Real insights to bridge the connectivity divide: a live discussion

The secret to connecting the unconnected at scale may exist in a small rural Philippines village where an entire community pays nothing for commercial, unlimited internet access.

Today, we hosted Previsions CEO and analytics expert Henrik Pålsson on Zero-Touch Telecom Live to discuss his journey standing up internet service in an underserved community and the lessons he learned that may finally help telecom finally close the connectivity gap at scale.

The replay is available now below.

Henrik's pioneering journey is one of passion, frustration and priceless insights. Key focus areas of the interview include:

• The importance of community-centric connectivity. Henrik emphasized the importance of viewing connectivity through the lens of community benefits versus individual usage. His work in the Philippines focuses on creating sustainable, community-oriented business models that make internet access affordable and an integral part of daily life.
• Technology isn’t the answer. While technology is a key component of a network offering, Henrik pointed out that challenges such as limited electricity, lack of infrastructure and financial liquidity in remote areas require innovative and holistic approaches that technology alone cannot solve.
• Sustainable and commercially viable business models are critical. “This is not a charity,” says Henrik who advocates that commercial models are ultimately required to empower communities, ensure scalability and support long-term viability of a service.

Introducing his concept of the "five-cent century," Henrik shared his vision for a future where connectivity eventually becomes a fundamental commodity, essential for life and accessible to all, especially in underserved communities.

Watch the replay now to explore how proven strategies are paving a path toward bridging the digital divide and what decisions telecom operators can make today to better position themselves to serve unconnected communities.

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