According to the Telecommunication Union, terrestrial radio services are crucial for connecting the 2.7 billion unconnected individuals.
The union noted that terrestrial radio can help connect the farthest corners of the planet, build digital resilience worldwide, and ensure that technology’s transformative potential is shared sustainably and equitably.
It said, “Terrestrial communications and digital transformation go hand in hand. Whether on land, at sea, or up to 50 kilometres above our heads, terrestrial radio services have helped connect countless communities across the globe, empowering them with opportunities to thrive now and into the future.
“As we strive to connect the remaining 2.7 billion amid a shifting technological landscape, terrestrial radio remains a vital part of the equation.
“From mobile broadband access through high-altitude platforms to the lifesaving disaster alerts at the heart of the Early Warnings for All Initiative, terrestrial radio can help us reach the remotest corners of our planet, build digital resilience worldwide, and ensure that technology’s transformative potential is shared sustainably and equitably.”
According to information released in 2022 by the United Nations’ specialist agency for Information and Communication Technologies, 2.7 billion people are still without access to the Internet. There were 5.3 billion Internet users globally.
It noted that 40 per cent of the population in Africa was online, far from the global average of 75 per cent.
