{"id":1073,"date":"2026-07-03T09:01:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T09:01:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/itu-d\/sites\/projectumc\/?p=1073"},"modified":"2026-07-31T07:21:42","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T07:21:42","slug":"umc-data-hackathon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/itu-d\/sites\/projectumc\/2026\/07\/03\/umc-data-hackathon\/","title":{"rendered":"ITU Data Hackathon: Bridging the Digital Divide by Uncovering Digital Deserts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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ITU Data Hackathon: Bridging the Digital Divide by Uncovering Digital Deserts<\/h1>\n \"Event\n
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Launched in 22 September 2025 during the World Telecommunication\/ICT Indicators Symposium (WTIS-25), the Data Hackathon \u201cBridging the Digital Divide by Uncovering Digital Deserts\u201d<\/strong> mobilized creativity and data analysis to identify connectivity gaps and subpopulations left behind in the process of achieving universal and meaningful connectivity (UMC). Over the course of one year, the Hackathon progressed through registration, online capacity-building activities, the shortlisting of candidates, project development, and the final evaluation phase that led to the identification of the winning teams.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Organized by the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT)<\/strong>, and co-financed by the European Union, this initiative is part of the project \u201cPromoting and Measuring Universal and Meaningful Connectivity<\/em><\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Winning teams<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n\n
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A total of 104 applications were received, of which 21 were shortlisted to present their projects.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Following a detailed evaluation of the innovative quality of their solutions, technical excellence, and the potential impact of their proposed interventions, three teams were selected as finalists. They will be invited to present their work in person at the World Telecommunication\/ICT Indicators Symposium 2026<\/a> (WTIS-26) in Geneva, Switzerland.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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QBits (India)<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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