Map
Connecting schools begins with knowing exactly where they are, and pinpointing which ones remain offline. Giga is mapping and verifying the precise locations of schools, using data collected from government bodies, private companies, open-data sources, satellite imagery and artificial intelligence models.
Additionally, we continuously monitor the real-time connectivity status of schools for troubleshooting and improvement of quality of service. Having an accurate map of school locations and their connectivity status is critical to help governments connect schools to the internet.
Model
Once we know where the schools are located, we need to know what the options are to connect them to the internet. That’s where infrastructure modeling comes in. Giga data scientists gather and analyze the necessary inputs to create a comprehensive look at the distance of schools from the available telecommunications infrastructure, such as fiber, cellular and microwave, among other options, and then provide an analysis of options and costs to help governments achieve high-quality, sustainable school connectivity.
Finance
Giga assists governments in securing innovative funding for school connectivity, focusing on sustainable financial models. By emphasizing long-term commercial viability, Giga attracts diverse capital partners and fosters blended financing solutions.
We support governments from project planning to service quality monitoring, ensuring social and financial goals are met. Our finance initiatives include the DIII (Digital Infrastructure Investment Initiative), co-led by ITU and six major Development Finance Institutions, aiming to invest at an unprecedented scale to provide internet access to the 2.6 billion people still offline.
Contract
Giga assists governments in evaluating market conditions in the ICT sector and provides guidance on procurement and competitive bidding processes.
This effort helps mitigate risks and leads to a reduction in connectivity costs by assessing providers’ capabilities to deliver infrastructure, equipment and services. Giga has helped realize significant savings for countries. With Giga’s support, governments have successfully negotiated better connectivity contracts, resulting in significant cost savings.
Capacity Development
Strengthening capacity to advance school connectivity is the common denominator of all four of Giga’s primary activities. This work ranges from implementing standards or supporting the adoption of tech solutions to enabling the right policy and regulation. Giga’s capacity development programmes give government leaders and tech experts in countries where Giga works the opportunity to learn about the tools we offer, exchange insights and develop school connectivity strategies tailored to their individual needs. It is the focus of the Giga Learning Hub in our Geneva Connectivity Centre, as well as the Government Tech Exchange Programme in Barcelona.
Let’s build a connected future together
