Description:

Today, half of the global population still remains offline. The reality of the geographic divide is bleak: most of those offline are from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and rural populations in LMICs are 40% less likely to use mobile internet than urban populations In order to achieve the universal goals for reducing inequality and achieving universal access by 2030, clear policies that can guide and speed up progress are crucial. The purpose of this session is to explore policy approaches that would help address the persistent digital divide and bring more affordable access and meaningful connectivity for people living in rural areas. The session will take a roundtable format, with six confirmed subject matter experts from the private sector, governments, and civil society from across the globe providing examples of how they are coordinating efforts to bring last-mile connectivity in rural areas (many of which have been highlighted in the "Rural Broadband Policy Framework" brief, https://a4ai.org/rural-broadband-policy-framework). We will then have an open interactive discussion and invite participants in the room to share what policy interventions or solutions they know that have worked/or have not worked in expanding rural broadband connectivity. The roundtable will be facilitated by the moderator of the session, the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI).