The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development covers 17 goals, the ninth of which is "Industry, innovation and infrastructure", namely: build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation. 

Under this major goal, there are eight targets, the last of which is "Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020".

● Current Situation

About the World

ICT Offers Great Potential for Social Development

Photo source: unsto.org

Since 2005, the rapid growth in the use of mobile phones and broadband means that nearly two-thirds of the world's residents have access to accessible information and communication technologies. 96.7% of the world's population lives within the reach of cellular mobile networks, 8.2 billion cellular mobile users and 51.4% of the world's population use the Internet. The emergence of new electronic and mobile services and applications such as health care, agriculture, education, business, development, financial and government services, citizen participation and trading services makes this progress more valuable and provides great potential for the development of the information society.

Text source: Report of the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development on the 24th session

About China

World's Largest Communication Network

Photo source: cctv.com

China has built the world's largest fixed and mobile communication network, with network coverage and user scale leading the world. The penetration rate of fixed broadband households has reached 106%, and the penetration rate of mobile broadband users has increased to 98%. According to the monitoring of the Global Association for Mobile Communication Systems, the average monthly expenditure of Chinese mobile communication users is US $5.94, lower than the global average of US $11.36. The average tariff per unit bandwidth of enterprise broadband and special line has decreased by more than 70%. Various fee reduction measures have benefited more than 1 billion users per year, with a cumulative profit of more than 700 billion yuan.

Text source: xinhuanet.com

●  Cases

About the World

International Telecommunication Union

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs), driving innovation in ICTs together with 193 Member States and a membership of over 900 companies, universities, and international and regional organizations. 

Established over 150 years ago, ITU is the intergovernmental body responsible for coordinating the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promoting international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, improving communication infrastructure in the developing world, and establishing the worldwide standards that foster seamless interconnection of a vast range of communications systems. From broadband networks to cutting-edge wireless technologies, aeronautical and maritime navigation, radio astronomy, oceanographic and satellite-based earth monitoring, as well as converging fixed-mobile phone, Internet and broadcasting technologies, ITU is committed to connecting the world. 

Text and photo source: itu.int

Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development 

The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development was established in 2010 by ITU and UNESCO with the aim of boosting the importance of broadband on the international policy agenda, and expanding broadband access in every country as key to accelerating progress towards national and international development targets. 

Photo source: un.org

The Working Group for 21st Century Financing and Funding Models for Sustainable Broadband Development was established as a cross-sector group of thought-leaders with representation from national regulatory authorities, telecommunications operators, financial institutions, trade associations, academics and not-for-profit development organizations operating under the auspices of the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development. Its objective was to explore and identify new and innovative funding, financing and investment strategies to address the challenge of extending broadband connectivity and services to the 3.7 billion people who remain unconnected today, particularly in Africa, Asia, South America and the Pacific Islands.

Text source: broadbandcommission.org

About China

Breakthrough Key Technologies in Communication

China's mobile communication technology has achieved a major breakthrough from 2G, 3G, 4G to 5G. The network supply capacity is leading in the world, and the world's largest fixed and mobile broadband network has been built.

Photo source: sohu.com

On April 30, 2020, China Mobile Communication Corporation and Huawei Technology Co., Ltd. successfully set up the 5G base station with the highest altitude in the world at the 6500m forward camp of Mount Everest, realizing the coverage of 5G signal on the climbing line and peak on the north slope of Mount Everest, and ensure communication for Mount Everest climbing, scientific research, environmental protection monitoring, HD live broadcasting and other activities.

Text source: paper.ce.cn

Wide Coverage of Infrastructure

Photo source: xinhuanet.com

China's network supply capacity leads the world, and has built the world's largest fixed and mobile broadband network. The "cliff village" with an altitude of 1600 meters is located in Zhaojue County, Daliang Mountain, Sichuan Province. Previously, villagers had to climb the cliff with a drop of 800 meters with the help of rattan ladders to go to the outside world. But even on such an "isolated island", the "information road" has already been set up. As early as 2016, China Mobile Communications Group Sichuan Co., Ltd. realized the full coverage of "cliff village" 4G network. In May 2020, the villagers of "cliff village" moved into their new home. Sichuan Mobile built a network at the new site early, and also provided 5g live broadcast technical support for the relocation to ensure the safety of the relocation.

Text source: paper.ce.cn