Lessons learned from projects that’ve brought wireless communications technologies to remote areas—from the Arctic to the Andes—could help widen online access across the globe and benefit billions of people.

This is according to a University of Glasgow-led team who’ve published recommendations on how governments can overcome the myriad challenges preventing billions from having regular internet access.

In a new Early Access paper published in the Proceedings of the IEEE academic journal, the team examined seven case studies of successful projects which have brought online connectivity to remote and harsh environments.

They also looked at how the examples set in those communities could provide templates for others around the world, and how governments and industry can help support their success.

The case studies focus on innovative connectivity-boosting projects undertaken on four continents, with each study demonstrating clever solutions tailored to the unique challenges of the locations.

For instance, one project in the Swedish Arctic helped establish an off-grid cellular network for the indigenous Sami community, using renewable power and fuel cells to provide 4G coverage in an area without roads and power grids.

Another example took place on the Orkney Islands, where the 5G New Thinking project tested the technical and business feasibility of 5G networks deployed in the remote community, which combined shared spectrum technology and the support of local communications operators.

Professor Muhammad Imran, who leads the University of Glasgow’s Communications, Sensing and Imaging Hub, is first author of the paper. He said: “Although wireless communications have made huge inroads in societies around the globe in recent years, half the world’s population still remains offline.

“That means that billions of people are cut off from the opportunities for education, employment, healthcare and more that only access to high-quality communications can provide. Connecting the unconnected is vitally important to spurring economic and social development.

“We’ve worked closely with partners around the world to put together these case studies, which showcase challenges overcome and opportunities created by bringing wireless access to remote and extreme locations. This paper offers evidence and insights that we hope will help expand digital access for the benefit of all.”

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The authors’ recommendations drawn from the case studies offer suggestions on how governments, industry, and communities can work together to overcome political, economic, social and technological challenges to widening digital access.

For instance, in the political sphere, the authors recommend that governments develop more flexible spectrum licensing policies, allowing underutilised portions of the broadcast spectrum like TV white space to be used for communications instead—an approach which underpinned the Orkney case study.

The authors also stressed that community engagement and local ownership are key to the social success of future programmes. Government investment in digital literacy and community-based skill and knowledge-sharing initiatives can also help create lasting public engagement with technologies.

Dr Olaoluwa Popoola, of the University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of Engineering, is the corresponding author of the paper. He added: “In the future, internet access should be a universal right, viewed as being just as important to the wellbeing of the people of every country as fresh water, roads and education. Countries including Finland have already established digital access as a legal right, available to every citizen no matter where they live.

“Our hope is that this paper will help governments, industry, legislators and other decisionmakers to take a more informed view of expanding the spread of wireless communications into areas which are currently under-served.”