Connecting the world: Ten mechanisms for global inclusion
Global inclusion in the Internet could bring seven percent of the world’s population – 500 million people - above absolute poverty levels, and add US$6.7 trillion to global economic output, according to a new study by Strategy&, PwC’s strategy consulting business.
The study, for Facebook, encompassed 120 countries over a 10-year period and describes how the Internet could change as more people from developing markets get online. It examines how barriers to accessing the internet could be removed, and how the internet could change as more people from developing markets get online.
Despite the ongoing digital revolution, the number of new Internet subscribers, most of whom are in developing nations, has slowed in recent years, only growing in single digits since 2013. This leaves 4.1billion people disconnected from a modern economy that would benefit by US$6.7 trillion with their participation.
According to our report global Internet inclusion would mean that there could be five Internet users in developing markets for every one user in developed markets, compared to the current ratio of two to one.
Bringing the whole world online would create huge benefits for developing countries and for businesses over the coming five years, including:
- Social and economic improvement for over 4 billion people
- An additional global economic output of US$6.7 trillion
- A $400 billion growth opportunity for telecom operators
- A $200 billion opportunity for content providers
In our report, we identify 10 mechanisms — promising ideas, approaches, and technological and business-model innovations — that will address the structural challenges in these markets and generate faster Internet growth.
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