Sustainable Development Goals

The main concern before the launch of the SDGs was the lack of direct references to the Internet in the 17 SDGs. One explanation for this omission was that digital is ‘tacit’ and ‘assumed’ and touches on all SDGs. Starting from this assumption, many participants tried to map this ‘tacit’ SDG to the 17 actual SDGs by indicating how digital will a­ffect health, infrastructure, trade, and other specific SDGs. The most critical view was expressed during the WSIS Forum Interactive Session on E-health and Social Media (25 May 2015):

...there is deep disappointment in the health community that there are no ICT-related goals among the SDGs. ICT is as relevant today as during the time of the MDGs development, and its vital role is increasingly recognized in all sectors. To argue that ICT is cross-cutting and therefore not needed in the SDGs minimizes ICT’s contribution to development. It will be seen in the years to come as a fundamental omission and lack of leadership that cannot be rectified with governance forums and action lines.

This critical reflection opened real debate. The Internet is so instrumental for achieving the SDGs that any disruption or malfunction of the Internet will affect the overall development agenda. It does not need to be a technical failure (cutting of Internet cables, virus attack); it could also be a policy issue. For example, if Internet service providers filter access to a limited number of websites, it could affect access to the Internet in its full richness and, ultimately, affect most of the SDGs. Excerpt from Digital Watch 1 | page 3 (June 2015)

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted in September made, however, reference to the Internet. Goal 9.c. is to ‘significantly increase access to ICT and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020’. 

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provided the overall context for discussions at this year’s Internet Governance Forum held in Joao Pessoa on 10-13 November.  In the Opening Session, most speakers emphasised the fact that an open, free, and neutral Internet would empower sustainable development. In particular, Goal 9 of the agenda sets an ambitious target to ‘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’.

Access to the Internet is the main operational issue on sustainable development and the Internet. Technical infrastructure is necessary but is not a sufficient condition for full access to the Internet. As was indicated during Freedom of Expression Online: Gaps in Policy and Practice (WS 153), full affordability and accessibility requires a proper legal, economic, and social context. Users need skills in order to benefit fully from access to the Internet. On the economic aspect, the Broadband Commission’s 2015 targets suggest that the Internet is affordable if the cost of the access is not more than 5% of average monthly income.

The lack of data on the volume and cost of international traffic is a major problem for many policymakers in developing countries, as was indicated during Economics of the Global Internet (WS 112). Access has a high gender aspect as the World Wide Web Foundation’s recent report shows that women in developing countries in Africa, Asia, and South America are 50% less likely than men - with the same education, income, and age - to have access to the Internet.

The Roundtable on Small Island Developing States (WS 21) discussed innovative solutions for access to typically geographically remote small island states. The cost of laying undersea cables to serve low populated communities makes access to the Internet not particularly attractive to the corporate sector. The Roundtable discussed the possible use of zero rating services and the impact on small markets.

Learn more about IGF 2015, and read our comprehensive report on the annual meeting.