A key goal for both the telecommunications industry and society at large is to increase the penetration and coverage of networks to deliver access to more people in more areas. Even while growth in mobile and fixed connections has surged and data consumption has exploded, millions of people lack access to even basic telecoms services. It’s not only the ability to communicate more widely that matters: as many have noted, the potential of the Internet to transform lives has made it a key part of the United Nations’ 2030 goals for sustainability.

Recognising this, a diverse range of stakeholders has emerged to champion the cause of the unconnected, both through direct investment for the deployment of appropriate infrastructure and indirect lobbying activities targeted at governments and other organisations.

However, a gap has opened up that impedes delivery of solutions that can be used to connect the unconnected. Even while funds have been created to drive such investment in infrastructure, the pace of delivery has not kept pace with deployments in areas that have already secured the benefit of fibre broadband and high speed mobile data access.