ITU Data Hackathon
Data Hackathon: Bridging the Digital Divide by Uncovering Digital Deserts
15 October 2025 – 31 December 2025: Registration
05 January 2026 – 31 March 2026: Online learning phase for registered participants
April 2026: Two-day in-person session in New Delhi, India, for shortlisted teams
07-11 September 2026: Presentation of the winning project at WTIS 2026 (Geneva, Switzerland)
The Data Hackathon: “Bridging the Digital Divide by Uncovering Digital Deserts” is designed to mobilize creativity and data analysis to identify connectivity gaps and subpopulations left behind in the process of achieving universal and meaningful connectivity (UMC).
The hackathon is organized by the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT), in collaboration with the ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and the ITU Area Office for South Asia and Innovation Centre in New Delhi, with financial support from the European Union. This initiative is part of the project “Promoting and Measuring Universal and Meaningful Connectivity” and is intended as a side event to the World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Symposium (WTIS 2026).
Challenges
Through data processing, visualization and storytelling, teams will:
- Identify geographical areas with limited connectivity, offering to policymakers a typology of such areas that can help planning more targeted policies;
- Profile the subpopulations that do not benefit of a meaningful connectivity due to lack of infrastructure, poor service quality, limited affordability of devices and ICT services, low skills or other barriers;
- Explore innovative statistical methodologies by combining existing data and geospatial sources, identifying additional sources and indicators, using advanced inference methods
Who can participate
Teams of worldwide university students and young professionals (age limit 30 years) with strong interest in data visualization, statistics, or digital inclusion. Disciplines encouraged include:
- Statistics and Data Science
- Economics
- Social Studies
- Informatics
- Graphic Design
- Journalism
- Public Policy
Applications are accepted from teams of 3–5 people. Each team must designate a leader to liaise with the organizers. Basic knowledge of data analysis tools (such as Excel, R, Python, or GIS software) and good command of English are desirable. Teams from ITU Academia Members will be prioritized, and the participation of women is strongly encouraged.
Data and tools provided
Participants will have access to datasets (in standard formats such as CSV/JSON) through a hackathon platform, including but not limited to:
- Country-level data
- ICT infrastructure availability (cell towers, fiber optic cables)
- User-generated content (e.g. speed measurements)
- Connectivity metrics (broadband speeds, mobile network coverage, quality of service reports, etc.)
- Demographic and socioeconomic data (income levels, education)
- Aggregate and anonymized data from household surveys
- Geospatial data layers (satellite imagery, topographic maps)
Note: provision of anonymized household survey microdata will be explored with data holders.
Tools: participants are free to choose their preferred software. They should use their own laptops.
Deliverables
- Presentation of results (maps, dashboards, policy recommendations).
- Code used to access and process the data (preferably in R or Python notebooks).
- Pitch presentation before the jury (for shortlisted teams).
Mentorship & jury
- Mentorship: will be provided by ITU staff and experts from our regional offices and higher education/research institutions. Each mentor will support up to 3 teams.
- Jury: 5 members including senior ITU representatives, policymakers, industry leaders, and experienced journalists.
Awards & recognition
- Certificates: All participants will receive ITU certificates of participation.
- Visibility: Winning contributions will be disseminated through ITU communication channels.
- Presentations: The winning team will present their work at the World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Symposium 2026 (Geneva, Switzerland).
Challenge timeline
- 22 September 2025 — First announcement at WTIS 2025 (Geneva, Switzerland).
- 15 October – 31 December 2025 — Registration (NOTE: this phase has been extended until December).
- 5 January 2026 – 31 March 2026 —Online phase: Registered participants will take part in online workshops covering the concept of universal and meaningful connectivity and its measurement, data sources, good practices in data visualization, and mentorship sessions.
- April 2026 — Physical phase: Shortlisted teams will participate in a two-day in-person session in New Delhi, India, focused on teamwork, data exploration, and the development of practical solutions, guided by ITU experts and mentors.
- 7-11 September 2026 — Presentation of the winning project at WTIS 2026 (Geneva, Switzerland).
