Internet Society Disburses Funds to Nine Community Initiatives for Broadened Internet Access in Underdeveloped Regions
Headline: Nine Groundbreaking Projects Awarded Funding to Bridge Digital Divide in Seven Countries
The Internet Society and the Internet Society Foundation have announced the grantees for the 2025 Connecting the Unconnected Funding Program, a programme dedicated to providing Internet infrastructure to underserved and unconnected areas.
The programme supports communities and local organizations in their efforts to expand Internet access in rural, remote, indigenous, refugee, and low-income communities. A record number of applications were received during the 2025 application window, reflecting the urgent need for digital equity worldwide.
The funded projects and their intended impacts are as follows:
- Mexico: The Centro de Investigación en Comunicación Comunitaria will receive USD $40,000 to develop connectivity in two indigenous communities in Campeche and Oaxaca. The project aims to deploy infrastructure, ensure affordability, strengthen local technical capacity, and connect key community institutions.
- Colombia: Environmental Women, led by indigenous women, will deploy solar-powered Internet solutions in the Andean Mountains to improve access in remote areas. The project will receive USD $35,000.
- Senegal: Hahatay will enhance an existing community network to improve digital access and opportunities in underserved communities. The project will receive USD $20,000.
- Kenya and Uganda: Kakuma Ventures will focus on providing Internet access in refugee camps and rural areas, promoting digital literacy and sustainable livelihoods. The project will receive USD $20,000.
- Malawi: Let’s Be Transformed (MAGUFINA) will launch a community network in the Dzaleka Refugee Camp, serving over 8,000 households. The project will receive USD $40,000.
- Kenya: Oasis Mathare Community Network will establish a sustainable, community-owned Internet network in urban informal settlements. The project will receive USD $39,973.
- Uganda: Project Hello World will provide Internet access in rural areas and refugee communities, supporting digital inclusion and local capacity building. The project will receive USD $37,964.
- Zimbabwe: Tariro Youth Development Foundation will expand solar-powered Wi-Fi and digital training to thousands of households, improving connectivity and digital skills. The project will receive USD $20,000.
- Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe Community Network Initiatives will restore and upgrade damaged equipment in the Murambinda Community Network to improve reliability and expand reach. The project will receive USD $13,783.
These diverse, community-led approaches aim to empower marginalized populations with Internet access that enables social, educational, and economic development. Due to the high quality and number of applications, no second funding round will be opened in 2025.
The Connecting the Unconnected Funding Program for the year 2025, with a total of USD $232,683 awarded, will significantly contribute to bridging the digital divide in seven countries.
- The Centro de Investigación en Comunicación Comunitaria in Mexico will utilize the funding to implement a technology solution, deploying infrastructure and utilization of solar power to provide mobile Internet access in remote indigenous communities.
- Project Hello World in Uganda will leverage technology to bridge the digital divide in rural areas and refugee communities, providing education opportunities by implementing an infrastructure system that supports digital inclusion and local capacity building.
