Brunei Darussalam has the second highest level of digital connectivity and access among ASEAN member states in 2023, according to an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Development Index (IDI) report released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which assessed 169 economies based on the principles of universal and meaningful connectivity.
The Sultanate scored 94.8 in the assessment due to a high number of individuals and households having access to the Internet (over 90 per cent), and over 96 per cent of the population having access to fourth generation (4G) or long-term evolution (LTE) mobile network services. These findings are above the global average of 70 per cent of individuals and households with access to the Internet and 82.9 per cent of population having access to 4G or LTE mobile network services.
The Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) said, “Telecommunication infrastructure developments and the diverse range of telecommunication products and services in recent years have contributed to this performance.
“It reflects the nation’s ongoing efforts to develop its ICT sector to support the growth of the Sultanate’s digital economy and the realisation of Brunei as a smart nation.”
Among the efforts in improving the connectivity in 2023 include launching fifth generation (5G) mobile network services on June 22 and upgrading the fixed broadband speeds on September 1.
The IDI was first published in 2009 as a means to monitor ICT development across the world, and has since seen more evolutions based on global digital trends. The current report adopts a new methodology, which excludes a ranking system on performance. – Azlan Othman
