A report released by the United Nations' Broadband Commission on Monday states that approximately 4.2 billion people around the world will not have access to the Internet by the end of the year, according to Engadget. Furthermore, the growth of Internet usage is slowing down, according to The Globe and Mail.
The report also examines the relationship between economic and social opportunity and Internet access and found a strong connection - over 80 percent of people in developed countries have access compared to 6.7 percent in the poorest nations.
"One factor contributing to the slowing of Internet growth is that the business case is less compelling for the areas in which the remaining 57 percent of unconnected people live," the report said.
Despite the slowing of Internet usage growth, things look to improve - the report estimates that 60 percent of the world will have Internet access by 2021 due in part to the increase in mobile internet usage.
In response to these numbers on Internet access, U.S. federal agencies are currently in the process of promoting the installation of broadband Internet access across the country through a $2.3 billion program, according to The Verge.
"The hard work that remains is reaching those communities where geography and economics work against deployment and reaching individuals who do not yet have the same opportunities to use broadband to meet personal and professional goals," said the Broadband Opportunity Council.
