A4AI Says High Internet Costs Threaten Universal Access

Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) in its 2015-16 Affordability Report says that it will take 26 years to make universal Internet access a reality for all, according to its report.

The report, released yesterday, shows least-developed countries (LDCs) will only achieve universal access in 2042, which is way past the deadline set by member states of the United Nations (UN).

In September 2015, 193 UN member states agreed on a new set of Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to ensure universal and affordable Internet access across the world's LDCs by 2020.

If current trends continue, the world will miss the agreed target for universal Internet access by more than 20 years, says A4AI.

"On current trends, the world's least developed countries will only achieve universal access in 2042, more than 20 years past the target date set by the global community."

The report adds: "Income inequality means nearly half a billion people, primarily women and the poor, remain priced out of the digital revolution."

The annual report is produced by technology sector coalition, the A4AI. It comprises over 80 member organisations from across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors in developed and developing nations, with the aim of driving down the cost of Internet access in LDCs.

The report examines the state of broadband affordability across 51 developing and emerging economies, with a focus on how policy and regulation are working to reduce prices and enable wider access.

 It also produces an Affordability Drivers Index, which assesses how likely countries are to be able to drive prices down fast.

Dhanaraj Thakur, senior research manager and one of the authors of the report, said affordability of Internet, the cost of devices, and the gender pay gap between men and women in LDCs are the primary barriers to universal access.

In terms of the UN, the threshold for affordable Internet access should be 5% or less than the monthly average income, which is suitable for an entry-level 500MB package.

However, in LDCs, the affordability threshold is triple the monthly average, at 15.5%.

"The price of Internet in LDCs is still too expensive. Even for people in developing countries, 5% of their monthly income for Internet access still proves to be a high cost," saidThakur.

Only 25 of the 51 countries surveyed met the UN's current target for "affordable Internet", the report reads.

"Income inequality, gender discrimination, and poverty mean access remains unaffordable for over 70% of people in the world's least developed countries," the report explains.