The AI era offers life-changing opportunities for all – but only if we can all access those opportunities. According to the GSMA, approximately 300 million people live in the “coverage gap” – areas that completely lack access to any mobile broadband network. Closing these gaps has become an urgent economic and social imperative.
Huawei hosted a Tech Cares forum in Barcelona in the lead up to MWC 2026, where the conversation focused on bringing the benefits of the intelligent world to everyone, connecting the unconnected, providing inclusive services and promoting basic digital skills.
Commitments to connectivity
Opening the event, Yang Chaobin, CEO of ICT Business Group Huawei, set the tone with a clear statement of intent: “Technology should be a force for good and benefit everyone,” This underscored Huawei’s commitment to connecting the unconnected and making sure no one is left behind in the transition to an intelligent world.
Around 300 million people still live outside the reach of any mobile broadband network. Many millions more are covered but lack the skills, devices or confidence to use digital services meaningfully.
Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, shared how its Partner2Connect programme is tackling this divide. Through global pledges and cross-sector collaboration, Huawei and ITU have already connected 170 million people across 80 countries.
But as Zavazava reminded the audience, infrastructure alone is not enough and “technology without a human face doesn’t go far.” Beyond coverage, stakeholders must understand how and why people are going online. Meaningful usage, whether for education, healthcare, agriculture or entrepreneurship, is what turns connection into empowerment.
This means investing in local infrastructure and talent, aligning on shared goals and recognising a collective responsibility. Zavazava added: “We have the responsibility to get everyone access to technology.” Success requires more than technical capability; it demands innovation, community engagement and coordination between governments, industry and civil society. The private sector, in particular, must move beyond profit-making toward leadership and acceleration for good.
Implementations of connectivity
Huawei’s DigiTruck, also known as ‘Skills on Wheels’, transforms shipping containers mounted on trucks into mobile digital classrooms, bringing training directly to underserved communities. The initiative has already reached more than 130,000 people across 21 countries. Jeff Wang, President of Public Affairs and Communications Huawei said: “We are not only making sure everyone is connected, but also that everyone has the skills to benefit from the connectivity.”
The case studies were undoubtedly compelling. In Kenya, a young farmer who had never touched a computer learned basic digital skills and has since used online tools to improve his entire operation. A woman running a solo business gained the confidence to use her smartphone to market her services online, unlocking new customers and income streams. In France, senior citizens have used DigiTruck sessions to build digital confidence, helping them stay connected to family and essential services. Wang ended: “Today’s learners are tomorrow’s mentors.”
Additional compelling actions taken by Huawei’s partners included Vodafone’s Instant Network Schools programme.
Operating 159 Instant Network Schools and reaching more than 382,000 students, the programme goes beyond simply providing connectivity. It equips classrooms with digital tools, teacher training and ongoing support, transforming them into connected learning spaces.
H.E. Ambassador Philip Thigo, MBS, Republic of Kenya’s Special Envoy for Technology said: “Every child deserves access to quality technology wherever they are.” He stressed that the impact extends beyond academic performance. When students see what is possible through technology, it reshapes their sense of what their own lives can become. A video shown at the forum, featuring students and teachers from across Africa, brought this to life.
The message echoed across the keynote speakers: moving from connectivity to capability requires collaboration. No single company, government or citizen can close the gap alone.
The future of connectivity
Despite the progress, the usage gap remains substantial. Marina Madale, Executive, Sustainability and Shared Value, MTN Group said: “Connectivity is not a privilege; it is an economic necessity,” and it is still out of reach for hundreds of millions.
Three critical priorities were identified going forward:
- Affordable devices (particularly smartphones) ensure that networks are not only built but used.
- Digital literacy as a fundamental building block ensures that users can navigate safely, confidently and productively.
- AI as a transformative layer that if deployed inclusively, can accelerate progress across all sectors
The Tech Cares forum closed on a note of pragmatic optimism. The AI era offers extraordinary potential, but only if its foundations are inclusive. Bridging the coverage and usage gaps will demand sustained commitment and shared responsibility, but the most important thing is building an intelligent world with people at its centre.
