While the majority of the world’s population is within range of a 4G mobile network connection, many people still do not or are unable to access the internet. For USAID, working to advance internet connectivity means providing access to broadband internet and empowering communities to actively participate in the digital ecosystem. Internet connectivity can accelerate the fight against poverty and increase resilience by providing access to new tools, information, and efficiencies.

The Connectivity Primer provides a basic understanding of connectivity infrastructure modalities and their growing importance for achieving USAID development objectives. It explains the foundational elements of connectivity infrastructure and highlights how decisions that influence connectivity models affect the provision, location, type, quality, affordability, and accessibility of digital tools and services.