South Sudan Among Countries Facing Digital Access Challenges

(JUBA CITY) – The World Telecommunication Development Conference 2025 (WTDC-25) in Baku, Azerbaijan has concluded with a renewed call to close global digital gaps, particularly in developing countries and underserved communities.

The two week event brought together around 2,000 participants from 153 ITU member states and the State of Palestine under Resolution 99. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN specialised agency for information and communication technologies, unveiled the Baku Action Plan, a four-year roadmap running from 2026 to 2029. The plan seeks to expand meaningful, affordable, and universal digital connectivity for a sustainable and inclusive digital future.

According to the ITU, while connectivity has grown substantially, around 2.2 billion people worldwide remain offline. By 2025, approximately 6 billion people, or three-quarters of the global population, are online. However, digital access is uneven, with limited coverage, high costs, and a lack of devices and digital skills slowing progress in some regions.

Africa faces significant challenges, with internet use estimated at just over one in three people. In contrast, Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) are approaching the 95% connectivity target. Low-income regions also struggle with a widening gender gap in digital access. The ITU’s Global Connectivity Report 2025 highlights a global internet gender parity score of 0.92, reflecting that women are still less likely than men to be online, particularly in Africa and South Asia.

The report also identifies risks associated with digital expansion, including misinformation, heavy screen use, and environmental costs such as data centre energy consumption and e-waste management.

The ITU has made the Global Connectivity Report 2025 freely available for download on its website. The organisation emphasises that achieving equitable digital access requires coordinated action between governments, private sector partners, and civil society, along with investment in infrastructure, education, and policy frameworks that reach underserved populations.

For South Sudan, the findings indicate the need to strengthen digital infrastructure, improve affordability, and promote digital literacy, particularly among women and rural communities. Analysts say adopting the Baku Action Plan could accelerate the country’s progress towards an inclusive digital economy.

Summary of Key Digital Connectivity Indicators