The Scale of the Problem
In an era where online activities like shopping, banking, and virtual meetings are commonplace, it's surprising that nearly 30% of the world's population still lacks Internet access. According to a November report from the International Telecommunication Union, over 2 billion people remain offline. While this figure is staggering, initiatives such as IEEE Future Networks' Connecting the Unconnected (CTU) are making significant strides in closing this gap.
What Is Connecting the Unconnected?
Launched in 2021, the CTU program is a global effort to accelerate the development, standardization, and deployment of next-generation network technologies—including 5G, 6G, and beyond. By fostering innovation and collaboration, CTU aims to bring affordable, reliable Internet access to underserved communities worldwide.
Annual Competition for Connectivity Innovators
Each year, CTU holds a worldwide competition to identify early-stage technologies or applications that can expand Internet access. The contest receives between 200 and 300 submissions annually, according to Sudhir Dixit, IEEE Life Fellow and CTU cochair. In the most recent year, 245 projects from 52 countries were submitted, representing academics, nonprofit organizations, startups, and students.
Participants choose from three categories:
- Technology Applications – For new connectivity methods or innovations that broaden broadband access.
- Business Model – For approaches that improve the affordability of Internet services.
- Community Enablement – For strategies that promote public broadband adoption and digital literacy.
Within each category, entrants select one of two tracks based on project maturity:
- Proof-of-concept – For functional early-stage technology that has already demonstrated results.
- Conceptual – For projects still in the theoretical phase that haven’t undergone full testing.
Regional Summits and Expanded Mentorship
In 2023, CTU expanded its reach by launching regional summits that focus on local connectivity challenges. These events gather experts, community leaders, and stakeholders to discuss strategies for digital inclusion. Additionally, the program established an expanded mentorship initiative to support contest winners and nurture the next generation of innovators working on impactful connectivity solutions.
Partnerships and Standards Development
CTU collaborates with the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA) to create guidelines for selected innovations. This partnership ensures that new solutions align with global technical standards, facilitating scalability and interoperability.
A Unified Platform for Connectivity Initiatives
As Sudhir Dixit explains, "IEEE Future Networks has created a community to bring all these initiatives working on digital connectivity together in a single platform and leverage the IEEE brand to help raise the visibility of their work." The program also partners with organizations such as the Basic Internet Foundation, which cofounder Dixit helped launch.
By combining resources, expertise, and global reach, CTU is not only connecting people but also fostering economic growth, education, and social inclusion. The journey to bring the remaining 2 billion people online is long, but initiatives like CTU are providing the road map.