"Project supports activities that will increase access to and promote the use of digital services across Georgia, with a focus on rural areas. The Project will also support cross-cutting improvements in the enabling environment—supporting reforms to expand broadband connectivity and to strengthen the policy and legal framework for the digital economy—to realize those outcomes. Project consists of following components.

Component 1: Increasing access to broadband. This component supports construction and activation of high-capacity middle-mile, backhaul networks under the State Internetisation Program that will bring high quality, high-capacity services to selected rural settlements. SPs will then invest to expand their networks to provide services on commercial terms through their own last-mile infrastructures, to the settlements’ households, enterprises, and organizations. At the same time, this component will support the improvement of Georgia’s enabling environment for digital connectivity development in accordance with the NBDS, including through the (i) development of the legal and policy framework and support to institutional coordination, (ii) development of the regulatory framework, (iii) deployment of mechanisms to support broadband cost reduction, and (iv) measures to attract investment.

Component 2: Promoting the use of broadband-enabled digital services. This Component will support the development of Georgia’s digital economy. It will support improvement of the enabling environment for the digital economy beyond connectivity, promote digital use-cases of broadband, and address barriers to the participation of individuals in the digital economy. At the same time, this component will finance targeted interventions to boost the use of the Internet and digital services by women, social minorities, and persons with disabilities in selected settlements. Participatory planning will help identify vulnerable groups and define how their needs can be met and mobilize communities to support the plans."

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• Georgia

• Women
• People with disabilities
• Remote and rural communities

"There is a possibility to replicate such type of a project in another country, when it comes to national broadband development strategy."

"By building the middle mile backhaul infrastructure and at the same time providing training for local residents about the usage of the internet, the program is assisting in creating an inclusive and development-oriented Information Society where everyone can create and share information."