"The internet has revolutionised the way that many of us live our lives, enabling new forms of communication, fostering online communities, fuelling economic growth, and facilitating all manner of entertainment. Yet about half of the world’s population remains offline, and only about 19% of the Least Developed Countries’ (LDCs) population has access to the internet. The reality of access in rural areas across the world is even more bleak, with access in rural areas sitting at about 14% compared to 42% in urban areas in Global South countries. It is more urgent than ever to focus on affordable and meaningful mobile broadband internet access to deliver on the promise and opportunities of digital development in developing countries of the Global South, with special attention to rural areas and LDCs in general. In order to achieve the universal goals for reducing inequality and achieving universal access by 2030, it is crucial to have clear frameworks that can guide and speed up progress. This Rural Broadband Policy Framework (RBPF) aims to provide guidance to address the persistent ‘Digital Divide’, with a focus on the context and challenges faced in rural areas." (Introduction)