Mapping

At the heart of Giga’s work is a simple maxim: you cannot fix what you cannot see. Information on where schools are located, whether they are connected to the Internet, or have access to critical connectivity infrastructure is often incomplete, out of date, or non-existent.

“Having real-time information is vital for us, as we did not have that before. Today, Giga Maps and its interactive dashboard provide us a mechanism for auditing and verifying the service being provided to us by internet service providers. Informed decision-making is essential for drawing up a truly effective roadmap for connectivity, and today we can integrate a technological solution that shows information very quickly, efficiently, and, above all, completely transparently and reliably.” 

– Ilich Valladares, Deputy Minister for Technical and Pedagogical Affairs, Ministry of Education Honduras 

Out-of-date data leads to outdated decisions

A national school map is a strategic asset. When school data is inaccurate or outdated, it undermines everything from broadband rollouts to teacher allocation and emergency response. Without reliable information, governments and partners risk misdirecting scarce resources and reducing the return on public investment, while the students and teachers most in need remain underserved.

The data gap is an investment gap

When schools aren’t on the map, they’re less likely to receive funding or support — not just to governments, but to potential investors and service providers. Reliable, standardized school connectivity data creates market transparency, enabling providers, companies and investors to identify opportunities, assess demand, and build viable business cases for reaching unconnected schools.

Giga Maps – open and live map of schools and their connectivity

Giga Maps is a live, interactive digital map of school locations and connectivity status. It provides a global view of which schools are connected, how well their internet performs, and where gaps remain. Internet performance data is updated daily, offering a real-time view of connectivity across a growing number of countries. 

Giga Maps integrates official data from government partners who collaborate with Giga to make their school connectivity data publicly available. It also pulls in open data sources like Open Street Map to help complete the picture.

Why use Giga Maps?

Open Data – School location and connectivity data is not just for policymakers. With most datasets accessible via open APIs, anyone from researchers to developers can download, explore and use the data. 
Layered Insights – Giga Maps doesn’t just show dots on a map. It combines multiple data layers – school location, infrastructure availability, internet performance – to offer a deeper understanding of the conditions shaping access to connectivity.
Targeted Exploration – Search for a school by name or ID. Filter by country, region or connectivity status – or select up to 10 schools to generate a dedicated URL for sharing or tracking. Toggle data layers to surface patterns and insights across schools. 
schools.  
API Downloads – Giga’s API library gives developers, researchers, and partners direct access to the data behind Giga Maps, enabling powerful new ways to explore, analyze, and visualize school connectivity around the world. 
Giga Maps aims to serve as the single-source map for all stakeholders working toward universal school connectivity. More than just a map, it is a decision support tool that helps governments and partners advocate and progress towards universal school connectivity. 

Through the Giga Maps API, users can query up-to-date information on school locations, connectivity status, and internet quality to build custom dashboards, integrate insights into policy tools, or develop new applications that help close the digital divide. Designed for openness and ease of use, the API allows anyone to work with real data — from single-country views to global analysis — supporting transparency, innovation, and data-driven decision-making for universal school connectivity. 

Our mapping service

Giga works directly with governments to build a complete, accurate baseline of school connectivity data. This supports national planning, investment decisions and ongoing monitoring efforts. Our support includes:
Data Quality Assessment
Giga helps governments assess the completeness, accuracy and consistency of existing school data, identifying key gaps and anomalies. We deliver a clear diagnostic and suggest targeted improvements to ensure data is ready for planning and decision-making.
Data Refinement
Giga works with selected governments to enhance the school location data using satellite imagery, machine learning and open-source mapping tools. These efforts help ensure data is actionable and fit for downstream use. Where needed, efforts are supported by remote or in-person validation campaigns led by local partners.
In October 2024, severe floods and landslides affected central and southern parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, displacing communities and disrupting access to schools. As students in affected areas transitioned to online learning, UNICEF and UNESCO equipped primary schools with laptops to help restore access to education and support both students and teachers during the emergency. The existence of a detailed map, including school locations, connectivity levels, and available equipment, enabled the team to quickly identify impacted schools and plan a targeted response.
Whether you’re planning a national digital strategy, preparing for infrastructure investments, or responding to emergencies, accurate school data is a critical foundation. Giga Maps provides governments and partners with the tools and support needed to build and maintain that foundation.

If you’re ready to map your schools, assess your data quality, or integrate with Giga’s global platform, contact our team to get started. You can also explore the live map to see how countries around the world are already using Giga Maps to guide decision-making and accelerate progress toward universal school connectivity.

Let’s build a connected future together