Insights From the Edge
Big Ideas for Big Problems: Addressing Connectivity
This episode of Big Ideas for Big Problems: Addressing Connectivity podcast explores the critical challenge of connectivity among displaced and underserved communities. Guests include telecom-inclusion pioneer Troy Etulain and digital access advocate Mea Thompson, who dive into:
Why connectivity matters for refugees, students and women in host communities.
The systemic barriers — infrastructure, policy, affordability — that keep communities offline.
Real-world solutions: partnerships, community models and tech-enabled strategies making a difference.
Big ideas for bold change: moving from access to meaningful use, ethical considerations of powering vulnerable contexts, and what a moon-shot to bridge the digital divide might look like.
Tune in for insight-driven talk that connects global policy, grassroots action and technology for inclusion.
Terms Of Reference Podcast: Building Digital Inclusion, One Practical Experiment at a Time
In his Aidpreneur interview, Troy Etulain, Director of USAID’s mSTAR project at FHI 360, explores how digital development succeeds when it starts with real-world problems, not technology hype. From long-range Wi-Fi pilots and mobile money innovations to mapping connectivity gaps across underserved regions, he highlights practical ways to bridge the digital divide. Etulain’s message is simple yet powerful: treat technology as a catalyst for social impact—building sustainable, inclusive systems that connect people, empower communities, and expand opportunity.