Footprints of 20 Years of the Internet Governance Forum — new report

A new report by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and the Internet Society takes a look at what the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) has achieved over the past 20 years—and why it still matters.

Why it matters

Better Internet access 

Africa’s Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) more than doubled in a decade. In countries like Kenya and Nigeria, that’s meant faster internet (latency dropped from 600ms to 10ms!) and millions saved in data costs. This growth came from sharing ideas at IGF sessions.

More languages online

Over 4 million domain names now use non-Latin scripts, helping people around the world get online in their own languages. In 2025, more than 50 countries celebrated Universal Acceptance Day—a big push to make the Internet more inclusive.

Stronger security

Today, 93% of top-level domains use DNSSEC, which helps protect websites from fake traffic. Over 1,000 networks are also part of a global routing security movement (MANRS). These wins were sparked by IGF discussions and cooperation.

Local voices, global impact

There are now 180+ national and regional IGFs. Youth-led IGFs and the IGF parliamentary track are helping shape real policy on digital rights and trust.

Innovation from the ground up

Community networks—from the Arctic to the Andes—are closing the digital divide and changing policies. These grassroots efforts got a boost from IGF platforms and partnerships.

The big picture

The IGF has gone from a yearly meeting to a global coordination hub that connects tech, policy, and people. It’s now more important than ever.

Why you should care

The IGF isn’t about controlling the Internet. It’s about coordination: bringing people together from across the world to talk, share ideas, and solve problems. And it’s worked. As we head into the WSIS+20 review, this report is a reminder: the Internet works best when we work together. But that cooperation needs support. Without it, we risk losing the open, secure, and connected web we all rely on.