The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Press Conferences , Edited News | ITU
ITU - Press Conference: Launch of Facts & Figures 2024
Storyline
Briefing reporters on the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Facts and Figures 2024 report in Geneva on Wednesday, Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, said: “We must intensify our efforts to connect the world in order not to leave anyone behind.”
ITU’s annual report on global connectivity found that an estimated 5.5 billion people are online in 2024, an increase of 227 million people based on revised estimates for 2023.
While an estimated 68 per cent of the global population is now online and all indicators tracked in the report show improvement, stubborn digital divides persist and about one-third of the world’s people remain offline.
The estimates featured in the report from ITU, the UN Agency for Digital Technologies, show that connectivity continues to increase worldwide but reveal the complexities of reaching communities in low-income countries.
Recognizing the urgent work that remains to connect the 2.6 billion people that are offline, Mr. Zavazava said: “We renew our commitment to achieving universal and meaningful connectivity so that everyone can access the Internet in optimal conditions, at an affordable cost, anytime, anywhere.”
Speaker:
- Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau
Source: UNTV CH and ITU
Restrictions: NONE
Language: English/NATS
Dateline: 27 November 2024 Geneva, Switzerland
TRT: 01:45
Speakers:
- Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau
- Thierry Geiger, ITU Senior Economist and Head of the Data and Analytics Division
1. Wide shot. Exterior. United Nations Office at Geneva.
2. SOUNDBITE (English): Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau: “Globally, our 2024 estimates show that one-third of humanity still does not use the internet, and that accounts for 5.5 billion people who are online, an increase of 227 million people based on our revised estimates for the year 2023. An estimated 2.6 billion are estimated to be offline, down from revised estimate of 2.8 billion for the year 2023.”
3. Wide shot, press briefing room
4. SOUNDBITE (English): Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau: “We embrace new technologies as they come. But it is not only about technology, it is what technology can do for the people.”
5. Wide shot, briefing table
6. SOUNDBITE (English): Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau:“We should look at technology with a human face. What is it that we are doing with the technology that we are producing? It is not only about investing in technology, but making sure some of the technology could be personal technology, like my smartphone. And some technology could be communal to make sure that communities have access.”
7. Wide shot, press briefing room
8. SOUNDBITE (English): Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau: “We must intensify our efforts to connect the world, not to leave anyone behind. To address the barriers that I outlined, affordability being one of them, digital skills being another, and many other factors that I mentioned. We renew our commitment to achieving universal and meaningful connectivity so that everyone can access the Internet in optimal conditions, at an affordable cost, anytime, anywhere.”
9. Aerial. Exterior. International Telecommunication Union headquarter building. Geneva, Switzerland.
10. Animation. ITU Flag.
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and the UN Human Rights Office have today released a report detailing the evolution of violent gang incidents beyond the capital Port-au-Prince since October 2024 up to June 2025, and the resulting loss of life and mass displacement.
1
1
1
Statements , Press Conferences | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani at the Geneva press briefing in response to questions about US sanctions imposed on UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, Francesca Albanese.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UNHCR , OHCHR , WHO
Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section at the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives from the UN Refugee Agency, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the World Health Organization.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO , OHCHR
Gaza: ‘Unacceptable’ choice between getting shot or getting fed – UN humanitarians
Following the deaths of several children in an Israeli strike on Palestinians waiting in line for nutritional supplements in central Gaza on Thursday, UN humanitarians have once again condemned the killings of people at aid distribution sites in the enclave.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | WMO
Sara Basart, WMO Scientific Officer, speaks.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IFRC , OHCHR , WHO , UNCTAD
Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section at the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives from the International Trade Centre, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, World Health Organization, and United Nations Trade and Development.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
At the United Nations bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva, Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights made the following comments on the recent violence in Kenya.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | ITC
1
1
1
Edited News | ITC
US tariffs uncertainty hurts world economy, with poorest countries hit hardest – top UN economist
A new US decision to further delay the end of a 90-day pause on tariffs is bad for business, a top UN economist said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | WIPO , UNICEF , UNHCR , WHO , IFRC
Rolando Gómez, of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Federation of the Red Cross, the World Intellectual Property Organisation, the Organisation Internationale pour la Francophonie, and the GIGA Connectivity Forum.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO , OHCHR
Gaza aid site horror continues as more starving people shot trying to get food
Amid intensifying hopes for a new Gaza ceasefire, UN humanitarians confirmed disturbing details on Friday of continued killings and injuries of Palestinians desperately seeking food at aid sites.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | HRC
Launch of the latest report of the Special Rapporteur "From economy of occupation to economy of genocide".