IEEE Launches Global Effort to Bridge Digital Divide for 2 Billion Offline Users

Breaking: IEEE Program Targets Internet Access for 2 Billion Unconnected

Nearly 2 billion people globally—30 percent of the population—remain without internet access, according to a November report from the International Telecommunication Union. In response, the IEEE Future Networks initiative has accelerated its Connecting the Unconnected (CTU) program to connect these billions through 5G, 6G, and next-generation technologies.

“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,” said IEEE Life Fellow Sudhir Dixit, CTU cochair and cofounder of the Basic Internet Foundation.

Background: How CTU Works

Since its launch in 2021, CTU has focused on accelerating development, standardization, and deployment of future networks. The program holds an annual worldwide competition for early-stage innovators developing technologies or applications to expand access. It also hosts an annual summit that brings together experts, community leaders, and stakeholders to discuss strategies for digital inclusion.

In 2024, CTU expanded significantly: it launched regional summits to address local connectivity issues, organized community-focused events, and established an expanded mentorship program to support contest winners and the next generation of tech innovators. The program also partners with the IEEE Standards Association to develop guidelines for submitted innovations.

Contest: New Connectivity Methods

The CTU challenge typically receives 200 to 300 submissions each year, Dixit said. In 2024, 245 projects from 52 countries were submitted by academics, nonprofits, startups, and students.

Projects fall into three categories:

• Technology Applications – new connectivity methods or innovations broadening broadband access
• Business Model – improvements to affordability of internet services
• Community Enablement – strategies promoting public broadband adoption

Entrants choose between two tracks based on project maturity: the proof-of-concept route for early-stage but functional technology with results, or the conceptual path for theoretical phases not yet fully tested.

“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.” —Sudhir Dixit

What This Means

The CTU program directly addresses the digital divide by fostering innovations that could bring online the nearly 2 billion people still offline. It provides a structured pathway from concept to deployment, supported by IEEE’s global standards expertise.

For communities lacking access, this could mean better education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. The program’s regional focus ensures solutions are tailored to local needs, from rural connectivity in Africa to underserved urban areas in Asia.