How UK regions can thrive in a digital-first world

How many times have you tried to make a decision or change without all the information? It’s best effort isn’t it – but you hardly ever generate the result you really want or need. When it comes to bridging the digital divide, the ICT industry really has made some great efforts. Thanks to mobile broadband, internet access in low and middle-income countries has increased by 50% over the last 10 years, yet the reality is that still today 2.6 billion people remain offline. So what information are we missing to make this statistic a thing of the past? We know that barriers to universal connectivity are mainly affordability, infrastructure gaps, and digital literacy so my colleagues Zohra Yermeche and Gonzalo S. teamed up with the International Telecommunication Union to introduce tools and programs designed to remove these blockers and turn information into action. Check out the joint whitepaper and read about: 📍 the Connectivity Planning Platform (CPP) that helps pinpoint where investments matter most  📖 the Transformational Connectivity Playbook that will guide smart, impactful solutions  📊 Capacity-Building workshops to ensure everyone can make the most of these insights Imagine what we can achieve with this new vision and information: https://lnkd.in/eebzF6jt #Ericsson #DigitalInclusion #Connectivity #Sustainability #TechForGood #Collaboration

Amazing news to celebrate! we’re launching a whitepaper that marks a meaningful milestone in our collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Bureau for Development. In a world where connectivity is a lifeline, this work embodies Ericsson’s conviction that leaving no one behind is both a responsibility and a catalyst for real progress. A special note of thanks to the ITU Future Networks and Spectrum Management Division colleagues and everyone across ITU and Ericsson who contributed to this effort, your collaboration and dedication were essential to turning insight into impact. We’ve designed the whitepaper to translate strategic thinking into practical action. It highlights how data-driven decisions can unlock impact at scale. Here are the core elements we present in the whitepaper and why they matter: • Connectivity Planning Platform (CPP): A practical tool for governments to identify where investments will have the greatest societal and economic impact, ensuring limited resources deliver maximum reach and quality of service.  • Transformational Connectivity Playbook: A guided approach to smart, outcome-focused solutions. It will provide a blueprint for policymakers and development partners to move from ideas to implementation with measurable results. • Capacity-Building Workshops: An essential capstone for translating knowledge into action. These workshops will empower local stakeholders to extract value from data, design smarter interventions, and sustain progress over time. Why this matters now? As digital inclusion becomes a strategic priority for sustainable development, this collaboration demonstrates how cross-sector partnerships can accelerate universal access and ensure that the benefits of connectivity reach everyone, especially in underserved regions and communities. If you’re curious to see the work in full, you can dive into the whitepaper through this link: https://lnkd.in/drF72fZ7 My gratitude to the following individuals for their contribution and leadership: Gonzalo S., Jody van Wyk, Walid Mathlouthi, Marco Obiso, Cosmas Luckyson ZAVAZAVA, PhD, Adeleh Mojtahed, Heather Johnson, Stella Medlicott, Charlotte Levert, Erik Ekudden, Daniel Paska, Per Fröjdh, Mikael Bäck, Gabriel Solomon #Ericsson #DigitalInclusion #DigitalDivide #Connectivity #Sustainability #TechForGood #Collaboration

Ensuring no one is left behind in an increasingly connected world is a challenge that demands our collective action 🌍   To drive #innovation and socio-economic growth, bridging the digital divide requires more than expanding coverage. Transformational connectivity can deliver inclusive, sustainable, and future-ready connectivity solutions. To achieve this, transparent data-driven decision-making is essential.      Ericsson shares a common vision with the International Telecommunication Union to accelerate #digitalinclusion. Together we're developing the Connectivity Planning Platform (CPP), to be followed by the Transformational Connectivity Playbook, and several capacity-building workshops.     • CPP is a data-driven tool enabling stakeholders to map existing network infrastructure and identify connectivity solutions for underserved areas, resulting in prioritized investments based on need and impact.     • To design and implement connectivity solutions based on the insights gained from the CPP, we will release the Transformational Connectivity Playbook in 2026.     • These platforms can only be fully leveraged with the knowledge and skill to interpret and apply the given insights, aided by our capacity-building programs.     The CPP’s goal to guide stakeholders toward scalable and sustainable solutions is inspiring. 🤝     I am proud to be part of an initiative that fosters collaboration and knowledge-sharing to help bridge the digital divide.   🔗 Explore the solutions outlined in our latest whitepaper, available through ITU https://lnkd.in/d8d54F_D Thanks for the leadership and partnership - Zohra Yermeche Gonzalo S. Stella Medlicott Charlotte Levert Erik Ekudden Mikael Bäck Per Fröjdh Gabriel Solomon Lotta Nordfelt Signorini Doreen Bogdan-Martin Cosmas Luckyson ZAVAZAVA, PhD Alex Wong and many more!

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐔 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭. Launched in 2021, the 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐲 is the EU’s flagship strategy to mobilise 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 €300 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 (2021–2027) for sustainable infrastructure and connectivity worldwide through International Partnerships. It focuses on five priority sectors: • Digital connectivity & networks • Climate & energy (clean, resilient) • Transport infrastructure (smart, sustainable) • Health systems & supply chains • Education, research & innovation If your organisation operates, or aims to expand, in digital, energy, transport, health or education, Global Gateway projects can be your gateway to partnerships and funding, particularly in 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 where infrastructure gaps remain wide. 👉 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭? We’ve prepared a concise report that outlines: 1️⃣ The sectors and regions with the strongest momentum 2️⃣ How companies, large and small, can participate 3️⃣ The tools & frameworks to assess readiness (due diligence, compliance, etc.) 🚀 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐮𝐩𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐔 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬: https://lnkd.in/dFCsERqk

2️⃣ Discover how your organisation can tap into funding and partnerships through the Global Gateway initiative in emerging markets. 👉 https://lnkd.in/dFCsERqk

🔗 Connected Britain 2025: From Building Networks to Realising Network Full Value This year’s Connected Britain conference marked a pivotal moment for the UK’s digital infrastructure landscape. While discussions around fibre and #5G rollout continue (somebody even whispered the phrase #6G), the focus has clearly shifted — from infrastructure build-out to adoption, uptake, and value realisation. Connectivity is no longer seen as just a commodity. It’s now being recognised as a strategic enabler for economic growth, digital inclusion, and innovation. In our latest blog 👇, we unpack the key themes (we are all here for the general ABBA-theme) and insights from the event — from accelerating full fibre and 5G adoption, to how industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators are shaping a digitally inclusive future. 📖 Read the full blog here: https://bit.ly/4nT9fAH #ConnectedBritain #DigitalInfrastructure #5G #FullFibre #Connectivity #DigitalInclusion #UKTech #Telecoms #Innovation Martin Sloan Scott Logan Lisa Stratford Jennifer Murphy

On United Nations Day, we’re reminded that global challenges require collective action 🌍 Today, 3.4 billion people are not using the mobile internet — this divide has two key parts: 📡 Coverage gap: 4% of the global population lives beyond network reach. 📲 Usage gap: 38% live within mobile broadband coverage but remain offline due to barriers such as affordability, digital literacy, safety concerns, and lack of relevant content. While technologies such as satellite help extend coverage to remote areas, the mobile industry plays a central role in tackling the usage gap by working with governments and partners to turn coverage into meaningful connectivity 🛰️ On this #UnitedNationsDay, let’s work together to ensure no one is left behind in the digital era 🤝 Join us in closing the digital divide 👉 https://gsma.at/S3

Across the UK, local authorities and businesses have the ideas and ambition but often lack the infrastructure and policy direction to deliver fast, flexible connectivity at scale. The reality is: 🔸 Fibre alone won’t unlock inclusive growth. 🔸 Wireless is faster to deploy, scalable, and in many areas, the only viable near-term solution. 🔸 Public-private collaboration and long-term investment are key to building networks that work for everyone. The fibre-first mindset is creating blind spots. It’s time to think more broadly — combining fibre with fixed wireless access to build fast, flexible, future-ready networks. This is how we enable true digital inclusion, smart cities, and sustainable innovation.

The Atlantic is becoming a meeting point for innovation, vision, and shared purpose — and Atlantic Convergence is where that dialogue begins. Vinay Nagpal, John W. Martin, Scott Brown, and Ángel Martín González will come together to explore how advancing digital infrastructure can unlock new pathways for sustainable growth across regions. Through open collaboration and collective insight, these leaders aim to shape a transatlantic ecosystem built on trust, technology, and transformation. Discover more: https://lnkd.in/dTBmK6MT Ivo Ivanov | Bulent Sen | Pablo Eléspuru Inostroza | Peter Urbick | Judith Ellis | Elisabeth Marcard | Carsten Titt | DE-CIX Interwire India | DE-CIX Malaysia and JBIX | Sudhir Kunder | Arnold Nipper | Michael Vasseur | Dr. Thomas King | Ajai Kumar | Harald A. Summa | Alexander Boden | Bernd Spiess | Felix Höger | Christian Reuter | Omar Vega | Gregor Reinhold #IGGroup #AtlanticConvergence #DigitalInfrastructure #EconomicGrowth #DataDrivenFuture #DigitalEconomy #SustainableProgress #SustainableGrowth #DigitalTransformation

Digital disruption, shifting regulation, rising stakeholder expectations, and intensifying competition are squeezing traditional telecom business models. The leaders aren’t waiting—they’re reinventing to build resilience to market Disruption and competition are straining telecoms. Leaders need to reinvent to grow and thrive. Learn proven strategies in our report: https://lnkd.in/djxMpr22. We unpack the strategies that work and how to apply them. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/djxMpr22 #Telecom #TelcoTransformation #Resilience #Strategy #Growth