The Giga Accelerator is a programme under the Giga initiative, anchored at the Giga Technology Centre in Barcelona and delivered primarily in a virtual format. It supports products that advance economically sustainable and inclusive school connectivity, helping innovators refine and scale their solutions while building strategic relationships across the digital connectivity ecosystem.
The Accelerator Program has three main goals:
- Support product development and sustainability through financial backing and mentorship.
- Enhance the potential for commercial viability and ensure interoperability of solutions.
- Foster relationships with high-potential partners in the telecom sector.
Eligibility Criteria
- Legal Registration: The applicant must be legal entity, duly registered in one of the ITU Member States.
- Compliance: The applicant shall be required to confirm in writing that the entity nor its owners are not subject to any major ongoing litigation related to prohibited practices as defined by ITU.
- Financial Stability: Proof of financial solvency is required to demonstrate the entity is a going concern.
- Stage of Development: The product that is the subject of the application must be at a minimum Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4 or higher, meaning it should be at least in the proof of concept or prototype phase.
- Open-Source Commitment: The product that is the subject of the application must be an existing open-source project or the applicant must commit to one of the open-source contribution models before the end of their participation in the Accelerator Programme. Please review the Commitment to Open Source form.
Selection Criteria
- Technical Solutions
- Product Scalability
- Team Expertise
- Innovation
- Social Impact
Focus Areas
- Connecting Communities in Infrastructure-Constrained Environments: Solutions for communities where traditional connectivity infrastructure may be insufficient, unavailable or unviable, requiring alternative network configurations or designs that function effectively even in such areas.
- Affordable and Sustainable Business Models & Financing Mechanisms: Approaches that address the need for creative business models, pricing approaches or financing mechanisms that ensure digital connectivity remains financially viable, accessible, and affordable to underserved communities.
- Viable Internet Provision forUnderserved Areas: Solutions that enable sustainable, commercially viable internet provision at community scale, especially in locations with population density typical of peri-urban and rural areas.
- Optimizing Internet Provision for the Underserved Areas Context: Solutions that use the latest technologies to foster reliable performance adaptability and ease of deployment in underserved and unserved areas.
- Reducing Operational Barriers for Connectivity Providers: Solutions that ease the operational complexity, cost, and technical skill/manpower requirements involved in delivering connectivity in remote or unserved areas.
Why Apply
- Equity-Free Financing
- Education
- Network
- Matchmaking & Visibility
- Opportunity for Pilots in Emerging Markets
Required Materials
- Application form
- Proof of legal registration & compliance documentation
- TRL self-assessment
- Open-source commitment declaration
- Organization’s Pitch Deck (highly recommended)
Applications Deadline: 21st,September 2025
Click Here To Apply
