1、WHITE PAPERAdvancing Toward a Connected World:The Role of Non-terrestrial Innovations IntroductionThe digital divide is the gap between people who have broadband access to the internet and those who do not.The resulting disparity in access to information and communication services contributes to soc

2、ial and economic inequality globally.Today,roughly half the worlds population does not have internet access,which means about 4 billion people are excluded from the socio economic benefits of internet connectivity.The human impact of the digital divide has been starkly revealed by the COVID-19 pande

3、mic.When lockdown measures require people to remain at home for weeks or months,high-quality broadband services keep families connected and businesses,hospitals and schools running.But where reliable broadband is not accessible,children cannot attend online lessons,employees cannot work effectively,

4、some people are disconnected from healthcare services,while social isolation exacerbates mental health issues.Mobile broadband networks will be the primary means for getting the remaining half of the world online.However,given that just under 600 million people live in areas where there is no mobile

5、 broadband infrastructure and nearly two-thirds live in rural or remote areas,deploying mobile networks to eradicate the digital divide will continue to be difficult if relying on terrestrial backhaul alone.For decades,satellite-based backhaul solutions have supported mobile network operators(MNOs)a

6、nd internet service providers(ISPs)in connecting the unconnected by enabling rapid and cost-effective network expansion.Satellite technology is a vital component in MNO network planning strategies.During the COVID-19 health crisis,satellite technology has been providing urgent capacity and connectiv