SKT ranks 6th globally and No. 1 in Asia in global digital inclusion index

[Financial News] SK Telecom announced on the 3rd that it ranked 6th globally and No. 1 in Asia in the Digital Inclusion Benchmark (DIB) released by the independent non-profit assessment organization WBA.
DIB is a global ESG assessment index developed by WBA to support the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It provides a comprehensive picture of how major technology companies around the world are fulfilling their ethical, social, and technological responsibilities in the course of digital transformation.
DIB evaluates the overall level of digital inclusion among Information and Communications Technology (ICT) companies. The assessment covers six areas: digital access, skills, use, innovation, sustainable value creation, and human rights. It goes beyond simply checking whether policies exist, and also looks at target-setting, implementation, and broader social impact.
In this year’s assessment, SK Telecom scored a total of 57.1 points, placing 6th among 200 companies worldwide and achieving the highest ranking among Asian companies.
The company earned consistently high scores in key areas such as digital skills, digital use, and sustainable value creation.
SK Telecom is expanding digital inclusion across care, accessibility, education, and capacity building by turning it into concrete services and business initiatives. The core of SK Telecom’s digital inclusion strategy is to design technology so that it functions as a social safety net.
In the social safety net area, the company operates services that use artificial intelligence (AI) technology to check on older adults living alone and single-person households at risk of isolation, and to support the daily lives and safety management of people with developmental disabilities. It also provides various barrier-free services for people with visual and hearing impairments, and runs education programs to bridge the digital divide, such as the "Haengbok AI Coding School" for youth with disabilities and students in underserved regions. SK Telecom is also pursuing projects to foster talent in cutting-edge digital technologies and to build related educational infrastructure.
Eom Jong-hwan, Head of ESG at SK Telecom, said, "Digital inclusion is not just about showcasing cutting-edge technologies, but a core value that ensures technology can reach every member of society in a warm and meaningful way," adding, "We will responsibly leverage technology in line with increasingly stringent global standards and grow as an ESG-driven company that moves forward together with our customers."
mkchang@fnnews.com Jang Min-kwon Reporter