About Giga Connectivity Forum
Taking place from 8-10 July at ITU headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland, the first ever Giga Connectivity Forum convenes high-level representatives from Ministries of Education, ICT and Communications Regulatory Authorities from countries engaged with Giga (by invitation only) to meet, network, take stock of where we are today and chart a course to achieving universal school connectivity by 2030.
Objectives
- Evaluate progress made towards school connectivity in countries where Giga is actively engaged and explore opportunities for enhanced regional collaboration.
- Create a networking platform for government ministries and the broader multistakeholder community dedicated to school connectivity to share best practices, address challenges and identify opportunities for enhancing school connectivity.
- Outline Giga Centres, the Barcelona Tech Centre and upcoming Geneva Global Connectivity Centre and Learning Hub and explore their role in supporting country advancements.
Programme
Our three-day programme spotlights Giga’s core activities and two centres, with knowledge-sharing and networking opportunities throughout:
18:00 – 20:00 | WELCOME RECEPTION Venue : RESTAURANT CERCLE DU RHÔNE. Rue de Saint-Jean 98, CH-1201 Geneva, Switzerland) Informal gathering for country delegations, international experts and ITU and UNICEF teams. |
Location: ITU Headquarters, Geneva
Entrance through the Montbrillant Building: 2 rue de Varembé, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
SEGMENT I – GIGA OVERVIEW & COUNTRY PRESENTATIONS
Venue: Popov Room
08:00 – 09:00 | Badging at ITU Montbrillant Building Entrance | |
09:00 – 09:15 | Welcome and Opening
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09:15 – 09:45 | Destination 2030: Giga Vision and Outlook
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09:45 – 10:20 | Key Learnings, Challenges and Priorities From the Countries Engaged With Giga Part I: The Experiences of Giga’s Earliest Country Partners This session will allow Giga’s earliest country partners to share Key Learnings, Challenges and Priorities on their journey towards school connectivity. With the participation of:
Co-Chaired by:
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10:20 – 10:30 | Special Remarks by His Excellency Mr. Jürg Lauber, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations and other Organizations in Geneva | |
10:30 – 11:00 | Coffee Break in the Foyer of the Popov Room | |
11:00 – 12:30 | Key Learnings, Challenges and Priorities from the Countries Engaged With Giga (Part II) Organized by region, this session will allow countries to share Key Learnings, Challenges and Priorities on their journey towards school connectivity. | |
11:00 – 11:40 | A: Key Learnings, Challenges and Priorities From Africa
Co-Chaired by :
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11:40 – 12:15 | B: Key Learnings, Challenges and Priorities From Latin America and the Caribbean
Chaired by:
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12:15 – 12:35 | C: Key Learnings, Challenges and Priorities From Europe and Central Asia
Chaired by
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12:45 – 13:45 Networking Lunch in the Foyer of the Popov Room
SEGMENT II – WORKING SESSIONS ON CORE GIGA PROGRAM AREAS: MAP, MODEL, FINANCE, CONTRACT, CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
Venue: 2nd floor of Montbrillant building
13:50 – 14:00 | Spotlight Session on “The Web: Weaved From the Internet and Open Science” by Dr. Tim Smith, Head of International Relations for IT, CERN Tim will focus his inspiring 10-minute talk on two different building blocks:
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14:00 – 14:15 | Introduction to the Giga Model: Map, Model, Finance, Contract, Capacity Development Brief introduction that explains the format and topics of the next session |
14:20 – 17:30 | Coffee & Tea Available During the Breakout Sessions at Montbrillant Lobby Ground Floor, Grab and Go Station |
14:20 – 17:30
| Giga Product Showcase: Map, Model, Finance, Contract and Capacity Development for School Connectivity Through three rounds of 50 minute breakout sessions, attendees will get a deeper look at the Giga Products ready for deployment and an opportunity to discuss their own challenges and priorities in each case.
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17:30-18:00 | Transfer by coach to the Reception – Departure from Montbrillant building |
18:00 – 20:00 | RECEPTION Hosted by the Swiss Government and Canton de Genève at the Residence of the Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the Office of the United Nations in Geneva Venue: Villa Saladin, 2 Plateau de Frontenex, 1224 Cologny, Switzerland |
20:00 – 20:45 | Transfer by coach from the Residence of the Swiss UN Mission Representative to Cornavin Geneva Train Station |
Location: ITU Headquarters, Geneva
Entrance through the Montbrillant Building: 2 rue de Varembé, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
07:30 – 09:00 | Badging at ITU Montbrillant Building Entrance |
07:45 – 08:45 | Breakfast roundtable: Focus on connectivity in Africa “The Impact of Collaboration: Harnessing the African Union’s Year of Education to Scale-Up School Connectivity Across the Continent.” (invitation only for African constituents) This session will encourage knowledge-sharing and discussion among African stakeholders to advance the goal of universal school connectivity. Highlighting successful collaborations like the one between Giga, UNECA and Smart Africa, we will explore how to adapt these models for wider impact. We will delve into Giga’s activities and their benefits, while African delegations will share experiences on overcoming infrastructure hurdles, developing sustainable financing models and ensuring equitable internet access for all schools. Our goal is to identify best practices to accelerate progress towards bridging the digital divide across Africa. |
SEGMENT II: CONTINUATION – WORKING SESSIONS ON CORE GIGA PROGRAMME AREAS: MAP, MODEL, FINANCE, CONTRACT, CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
09:00 – 12:30 | 2nd floor of Montbrillant building |
09:00 – 11:00 | Giga Product Showcase: Map, Model, Finance, Contract and Capacity Development for School Connectivity Through two rounds of 50 minute breakout sessions, participants will get a deeper look at Giga Products ready for deployment.
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11:00 – 11:30 | Coffee Break at Montbrillant Lobby Area, Grab and Go Station |
11:30 – 12:20 | Giga Product Showcase: Map, Model, Finance, Contract and Capacity Development for School Connectivity: Conclusions and Wrap-Up |
12:20 – 12:30 | Spotlight Session |
12.30 – 13.30 | Networking Lunch at Montbrillant 2nd Floor |
SEGMENT III – SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MODELS FOR SCHOOL CONNECTIVITY
13:30 – 15:30 | 2nd floor of Montbrillant building |
13:30 – 15:30 | Sustainable Business Models for School Connectivity This session will explore ideas, policies and practices to help ensure the financing for school connectivity is sustainable, affordable and adopts a whole-of-government approach. |
15:30 -16:00 | Coffee Break at Montbrillant Lobby Area, Grab and Go Station |
SEGMENT IV- SPECIAL TOPICS
16:00 – 17:30 | 1st and 2nd floor of Montbrillant building |
16:00 -17:00 | SEGMENT IV- SPECIAL TOPICS These special topics, though not part of the Giga programme, are critical if Giga is to help achieve the broader outcomes enabled by universal school connectivity. |
16:00 -17:00 | Sessions in parallel: Session 1: Safe Digital Connectivity for Children and Schools at Room K1 (1rst floor of the Montbrillant building) The session will bring unique knowledge, insights and expert voices from the Safe Online portfolio of grantees and key partners, including highlights about multistakeholder collaborations. Panelists will share the latest insights on trends, safety policies, successful strategies and future visions to ensure children are safe in a world of universally connected schools. The conversation will be framed to promote exchange and alignment between different perspectives and agendas. Key points and potential opportunities will be shared with participants after the event to facilitate further engagement. |
16:00 -17:00 | Sessions in parallel: Session 2 Redefining Access: Strategic Approaches to Connectivity Adoption and Device Affordability at Room K2 (1st floor of the Montbrillant building) Bridging the digital divide demands a comprehensive and holistic strategy that encompasses financing, education, regulation and beyond. Enhancing smartphone adoption is crucial in this endeavor, and numerous organizations are dedicating their efforts to this cause, aiming to secure a prosperous digital future for all. During the session, participants will delve into the challenges and opportunities in the field of device affordability and connectivity adoption. This encounter will provide an interactive platform for the audience to discuss strategies and necessary steps to ensure device affordability. Don’t miss this collaborative session, designed to pave pathways towards enhanced accessibility, thereby empowering individuals and communities worldwide. |
16:00 -17:00 | Sessions in parallel: Session 3: The Power of Soft Infrastructure: The Case for DPI for Education at 2nd floor of Montbrillant building This event delves into the concept of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Education, a framework proposed in the paper “The Case for DPI 4 Education” by ITU and collaborators, which explores the potential of DPI to address the challenges and opportunities of digital learning. While Giga focuses on connecting schools to the internet (physical infrastructure), true educational transformation requires more. DPI, or “soft infrastructure,” provides the essential digital building blocks to create effective learning ecosystems in the 21st century. The interactive workshop will explore the potential of DPI 4 Education in countries where Giga is active. |
17:00 -17:10 | Spotlight Session |
17.10 -17.30 | Giga Connectivity Forum Closing Session at 2nd floor of Montbrillant building |
Further details on speakers and individual session flows will be provided shortly.
Information for delegates
Organized by ITU and UNICEF, the Giga Connectivity Forum will gather key government representatives in digital education and infrastructure from the countries engaged with Giga to achieve its goal of connecting every school in the world to the internet by 2030. The Connectivity Forum will deepen understanding of Giga’s activities, from mapping school locations to developing sustainable business models, and provide practical lessons from various countries as they pursue their journey to school connectivity. An essential outcome of the event is to increase regional collaboration and accelerate the impact of Giga at the global level through knowledge exchange and community building. Along with high-level representatives from the Ministries of Education; Information and Communication Technologies, and Communications Regulatory Authorities, the event will include the participation of high-level experts and organizations for achieving universal school connectivity.
The event will take place on 9 and 10 July at the ITU Headquarters in Geneva. Participants are welcome to join a networking reception on 8 July.
An official evening reception at the residence of the permanent representative of Switzerland to the Office of the United Nations in Geneva will take place on 9 July (Address: Villa Saladin, 2 Plateau de Frontenex, 1224 Cologny, Switzerland)
The Giga Connectivity Forum is an invitation-only event. If you are interested in attending, please send a request to: giga@itu.int
Invited participants include:
- Representatives of the Ministries of Education, Ministries of Information and Communication Technologies, and of the Communications Regulatory Authorities from the countries engaged with Giga;
- High-level leaders and experts from the private sector, civil society, international organizations and academia partnering with Giga.
The meeting will be in-person only, but we may record some sessions.
All in-person participants must register in advance and will have to collect their badge at the reception desks in the Montbrillant building of the ITU.
Please note that there will be no onsite registration.
For more information, please access the logistic note here.
Location and point of contact
Location
International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Place des Nations 1211, Geneva 20 Switzerland.
Contact Us
For more information, please contact: giga@itu.int