M-Lab and Giga to Launch Community of Practice to Advance School Connectivity Measurement
M-Lab and Giga to Launch Community of Practice to Advance School Connectivity Measurement
Measurement Lab (M-Lab) is excited to announce the early launch of a new Connectivity Community of Practice for applied Internet measurement in collaboration with Giga.
As the world’s largest open collection of Ιnternet performance data, M-Lab provides powerful, real-world telemetry that helps illuminate how networks actually perform. Through this collaboration, we’re working with Giga to strengthen how connectivity is measured and understood for public facilities, especially schools, using open measurement approaches that reflect on-the-ground conditions.
Giga is a joint initiative of UNICEF and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), working to connect every school to the Internet and every young person to information, opportunity, and choice. Through its global focus on school connectivity, Giga supports governments and partners with data, technical expertise, and financing tools to accelerate meaningful access to the Internet for education.
Objectives
This Community of Practice (CoP) builds on that shared foundation. It brings together researchers, network engineers, implementers, and policymakers to advance measurement approaches that are:
- Technically rigorous
- Globally comparable
- Practical for real-world connectivity contexts, including underserved regions
Together, the community will first explore what meaningful measurement looks like for schools, align on indicators that support better decision-making, and translate open telemetry into insights that enable smarter, evidence-based connectivity planning.
At its core, the CoP reflects a shared commitment to openness in data, in tools, and in collaboration. As the community grows, we look forward to shaping inclusive participation and governance models with contributors, ensuring this work remains durable, representative, and grounded in shared priorities.
Join us!
We’ll host a virtual launch event on March 11, 2026 at 15:00 CET / 9:00 Eastern Time to introduce the Community of Practice’s initial focus areas and invite input into its first-year agenda.
Whether you’re an engineer, researcher, educator, advocate, or policymaker, we welcome everyone working at the intersection of Ιnternet measurement and school connectivity to join us and help shape what comes next. If you’re interested in joining the CoP, click on the registration link below.
Can’t attend live? Join the CoP Connectivity group to receive event materials and updates on future activities.