As the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development marks 15 years of impact, it reaffirms the critical role of global cooperation in making broadband a foundation for equitable, sustainable growth. Since its establishment, the Commission has become one of the most influential multi-stakeholder platforms for shaping policy and investment in digital development—consistently aligning its work with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
What distinguishes the Commission is not only its thought leadership, but the hands-on engagement of its Commissioners – who bring insights from government, industry, civil society, and academia to tackle the most pressing digital challenges of our time. These leaders have helped bridge the gap between high-level recommendations and real-world action, ensuring the Commission remains a practical force for global digital inclusion.
Find below the reflections of Commissioner Bocar BA, CEO of the SAMENA Telecommunications Council, who has been a member since 2018 and has exemplified the Commissioner’s role: not only contributing to reports and working groups, but also mobilizing regional platforms, policy communities, and public-private stakeholders to advance the Commission’s mission on the ground.
Promoting sustainable financing for broadband expansion
Among the Commission’s impactful initiatives is its work on broadband financing – highlighting that universal connectivity requires a reimagining of who funds digital infrastructure.
As Chair of the 21st Century Financing Models Working Group, Commissioner BA led a multi-sectoral effort that culminated in the 2021 report advocating for diversified, inclusive financing strategies. These include infrastructure-sharing, modernizing Universal Service and Access Funds (USAFs), and applying the principle that all who benefit from broadband—platforms, providers, and public entities – should contribute to its expansion.
The ripple effects of this work can be seen in policy debates and developments worldwide:
- In South Korea, content providers are engaging in negotiations with broadband operators on network usage fees.
- In Peru, Telefonica and Meta, with support from CAF and IDB, have collaborated on a rural connectivity project.
- Within the European Union, institutions are reviewing mechanisms for fair contribution from large traffic generators.
- In the United States, proposals have been put forward to expand universal service contributions to include major online platforms.
These cases reflect the growing global consensus around shared responsibility – an ethos the Working Group helped to articulate. The advocacy that emerged from this work continues to engage financial institutions, regulators, and industry leaders to translate principles into policy and investment frameworks.
Commissioner BA’s leadership in this space also provided impetus to industry thought pieces, notably Vodafone’s 2025 “Responsible Use of Networks” (RUN) Report, developed following the Broadband Commission’s London Meeting on Innovative Financing and Funding Models in 2023.
Elevating the Commission’s voice through strategic dialogue
Commissioners have played a vital role in bringing the Commission’s insights to new audiences. In the case of SAMENA Council, this has meant incorporating the Commission’s agenda into the SAMENA Leaders’ Summit, organizing high-level roundtables, and co-convening sessions that promote responsible and inclusive digital transformation across the South Asia, Middle East, and North Africa (SAMENA) region.
Commissioner BA has ensured the Commission’s work resonates beyond its internal outputs – turning concepts into regional momentum through stakeholder engagement, policy advocacy, and institutional partnerships.
Supporting the Commission’s Working Groups
Commissioners also drive the operational success of the Commission’s working groups – each focused on critical dimensions of digital transformation. Under Commissioner BA’s leadership, SAMENA Council has contributed to several initiatives:
- Child Online Protection: Advocating for regulatory harmonization and stronger enforcement of online safety.
- Digital and AI in Health: Supporting the ethical use of AI in telemedicine and health data systems.
- Data for Learning: Promoting scalable models for digital literacy and education infrastructure.
- Moonshot for Africa: Facilitating policy and financing strategies to accelerate connectivity.
- Freedom of Expression and Disinformation: Engaging in efforts to strengthen information integrity and trust online.
Delivering policy impact across the ecosystem
In its 15-year history, the Commission has consistently moved from dialogue to action. Some of its most prominent policy recommendations – advanced through regional partners and active Commissioners include:
- Broadening the base of broadband contributors (2019–2023), “level playing field policy reform” and “same service, same rules” principles, now broadly explored in EU and global discussions, including the 2024 Draghi Report.
- Reforming USAFs (2022–2023) to better align public funds with inclusive deployment goals.
- Spectrum policy reform (2015–2018) to support harmonization and flexibility for lower-cost access.
- Embedding meaningful AI in broadband inclusion strategies (2022–2023), with attention to governance and ethics.
- Building digital trust (2021–2022) through cyber resilience and privacy-by-design strategies.
- Promoting gender equity in broadband access (2018–2021) to ensure no one is left behind.
Looking ahead: Collective action for a shared future
The Broadband Commission’s influence over the past 15 years has been grounded in one essential truth: no single actor can close the digital divide alone. It takes shared vision, shared responsibility, and shared action.
Commissioner Bocar BA, through consistent, regionally grounded engagement, have helped ensure that the Commission’s work not only reaches diverse stakeholders but resonates in real policy decisions and partnerships.
As the Commission looks to the future, its path is defined by the same values that have sustained it for 15 years: equity, collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to making broadband a driver of prosperity for all.
The ideas and opinions expressed in these insights are those of the authors; they do not necessarily reflect those of ITU and UNESCO or the Broadband Commission, or imply endorsement
