ICT Development Index 2023

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) released the 2023 edition of its ICT Development Index (IDI) report, which assesses 169 economies according to their level of digital connectivity and access based on the principles of universal connectivity and meaningful connectivity.  

The IDI 2023 publication reports that on average, 70% of individuals and households across the world can access the internet, while around 82.9% of the global population is estimated to have access to 4G/LTE mobile network services. Under this report, Brunei Darussalam scored 94.8, the 2nd highest score among ASEAN countries. This is supported by the high level of individuals and households in Brunei Darussalam having access to the internet (over 90%), and over 96% of the population having access to 4G/LTE mobile networks.  

Telecommunication infrastructure developments and the diverse range of telecommunication products and services in recent years have contributed to this performance. This reflects the nation’s ongoing efforts to develop its ICT sector to support the growth of Brunei Darussalam’s digital economy and the realisation of Brunei Darussalam as a smart nation. Earlier this year, 5G mobile network services were launched on 22 June 2023 and fixed broadband speeds were upgraded on 1 September 2023.  

IDI was first published in 2009 as a means to monitor ICT sector development across the globe, and continues to evolve according to global digital trends. The current report adopts a new IDI methodology and does not include a ranking system of the economies’ performance.