The World Bank Group has launched its first digital strategy to expand Internet access, reduce connectivity costs and support job creation in developing countries, where 1.2 billion young people are expected to reach working age over the next 10 to 15 years.

The strategy, unveiled in Seoul, South Korea, yesterday, comes as developing economies are projected to generate only about 420 million jobs over the same period, highlighting the challenge of employing the growing youth population.

World Bank Group President, Ajay Banga, said countries needed a comprehensive approach to harness the economic benefits of digital technology, including reliable internet connections, affordable devices, digital skills and access to useful online services.

He said the strategy would help countries build the infrastructure and skills needed to benefit from digital technology, particularly small-scale artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

According to the World Bank, more than two billion people globally were offline in 2025. Internet use stood at 23 per cent in low-income countries, compared with 94 per cent in high-income economies.

The bank noted that many people live in areas covered by mobile networks but remain unable to access the internet because of the high cost of smartphones and data, limited digital skills and a lack of relevant services.

The strategy has four priorities. On connectivity, the bank will support efforts to close gaps in international cables, national networks and connections serving homes, businesses, schools and health facilities. It plans to use shared infrastructure, competition, public financing and guarantees to attract private investment. In areas lacking both electricity and internet access, the bank said the two would be planned together to improve access.

To address affordability, it will work with device manufacturers, mobile network operators, financial institutions and refurbishment businesses to reduce the cost of entry-level smartphones and broadband services. Financing options that allow consumers to pay over time will also be explored.

The strategy will support digital identification systems, electronic payments and secure information-sharing platforms, alongside digital literacy programmes and training linked to employment opportunities.

The fourth priority is AI readiness, which requires connectivity, computing resources, locally relevant data and skilled workers. The bank said it would focus on small-scale AI tools designed for specific tasks, including helping farmers detect crop diseases, supporting health workers and improving inventory management.

It added that safeguards covering data privacy, cybersecurity and fraud prevention would apply across all four priorities.

As part of the strategy, the bank announced the AI Infrastructure and Readiness Initiative to help governments in emerging markets access affordable computing capacity through shared graphics processing unit (GPU) infrastructure on a pay-as-you-go basis. The initiative is intended to provide an alternative to governments building and maintaining standalone national data centres.

It will begin in Africa and Latin America, with Cassava Technologies and NVIDIA serving as knowledge partners.