Achieving Sustainable Development Goals Through Digital Infrastructure for Intelligent Connectivity
Tulsi Pawan Fowdur, Madhavsingh Indoonundon, Mussawir Ahmad Hosany, Dragan Milovanović, Zoran Bojković
Abstract
We are at the beginning of the decade to achieve the targets of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and achieving these targets appear even more challenging as the world is still struggling to cope with COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has in fact seriously comprised several SDGs such as SDG 1 (No Poverty) in which significant progress was being made. For the first time in two decades, poverty levels are being projected to grow as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, COVID-19 has also propelled the adoption of digital technologies to much higher rates. In particular, intelligent connectivity (IC), which combines 5G with Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and other emerging technologies, has allowed individuals to access several life-saving and enhancing services such as education, health, food supplies, work and entertainment, during the pandemic. The adoption of intelligent connectivity is being increasingly popular, propelled by new requirements created by Covid-19 and fueled by an exponentially growing mobile industry. This chapter gives a detailed overview of how intelligent connectivity and other emerging digital technologies are contributing to all the 17 SDGs.