Measuring the Information Society Report Volume 1 2018

Statistical reports ITUPublications 2018 Measuring the Information Society Report Volume 1 2018 Volume 1 Volume 2018 International Telecommunication Union Place des Nations CH-1211 Geneva 20 Switzerland ISBN 978-92-61-27231-9 SAP id Measuring the Information Society Report the Information Measuring 4 2 3 5 1 9 7 8 9 2 6 1 2 7 2 3 1 9 Published in Switzerland Geneva, 2018 Measuring the Information Society Report Volume 1 2018 © 2018 ITU International Telecommunication Union Place des Nations CH-1211 Geneva Switzerland Original language of publication: English All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the International Telecommunication Union. ISBN: 978-92-61-27221-0 (Paper version) 978-92-61-27231-9 (Electronic version) 978-92-61-27241-8 (EPUB version) 978-92-61-27251-7 (Mobi version) ii Measuring the Information Society Report 2018 – Volume 1 Foreword I am pleased to present to you the 2018 edition of the Measuring the Information Society Report. Now in its tenth year, this annual report is widely recognized as the repository of the world's most reliable and impartial data and analysis on the state of global telecommunication/ICT sector. It aims to stimulate the ICT policy debate by providing an objective assessment of countries’ ICT performance based on internationally comparable data and agreed methodologies and by highlighting areas that need further improvement. The release of this report follows the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2018, held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where ITU Member States approved the four-year Strategic and Financial Plan, which includes a strong commitment to ITU’s statistical work. The Plan also includes a number of specific targets in terms of ICT access and use, which this report reviews. The Measuring the Information Society Report 2018 reveals that by the end of 2018, we will have passed a critical point as, for the first time, more than half the world’s population will be using the Internet. This is a significant achievement towards a more inclusive information society that delivers new opportunities of development through ICTs. It is an important step towards leaving no one behind. The report finds that there continues to be a general upward trend in the access to and use of ICTs. With the exception of fixed telephony, all indicators showed sustained growth over the last decade. Mobile access to basic telecommunication service is becoming ever more predominant. Broadband access continues to demonstrate sustained growth with mobile broadband penetration increasing from 4.0 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants in 2007 to close to 70 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants in 2018. In addition, most people worldwide can now access the Internet through a 3G or higher-speed network. One of the reasons for the upward trend is that access to and use of ICTs have become more affordable, with a global drop in prices for mobile-cellular, mobile-broadband and fixed-broadband. However, for people to effectively use ICTs, there is an increased need for soft skills beyond technical and navigational skills, fundamental for achieving positive outcomes. More and better data are needed so that digital skills policies can address gaps in the labour market and concerns about widening social inequalities. In 2017, ITU Member States agreed to a revised and expanded set of indicators for the ICT Development Index (IDI). The new IDI, based on the new indicators, promises to deliver an even better understanding of developments, opportunities and challenges within ITU Member States and the ICT industry at large. In order to smoothen the transition for Member States in terms of data collection, the IDI, which is normally included in the Measuring the Information Society Report, will only be launched in 2019. As in the 2017 edition, Volume 2 of the Measuring the Information Society Report provides information on countries infrastructure developments, investments, government policies and initiatives to improve the access and use of ICTs for households and individuals. These profiles will help to identify good practices as well as opportunities specific to each country. Measuring the Information Society Report 2018 – Volume 1 iii This report will be of great value to the ITU membership, including policy-makers, the ICT industry and others working towards building an inclusive digital economy. Brahima Sanou Director Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) International Telecommunication Union iv Measuring the Information Society Report 2018 – Volume 1 Acknowledgements The 2018 edition of theMeasuring the Information Society Reportwas prepared by the ICT Data and Statistics Division within the Telecommunication Development Bureau of ITU. The work was carried out under the overall direction of Cosmas Zavazava, Chief, Projects and Knowledge Management Department, Telecommunication Development Bureau. The team included Rati Skhirtladze, Vanessa Gray, Esperanza Magpantay, Daniela Pokorna, Martin Schaaper and Ivan Vallejo. Johannes Bauer, Daniela Benavente, Josh Gillet, Ellen Helsper, and Alexander van Deursen, consultants to ITU, provided substantive input to the report. The report includes data from Eurostat, the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Population Division, which are duly acknowledged. ITU also appreciates the cooperation of countries that have provided data included in this report. The report was edited by Michael Gibson, consultant to ITU, with the assistance of the English Language Section. The desktop publishing was carried out by the ITU Publication Production Service, led by Simon De Nicola, and the cover was designed by Ahone Njume-Ebong. Administrative support was provided by Mihaela Cekovic, Juliet Nkurunziza and Terry Braley. Measuring the Information Society Report 2018 – Volume 1 v Table of contents Foreword �� iii Acknowledgements �� v Table of contents ��vii Chapter 1. The Current State of ICTs ��1 Key findings ��2 1.1 Introduction ��3 1.2 Access to ICTs ��4 1.3 Use of ICTs ��13 1.4 Summary and conclusion ��17 Chapter 2. ICT Skills for the Future ��21 Key findings ��22 2.1 Introduction ��23 2.2 The importance of digital skills in society ��25 2.3 Digital skills across the world ��30 2.4 Measuring digital skills ��39 2.5 Policy implications and initiatives ��45 2.6 Summary and conclusion ��48 Chapter 3. ICT Revenue and Investment Trends ��51 Key findings ��52 3.1 Introduction ��53 3.2 The telecommunication market ��54 3.3 Investment in the telecommunication sector ��79 3.4 Revenue and investment in emerging technologies ��88 3.5 Summary and conclusion ��90

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