Connecting the Unconnected: Overview of Technologies to Reach Beyond Communication Barriers

ITU estimates that 4 billion global citizens are still unconnected. Accessibility, affordability both in terms of devices and data cost, relevancy of content, and skills development are the main challenges that need to be addressed to have a more inclusive digital world. In past decades, global leaders of the digital world, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector have been focused to expand the ICT infrastructure and rethinking various connectivity models to make sure everyone has a share in the global digital world. NetFreedom Pioneers harness the medium of innovative, digital technology to promote freedom of information, education, learning, and empowerment: the building blocks to lasting change. NetFreedom Pioneers developed Knapsack for Hope that uses satellite one-way file-casting to bring digital connectivity to schools and other offline or remote communities in rural areas in the world which lacks internet and communication infrastructure. Nearly a million users use this technology in the Middle East to access to daily news, educational materials and video contents to which otherwise they do not have access and it's been deployed to disseminate digital educational information. The technology is being expanded to other regions including Central America and Africa.