The Offline Internet Consortium (OLI) was created in 2018 to raise awareness of offline internet, support development of needs-based technologies and content, and connect the many diverse practitioners around the globe working to provide offline communities with access to quality information and digital resources.

In our hyper-connected digital landscape, OLI practitioners stand out as critical providers of affordable solutions that enable offline communities, such as prisons and refugee camps, to connect to information online.

While OLI members may focus on different aspects of offline internet, their goal is the same: empowering users in offline environments with the resources to advance their education, strengthen their economies, and help lift their communities out of poverty.

The outcomes have been remarkable—addressing critical gaps in West Africa’s educational landscape; improving girls’ access to essential learning materials; empowering vulnerable populations in Colombia and helping them safeguard their language; and delivering educational content to displaced communities worldwide.

In 2024, OLI commissioned a report that examined the need for a deeper understanding of digital connectivity and the technologies that have proven to be effective in bridging the digital divide.