Image: The UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development

The United Nations Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development’s Working Group on Broadband for the Most Vulnerable Countries issued a report at the UN headquarters indicating that access to broadband internet helps Least Developed Countries (LDCs) overcome vulnerabilities, grow economies, and enhance people’s livelihoods.

The report highlights how Rwanda is building a 4G/LTE wireless broadband network, Senegal is effectively using public-private partnerships to expand broadband access, Vanuatu is working to achieve 98 percent broadband coverage by 2018, and Cambodia is offering low mobile internet service prices.

Narrowband services such as text messages in the health and agricultural sector and mobile money have also helped to improve livelihoods, said the report.