Giga Project

Giga was established in 2019 with the objective of connecting every school to the internet and every young person to information, opportunity, and choice. A collaboration between the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Giga uses AI and satellite imagery to map school locations, blockchain technology to monitor real-time connectivity status, infrastructure and policy data to inform connectivity technology choices, and bringing all these elements together to design sustainable business models for connecting schools. Since its inception, Giga made important strides in reducing digital exclusion. It connected 2.1 million students and 5,700 schools to the Internet, mapped 2.1 schools, established 16 partnerships, and mobilized $1.1 billion. Giga has become a global resource for data and open-source technology required to sustainably connect schools to the internet.The Governments of Spain, Catalonia and Barcelona are key strategic partners to Giga, supporting its evolution into a center of global excellence on universal school connectivity. With its focus on digital inclusion and showcasing a unique partnership model among governments, international development organizations, private companies and research institutes, Giga exemplifies a modern, forward looking, and inclusive approach to tackling the challenges of universal school connectivity.