame)foundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Founding partner providing high-level political commitment and leadership in advancing broadband connectivity goals.
• Carlos Slim Helu FoundationfoundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Founding partner contributing philanthropy and Latin American perspective on digital inclusion.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• World Bank Digital Development Global Practice: A much larger institutional actor financing and advising on digital infrastructure in developing countries. Overlaps with the Commission on broadband policy and financing models, but operates with substantive funding and direct country engagement that the Commission lacks.

Direct peers

• International Telecommunication Union (ITU): The Broadband Commission's co-founding parent. ITU is a UN specialized agency for telecommunications and the Commission's primary institutional partner, sharing overlapping mandates on global digital connectivity, broadband policy, and capacity building.
• UNESCO: The Broadband Commission's other co-founding parent. UNESCO is a UN specialized agency contributing education, culture, and communication policy expertise, with overlapping work on digital inclusion, media development, and knowledge societies.
• GSMA: Industry association representing mobile operators worldwide and a Commission Working Group co-chair on MSME connectivity. Operates in adjacent policy/advocacy territory on mobile connectivity, digital inclusion, and infrastructure investment.
• United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD): Sister UN body producing research and policy guidance on the digital economy, e-commerce, and ICT for development. Operates in the same UN intergovernmental ecosystem with comparable focus on digital development in LMICs.

Others

• World Economic Forum - Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Multistakeholder platform bringing together governments, industry, and civil society to shape technology governance, including digital inclusion. Comparable convening model and stakeholder composition, though broader in scope than the Commission.
• OECD Digital Economy Policy Division: Policy research and standards body producing influential reports on digital economy, connectivity indicators, and regulatory frameworks. Comparable in producing evidence-based policy guidance, though focused on OECD member states rather than global LMIC priorities.

Emerging players

• Digital Impact Alliance (DIAL): Non-profit focused on digital inclusion and ICT4D, with overlapping work on digital public goods, data governance, and digital services for development in LMICs. Operates in adjacent space with comparable donor base.
• Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI): Non-profit coalition focused specifically on affordable broadband access, with overlapping mission on the Commission's affordability Advocacy Target. Smaller and more focused than the Commission, but closely aligned on connectivity policy for LMICs.
• Internet Society (ISOC): Global non-profit focused on an open, secure, and accessible internet for everyone. Operates in adjacent advocacy territory on internet access, infrastructure, and policy, with comparable mission emphasis on connecting the unconnected.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzi-Lh2KmnSmzxSgMCG2cxw
• Facebookfacebook.com/broadbandcommission
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/broadband-commission
• Xx.com/UNBBCom

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Broadband Commission for Digital Development