Universal access to internet can be new path to growth

A world where every citizen is connected to the internet needs to happen. In today's digital economy, connectivity is crucial for equality and sustainable development. The positive news is the world is off to a good start in its commitment to broadband. Mobile broadband is now the fastest-growing technology in human history and recognized as a key driver of growth and an important catalyst. The total number of mobile-broadband subscriptions will reach 3.6 billion worldwide by the end of 2016, almost half of which are broadband-enabled.

The not-so-positive news is we're falling short in our infrastructural investments. In 2016, International Telecommunication Union data revealed that the digital divide is widening between the industrialized and least developed economies. Incredibly, some 3.9 billion people do not have the means to access the internet.

In a world where many take for granted faster and faster online connections, cloud-based platforms or mobile-based business models, it's easy to forget that these experiences, opportunities and benefits are unreachable for half the citizens of the world.