Nearly one-third of the global population has never accessed the internet, with rural and marginalized urban communities, particularly in the Global South, being the most affected. Groups facing systemic barriers, including women, Indigenous peoples, and low-income populations, are disproportionately excluded, highlighting the urgent need for equitable digital access. Despite sufficient resources existing to close these gaps, limitations in policy, regulation, and financing continue to prevent community-centered connectivity initiatives from thriving.
In response, a growing movement is amplifying the voices of those who remain disconnected or underconnected, emphasizing the importance of meaningful, affordable, and context-appropriate internet access. The upcoming Think 20 (T20) Summit Dialogue, convened by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the Association for Progressive Communications, and UNESCO, will address these issues by exploring barriers to community-centered connectivity and innovative financing models that can support digital inclusion.
The T20 Summit Dialogue will take place on 1 October 2025 in Cape Town as a side event of the G20 under South Africa’s presidency. It will focus on the theme “Breaking barriers: Innovative financing for community-centered digital inclusion,” bringing together global and regional stakeholders committed to digital equity. The event will feature two sessions: the first examining the rationale, context, and experiences of community connectivity initiatives (CCCIs), and the second analyzing factors that promote or hinder their growth, including policies, regulations, and financing solutions.
Panel discussions will highlight access gaps, successful business models, and strategies for sustainability, while addressing challenges such as inadequate policy support, regulatory obstacles, and fragmented financing. Participants will include local, regional, and global organizations, such as the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies of South Africa, the Development Bank of South Africa, Vnet, Project Isizwe, B4RN from the UK, Zenzeleni from South Africa, and others sharing their insights and practical experiences.
The dialogue aims to strengthen awareness of CCCIs as sustainable and inclusive solutions that bridge the digital divide, particularly in unserved regions. By treating users as partners and leveraging local knowledge, these initiatives promote rights-based digital inclusion and offer social and economic benefits. However, significant barriers remain, including the lack of enabling policies, regulatory recognition, and accessible financing mechanisms, particularly in a context of declining traditional funding sources.
Parallel to the summit, a social media campaign will amplify the perspectives of communities building alternative connectivity models, encouraging broader engagement through hashtags such as #SustainableConnectivity, #InnovativeFinancing, and #CommunityNetworks. The initiative seeks to mobilize collective action and advocate for holistic financing approaches that go beyond infrastructure, encompassing digital literacy, inclusive policymaking, local innovation ecosystems, and the capacity of governments and communities to implement tailored digital strategies.
The T20 Summit Dialogue side event represents a critical opportunity to advance sustainable solutions for digital inclusion by combining insights, practical experiences, and innovative financing approaches. It encourages collaboration across sectors to ensure that community-centered initiatives can thrive, expand, and provide equitable digital access for those most in need.
