In this interview, Mea Thompson shares her insights as Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of unconnected.org, a global non-profit bridging the digital divide through sustainable connectivity in underserved communities worldwide. She brings 15 years of experience in telecom and international development to her work.
1. What is the basic model used by unconnected.org to bring sustainable, meaningful connectivity to unserved and underserved regions around the world?
When we begin work in specific regions, we start by partnering with a range of suppliers, whether satellite, mobile, fiber, or hardware, whose services we believe will make a real difference in bridging the digital divide. Once those partnerships are established, we extend them to ISPs and other partners in that country, who can then access the services by demonstrating how their use will positively impact communities.
Partners choose to promote discounted services on our platform because they know these offerings will reach regions where people cannot afford retail pricing. This isn’t about charity, t’s about enabling wider access while also expanding their customer base. By lowering prices for these types of projects, they can reach communities that otherwise could not purchase their solutions. Importantly, we are not here to cannibalize retail sales channels. That is not in our DNA. Instead, we enable access to services and products in places where they would not otherwise be used at scale.
We don’t believe in giving things away for free. Rather, we focus on ensuring that local businesses in these regions can achieve a return on investment. This creates a win–win model: every party benefits commercially, while students in schools and patients in clinics are the ones who gain access to services at no cost. These are the models we believe in and want to expand, because they drive long-term, sustainable change.
2. Are local entrepreneurs the key to bringing the internet to rural schools and communities, more so than large ISPs or governments?
Local entrepreneurs are absolutely central. Large ISPs and governments often focus on urban centers where the business case is clear. In rural areas, the economics are different. Entrepreneurs know their communities, understand demand, and can build micro-models that large players might overlook. We empower these entrepreneurs with affordable equipment, training, and business models that work in their context. We’ve seen small operators transform a single low-Earth-orbit terminal into a thriving community Wi-Fi hub, reinvesting revenues into education, digital literacy, and community services.
3. In what way do Giga and unconnected.org have a common vision towards school connectivity?
Giga and unconnected.org share the belief that school connectivity is the gateway to community connectivity. A connected school is not just a classroom, it’s often the only digital hub in a village. Both of us see schools as anchor institutions. Once a school is online, you can extend that connectivity outward to households, health centers, and local businesses. We’ve seen schools evolve into the center of a community Wi-Fi mesh, benefiting not only students but families, farmers, and entrepreneurs. This is where our work complements Giga perfectly. Giga convenes governments, regulators, and stakeholders at the policy level, while unconnected.org delivers operational solutions on the ground. It’s a perfect match, policy and practice working together to turn connectivity into universal access.
4. Major funding is required to bridge the digital divide. Apart from the conventional sources, such as international finance institutions (IFIs) and development finance institutions (DFIs), can the private sector play a bigger role and what is needed to encourage that?
Yes. The private sector can and must play a bigger role. Traditional funding models often view rural connectivity as high-risk and low-return, but that perception is changing. The way forward is blended finance models that reduce risk and demonstrate long-term value.
What’s needed now is clearer engagement. We need to open more cross-industry discussions, outline practical roles companies can play, and provide measurable outcomes that demonstrate both impact and commercial value. Connectivity should not be seen as a donation, it must be framed as an investment. When private companies realize that their revenue lines will grow by helping expand internet access, they’ll step in with both resources and innovation.
What’s needed now is clearer engagement. We need to open more cross-industry discussions, outline practical roles companies can play, and provide measurable outcomes that demonstrate both impact and commercial value. Connectivity should not be seen as a donation, it must be framed as an investment. When private companies realize that their revenue lines will grow by helping expand internet access, they’ll step in with both resources and innovation.
5. What funding practices to date would you single out as being unproductive?
One of the least productive practices has been short-term, fragmented funding. Too often, we see pilots funded for a year with no plan for sustainability. Schools get connected, then lose access once the grant ends. This creates disappointment and undermines trust in connectivity programs. We’ve seen too many computer centres built as part of “grand plans” that now sit unused because nobody thought through who would pay for ongoing connectivity after the funding period.
Another challenge is overly bureaucratic grant structures that prioritize paperwork over real outcomes. Impact at scale should be the focus, not box-ticking. Finally, hardware-only donations have proven unproductive. A satellite terminal or a set of laptops without training, maintenance or local ownership will not deliver lasting change. Connectivity is not a one-off investment; it’s an ecosystem that needs ongoing support. At unconnected.org we push for funding practices that emphasize sustainability, local empowerment and long-term commitment. That’s the only way to turn connectivity projects into lasting impact.