There are 2.9 billion unconnected people across the globe, an issue that was significantly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the ITU’s “Facts and Figures 2025” report, the location gap is currently one of the most significant barriers to digital equity:
“Globally, 85% of people living in urban areas use the internet, compared to only 58% of those in rural areas.”
2026
IEEE Connecting
the Unconnected
Challenge
An annual, global competition to bridge the digital divide. Submission portal NOW open:
April 24 – June 19 11:59PM EDT (NY, USA)
Imagine your life
without the internet
Internet access is critical to education, industry, and healthy living. Unconnected populations lack access to buy and sell goods and services online. Students lack access to the abundance of remote learning opportunities. During the pandemic, working or studying from home was impossible for unconnected populations. For many, the lack of internet access forced them to make a choice between their well-being or earning a living. Many offline students often received no education at all. An increasingly connected global economy leaves many disconnected people with few options.
As the world transitions to advanced technologies, the infrastructure remains unequal; 84% of people in high-income nations have 5G coverage, while a mere 4% of those in low-income nations have the same access. These disparities ensure that while some parts of the world accelerate into the future, billions of people in rural and developing regions are left behind, unable to participate in a digital-first global economy.
2026
IEEE Connecting
the Unconnected
Summits
Summits are being finalized to take place during Sept – Dec 2026 across multiple regions, including:
Asia Pacific (APAC)
North America (NA)
Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA)
Latin America (LATAM)
And various virtual events
Help us find innovative solutions to connect the unconnected.
The IEEE Future Networks Technical Community provides the primary funding for the CTU Challenge and Summit, but support from industry is critical to making the competition a sustainable annual event. Contact us to add your company’s name to those already committed to helping increase access and raise awareness of this humanitarian social issue.
Sponsorships
Be a part of the conversation with like-minded companies supporting the competition and paving the way for increased broadband access!
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