Cloudflare, Inc. has announced a strategic partnership with Giga, a joint initiative by UNICEF and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The collaboration aims to accelerate school Internet connectivity worldwide, helping governments close the digital divide and provide equal access to digital education.
As part of this initiative, Cloudflare’s Speed Test solution will deliver real-time Internet performance data from schools across the globe. With up to 10 million monthly availability tests, the platform will measure speed, latency, and affordability, feeding into Giga Maps—an open-source tool designed to help governments, civil society, and the private sector strategize investments and track connectivity progress in underserved regions.
Currently, an estimated 1.3 billion children lack home Internet access, with nearly 50% of students unable to connect daily at school. This gap widens economic and social inequalities, limiting access to education and job opportunities.
“Cloudflare’s mission is to help build a better Internet, and that means making it more accessible to everyone. Partnering with UNICEF’s Giga ensures millions of children can prepare for a digital future by accessing quality Internet at school,” said Matthew Prince, Co-founder and CEO of Cloudflare.
Echoing this, Thomas Davin, Global Director, UNICEF Office of Innovation, added: “Connecting schools to reliable Internet is crucial. Cloudflare’s technology will supercharge Giga’s data collection and help governments plan investments in school connectivity with precision.”
With data centers in over 330 cities worldwide, Cloudflare’s global network is uniquely positioned to reduce latency and provide accurate insights for school connectivity solutions. This partnership marks a major step toward universal school Internet access, advancing Giga’s mission to empower the next generation with digital learning opportunities
