Geneva
Switzerland
- Heiniger Yannick
- Alex Högback
- Gustavo Fonseca Ribeiro
Intermediate
Event Organizer(s)
Initiative
Description
This face-to-face training is designed to support countries in accelerating school connectivity by strengthening national capacity to assess, model and prioritise sustainable last mile connectivity solutions. It aims to equip government officials, regulators, policymakers and telecommunication professionals with structured tools to analyse connectivity gaps, compare technology options, evaluate cost and sustainability trade-offs, and formulate evidence-based deployment strategies for last mile connectivity. The course follows a four-step approach: identifying connectivity gaps, reviewing available technologies, selecting sustainable solutions, and designing implementation pathways.
Participants will engage in a structured scenario simulation throughout the five days, working in teams to assess fictional but realistic country profiles, apply decision matrices, conduct simplified CAPEX/OPEX and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) modelling, evaluate regulatory constraints, and develop prioritised last mile connectivity strategies. The course emphasizes applied learning, decision-making under uncertainty, peer exchange, and real-world case studies.
This course is designed for professionals with a baseline understanding of telecom infrastructure concepts, including:
- Government officials from Ministries of ICT, Telecommunications, Education, Planning, or Finance
- National regulatory authorities
- Universal Service Fund managers
- Digital infrastructure planners
- Telecommunication engineers involved in public connectivity planning
Qualifications or experience needed to participate in this training course:
- Undergraduate degree in telecommunications, engineering, ICT policy, economics, or related field; OR a minimum 3 years professional experience in telecom/digital infrastructure planning
- Proficiency in English
Selection will be conducted by the course organizers, who will consider the above entry requirements along with an analysis of the application questionnaire and the recommendation/motivation letter of each applicant.
Number of places available for the course: 30
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Analyse connectivity gaps by interpreting infrastructure, geographic, and demographic data to identify unserved and underserved school locations.
- Compare last-mile connectivity technologies (wired, wireless, and hybrid) using structured technical and operational criteria, including coverage, throughput, deployment complexity, and scalability.
- Apply simplified CAPEX, OPEX, and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) calculations to evaluate alternative deployment scenarios over a multi-year horizon.
- Evaluate financial and regulatory constraints affecting technology prioritisation.
- Construct a weighted multi-criteria decision matrix to rank technology options based on feasibility, affordability, and long-term viability.
- Formulate and defend a context-appropriate last-mile connectivity strategy supported by technical, financial, and policy analysis.
The training adopts a learner-centred, experiential and problem-based approach, engaging participants in structured decision-making processes similar to those encountered in real-world connectivity planning.
Pre-training engagement
Prior to the face-to-face training, participants will:
- Complete a short baseline knowledge check on school connectivity concepts.
- Submit a brief description of a connectivity challenge in their country to inform case discussions.
Delivery of key concepts and tools
- Instructor-led sessions introduce core concepts related to last-mile connectivity, including infrastructure layers, technology options and connectivity planning approaches.
- Demonstrations of tools and frameworks (e.g. technology comparison matrices, cost modelling approaches, stakeholder mapping) provide a practical foundation for application.
- Expert inputs and real-world case examples illustrate implementation challenges across different geographic and regulatory contexts.
Interactivity and applied learning
- Problem-based group exercises place participants in realistic decision-making scenarios related to school connectivity planning.
- Participants work in teams to conduct connectivity gap analysis, compare technology options, and assess cost and sustainability considerations.
- A hands-on workshop using the CPP tool allows participants to explore connectivity deployment scenarios and test assumptions.
Peer learning and reflection
- Collaborative group work, plenary discussions and peer feedback encourage exchange of experiences across countries.
- Guided reflection activities help participants link training insights to their national planning contexts and identify practical next steps.
Post-training follow-up
Participants receive digital copies of tools and templates used during the training, and will be invited to participate in a follow-up virtual session to discuss implementation progress and lessons learned.
Attendance and Participation = 20%
Full attendance is required. Active contributions during plenary discussions, group activities, and peer exchanges will be observed and noted by facilitators.
Applied groupwork and co-creation labs = 40%
Conducted progressively across the four days. Groups will work on a realistic multi-stakeholder school connectivity scenario. Exercises include:
Day 1: Context, stakeholders & connectivity gaps
Day 2: Technology options & feasibility
Day 3: Cost, sustainability & CPP tool application
Day 4: Strategy integration & implementation planning
Day 5: Strategy presentation & strategic reflection
Outputs (worksheets, drafts, flipcharts) will be reviewed using a light rubric emphasizing collaboration, relevance, innovation, and sustainability.
Final roadmap presentation / synthesis exercise = 40%
On day 5, groups will present in plenary their structured and evidence-based last-mile connectivity strategy. Presentations will be assessed on clarity, feasibility, specifically on technical, financial, and policy reasoning. Peer and expert feedback will be provided.
A total score of 70% or higher is required to obtain the ITU certificate
Module 1 (Day 1): School connectivity ecosystem and policy context
- Introduction to the global school connectivity agenda and the Giga initiative
- Overview of connectivity infrastructure: backbone, middle mile and last mile
- Mapping the national school connectivity ecosystem and key stakeholders
- Identifying connectivity gaps and priority challenges in participants’ national contexts
Module 2 (Day 2): Last mile connectivity technologies and deployment models
- Overview of last mile connectivity technologies (fibre, fixed wireless, mobile broadband, microwave, satellite)
- Technology deployment models for rural, peri-urban and remote contexts
- Global case studies of school connectivity implementation
- Technology comparison and decision-making frameworks
Module 3 (Day 3): Cost, sustainability and scenario analysis
- Introduction to CAPEX, OPEX and total cost of ownership in connectivity deployment
- Financing and sustainability considerations for school connectivity
- Analytical tools for scenario comparison (including CPP tool demonstration and hands-on session)
- Scenario-based exercises: evaluating technology options under different constraints
Module 4 (Day 4): Designing a last mile connectivity strategy
- Integrating technical, financial and institutional analyses
- Developing a phased school connectivity implementation roadmap
- Stakeholder coordination and risk mitigation considerations
- Group strategy development and preparation for final presentation
Module 5 (Day 5): Strategy presentation and lessons from practice
- Group presentations of last mile connectivity strategies
- Peer review and facilitated feedback
- Lessons from field implementation (expert / guest talk)
- Reflection on key insights and next steps for national application
Financial support available
The training is offered free of charge. Travel and daily subsistence allowances will be covered for selected participants from countries currently engaged in the Giga Initiative:
Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Congo (Democratic Republic of), Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Applicants can apply to both the course and the fellowship by clicking on "Apply Here" at the top right part of this page.
Nationals from countries not included in the list above are welcome to apply, but they must commit to self-finance all of their costs if selected.
Registration information
Unless specified otherwise, all ITU Academy training courses are open to all interested professionals, irrespective of their race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, economic status and other diverse backgrounds. We strongly encourage registrations from female participants, and participants from developing countries. This includes least developed countries, small island developing states and landlocked developing countries.
