- ITU-UNICEF initiative establishes new base for bringing every school online and promoting digital development
GENEVA, Switzerland – Giga, the ITU-UNICEF initiative supporting governments to connect every school to the Internet by 2030, officially inaugurated its Giga Connectivity Centre today in Geneva, Switzerland.
Located in Campus Biotech, the joint initiative’s new headquarters serve as a space for collaboration and innovation, bringing together governments, the private sector, international organizations and other stakeholders.
“Connectivity is opportunity – it’s about giving every child, everywhere, access to the tools they need to learn, grow, and thrive,” said ITU secretary-general Doreen Bogdan-Martin. “With the support of our partners and the energy of International Geneva, the Giga Connectivity Centre can help achieve our vision of connecting every school in the world to the Internet.”
A new tech hub in Geneva
The new facility aims to leverage the vitality of Switzerland’s tech community while building on Geneva’s expertise in diplomacy and international development to ensure that no child is left behind in the digital age.
“Every child in every school should have access to the Internet and the information and opportunity it provides,” said Thomas Davin, global director, UNICEF office of innovation. “The Giga Connectivity Centre will serve as the global capital of school connectivity – a place where this ambition becomes a reality. I am inspired by the prospects of what this centre can achieve by equipping and enabling governments to meet such a critical need for this and coming generations.”
The centre is the focal point for Giga’s provision of support to countries in procurement and mobilization of finances for school connectivity.
The centre also hosts the Giga Learning Hub to deliver specialized training through the ITU Academy on school mapping, infrastructure modelling, innovative financing, procurement for connectivity and effective project management.
The Geneva centre is complemented by the Giga Technology Centre in Barcelona, Spain, a hub for the development of cutting-edge open-source solutions to get schools connected.
Looking ahead: The Giga connectivity forum
From 8 to 10 July, the Giga Connectivity Centre will host the Giga Connectivity Forum 2025, bringing together government officials, regulators, development organizations and high-level experts from 44 countries and territories to explore solutions to accelerate school connectivity.
The forum will present Giga’s progress and latest initiatives, discuss the challenges faced by governments and exchange practical lessons for advancing school connectivity.
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