Strategic Investments in Communications for Global Economic Growth

As the popular saying goes, “The Only Truth is Reality.”
In the digital era, communication has evolved into a strategic pillar that tran- scends borders and redefines global economic dynamics. This phenomenon rep- resents both a challenge and an unprecedented opportunity: as nations struggle to adapt to the fast-paced digital environment, those who are able to implement effective communication strategies will gain decisive competitive advantages on the international stage. Global connectedness transforms economic realities and serves as a catalyst for international cooperation, the defence of national interests, and sustainable development.
Central Hypothesis and Analytical Methodology
Strategic investment in communications infrastructure, digital platforms, and emerging technologies will be the determining factor in accelerating global eco- nomic growth and marker integration in the 21st century. Those countries and businesses that take the lead in terms of implementing these technologies will gain substantial competitive advantages in our increasingly digitalized world.
This is a triangulated analytical methodology that combines: 1) A longitudi- nal quantitative analysis of economic indicators (2010–2024) of 47 countries; 2) A comparative qualitative analysis through case studies of BRICS+, ASEAN, the

European Union, and Africa; 3) Prospective predictive modelling through scenario analysis and Monte Carlo simulations.
This hypothesis is supported by robust empirical evidence. The World Bank estimates that a 10% increase in internet penetration translates into a 1.2% increase in GDP in developing countries. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (2023), economies that have higher investments in digital infrastructure experience 2.7% higher aver- age growth. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) reports that every dollar invested in connectivity generates a socioeconomic return of $3.20 in emerging countries. E-commerce accounts for 15% of global trade, and UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) (2024) projections indicate that this will expand by 25% over the next decade. The adoption of blockchain has reduced international transaction processing times by 40%, generating annual savings of $86 billion.
Key Factors for Global Growth

The Future of International Trade
International trade is undergoing a radical transformation driven by digitali- zation. UNCTAD reports that cross-border e-commerce has grown by an average of 30% per year over the past decade, giving small and medium-sized enterprises access to international markets through digital platforms. The International Cham- ber of Commerce projects that by 2030, some 70% of SMEs will be participants in global value chains thanks to digitalization, compared to just 20% in 2020.
Priority strategies include developing digital infrastructure in emerging regions; simplifying cross-border regulations through digital one-stop shop sys- tems; fostering inclusive trade agreements; implementing smart logistics based on AI and blockchain; and promoting fintech solutions to reduce transactional costs.
Reducing Barriers to Trade in Services
Trade in services accounts for more than 65% of global GDP and approxi- mately 50% of global trade. According to IMF projections (2024), the liberalization of trade in services could increase global GDP by 4%, benefiting sectors such as education, digital health, and technology in particular. The McKinsey Global Insti- tute estimates that the digitalization of services could generate an additional $13 trillion in global GDP by 2030.
Strategic actions include international regulatory standardization through harmonized frameworks; the digitalization of cross-border processes with the recognition of digital credentials; the facilitation of professional mobility through international certifications; and the expansion of broadband communication infra- structures.

Infrastructure of the 21st Century
The Asian Development Bank reports a $512 billion annual digital infrastruc- ture investment gap in the Asia-Pacific through 2030. The implementation of 5G (and soon 6G) networks, along with the expansion of submarine cabling (with 36 submarine communications cables planned by 2026), and the deployment of sat- ellite constellations (more than 12,000 are projected to be launched by 2028), will significantly improve the efficiency of commerce.
The design of this infrastructure will follow a three-layered interoperable model: the physical layer (land, sea, and space, with integrated redundancy); the logical layer (standardized protocols but with flexibility for digital sovereignty requirements); and the application layer (uniform access interfaces).
New Logistics Routes in the Global South and East: The Vanguard Role of BRICS
The emergence of new logistics routes in the Global South and East represents
a paradigm shih, and BRICS is at the epicentre of this transformation. This evolu- tion transcends the economic dimension to become a bastion of the defence of national sovereignty and cultural diversity.
The BRICS alliance is developing an alternative logistics ecosystem based around the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor ($62 billion), the Maritime Silk Road (ports in 34 countries), the North–South Corridor (reducing transport times between Europe and India by 40%) and the Trans-Oceanic Highway between Brazil and Peru (reducing export costs to Asia by 30%). According to estimates, these initiatives should generate an increase of $7.1 trillion in intra-BRICS+ trade by 2035. South–South trade increased by 12.3% in 2023, while North–South trade grew by just 3.7%.
Examples of parallel digital infrastructure include China’s Cross-border Inter- bank Payment System (CIPS) (103 countries, $50 billion per day); Russia’s Sys- tem for Transfer of Financial Messages (SPFS) (270 institutions in 17 countries); and India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) (11 billion transactions monthly). The BRICS Centre for Strategic Studies estimates that 45% of transactions between BRICS+ countries will operate outside the SWIFT system by 2030.
The BRICS countries are investing in proprietary media platforms, sover- eign telecommunications systems, and data processing technologies that ensure national control. China and Russia have developed digital architectures (the “Great Firewall” and “Sovereign Internet,” respectively) that are effectively models for protecting information sovereignty. Combined investments in digital sovereignty infrastructure reached $78 billion in 2023.
The expansion of BRICS+ amplifies this transformative potential, spanning three continents and accounting for more than 45% of the world’s population and 36% of global GDP. According to projections, BRICS+ countries will account for 45% of GDP based on purchasing power parity.

The technical implementation of the plans is based on: 1) Sovereign INFRA- STRUCTURE (independent backbone networks, complementary satellite systems, territorial data centres); 2) Services and Apps (interoperable trade platforms, inte- grated payment systems, sovereign cloud solutions); and 3) Digital Identity and Governance (federated systems, dispute resolution mechanisms, cybersecurity protocols).
Communications technologies include such platforms as WeChat (1.3 billion users), Telegram (900 million), VK (100 million), advanced machine translation tools (95% accuracy), multilingual voice recognition, and culturally adaptive aug- mented reality technologies.
Intercultural Dialogue in the Digital Age
Strengthening intercultural communications fosters cooperation between countries and promotes economic stability. Machine translation tools and mul- tilingual environments reduce language barriers. According to UNESCO (2023), economic losses of $1.5 trillion occur annually due to language barriers.
The implementation of such tools will include contextual neural translation systems, culturally responsive interfaces, and region-specific culturally sensitive collaboration platforms.
The Response of the Insurance Industry
Insurance companies need to adapt by developing coverage plans specifically for digital transactions and cybersecurity. According to the Swiss Re Institute, the global cyber insurance market will reach $28.5 billion by 2026, with an annual growth of 25%.
New models will include blockchain-based parametric insurance, digi- tal microinsurance for cross-border trade, and risk mutualization platforms for BRICS+ countries.
Digital Currencies and Financial Flows
Digital currencies and blockchain are redefining the global financial land- scape.
The Bank for International Settlements reports that 93 central banks (repre- senting 93% of global GDP) are exploring the possibility of using central bank digi- tal currencies (CBDCs), with 11 already implementing them.
The technological architecture will be introduced in phases: 1) The estab- lishment of bilateral CBDC corridors between BRICS countries (2025–2027); 2) The implementation of an integrated multi-exchange settlement platform (2027– 2030); 3) The development of a complementary digital reserve asset (2030–2035).
Financial digitalization could reach 1.7 billion people who do not currently have access to financial services.

Data Mobility and Digital Platforms
IDC projects that global data volume will reach 175 zettabytes by 2025, five times the 2018 figure.
Implementation models will include data corridors with differentiated sover- eignty, distributed provenance systems, and cross-border edge computing infra- structure, with an emphasis on technological sovereignty.
Conclusions and Expected Results
Strategic investment in communications will have a transformative impact on the global economy. The following results are projected for the coming decade:
1.    A 25% increase in digital commerce, which will generate an additional $2.7 trillion in global GDP.
2.    A 30–35% reduction in logistics costs through the use of alternative trade routes, which will bring savings of $280 billion per year.
3.    The expansion of digital infrastructure, with 5G coverage reaching 80% in emerging markets by 2030, connection 3.2 billion new users.
4.    The growth of digital currencies, reaching 15% of international transactions by 2028, and 40% of such transactions by 2035.
5.    Greater inclusion of SMEs in global trade, with 175 million new companies integrated into value chains.
6.    The development of more efficient financial systems, reducing commission costs by 60% and incorporating 1.7 billion people into the formal financial system.
The New Platform for Global Growth will ultimately depend on strategic investments in communications and digital infrastructure. The BRICS+ bloc, with its focus on digital sovereignty and cultural preservation, is leading the develop- ment of an alternative model of globalization that could reshape the global eco- nomic landscape in the coming decades.
Against the backdrop of accelerated transformation, communication emerges as both a facilitator of trade and an essential strategic resource for national com- petitiveness and global economic development.