​​​​​​​​Bridging the digital divide is a social and economic imperative considering that health, education, government and other services and applications rely on affordable, reliable and high-speed connectivity to serve communities around the world. This implies closing the connectivity gap and spreading last mile networks and services.

The Last Mile Connectivity Solutions Guide provides ways of identifying the unconnected areas and selecting sustainable technical, financial and regulatory solutions to ensure affordability and accessibility to relevant connectivity services. The ITU Last Mile Connectivity Solutions Guide was developed to help accelerate actions to address last-mile Internet connectivity issues in situations that include a lack of network infrastructure and with a view to encouraging more affordable service delivery. The tools, service interventions and policy solutions reflect how to extend Internet access to areas and users in geographies without Internet while considering their unique characteristics. To complement this Solutions Guide, BDT is developing a range of resources to help Member States address last-mile connectivity challenges, including a database of case studies and capacity development courses on last mile connectivity.

In addition, interactive last-mile connectivity diagnostic and decision-making tools are being developed for selecting appropriate and affordable technology for connecting a locality to broadband transport backbones and the last mile/access networks in localities.

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