Three-year initiative to identify connectivity gaps
in 35 countries is a critical first step in connecting every school to the
internet
Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) and UNICEF
announced today a global partnership to help map school connectivity in 35
countries by the end of 2023. Mapping the internet connectivity landscape for
schools and their surrounding communities is a critical first step towards
providing every child with access to digital learning opportunities.
This joint effort is part of the Giga
initiative. Launched last year and led by UNICEF and the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU), Giga aims to connect every school to the
internet. Ericsson is the first private sector partner to make a
multimillion-dollar commitment to the initiative and does so as a Global UNICEF
Partner for School Connectivity Mapping.
According to the ITU, 360 million
young people currently do not have access to the internet. This results in
exclusion, fewer resources to learn, and limited opportunities for the most
vulnerable children and youth to fulfill their potential. Improved connectivity
will increase access to information, opportunity, and choice, enabling
generations of school children to take part in shaping their own futures.
“The deepening digital divide is one
of the many inequalities that the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored,” said
Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, Deputy Executive Director, Partnerships, UNICEF.
“School closures, coupled with limited or non-existent opportunities for remote
learning, have upended children’s education worldwide. Our partnership with
Ericsson will bring us closer to giving every child and young person access to
digital learning opportunities.”
In addition to funding, Ericsson will
commit resources for data engineering and data science capacity to accelerate
school connectivity mapping. Specifically, Ericsson will assist with the
collection, validation, analysis, monitoring and visual representation of
real-time school connectivity data. The data generated through the mapping will
enable governments and the private sector to design and deploy digital
solutions that enable learning for children and young people. Ericsson will
also engage its extensive customer base to further advance the goals of the
Giga initiative.
“Ericsson is uniquely positioned to be
a key partner in helping address this important issue due to our technology
expertise, global scale, decades of experience in public/private partnerships,
and proven results connecting students and educators,” said Heather Johnson,
Vice President of Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility, Ericsson.
“Working together with partners like UNICEF and the ITU amplifies the potential
impact of school connectivity and is a concrete first step in helping bridge
the digital divide globally.”
“ITU brings a history of technology
policy advocacy and regulatory expertise to the vital mission of connecting
every school in the world,” said Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director, ITU
Telecommunication Development Bureau. “We are thrilled that Ericsson will join
Giga and help build the mapping tools necessary to make connecting every school
a reality.”
The UNICEF-Ericsson partnership also
contributes to the Generation Unlimited Global Breakthrough on Digital
Connectivity that aims to give young people digital skills so they can fully
and meaningfully participate in the digital economy. Generation Unlimited is a
global multi-sector partnership to meet the urgent need for expanded education,
training and employment opportunities for young people. Additionally, the
partnership supports UNICEF’s recent COVID-19 Agenda for Action in which the
organization called for global action to keep children learning, thereby
requiring the prioritization of internet connectivity in rural and remote
areas.