Kiribati

Kiribati, an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, spans 32 atolls and reef islands and one raised coral island totalling 811 square kilometres, dispersed over 3.4 million square kilometres. Its population of approximately 129,000 is spread thinly across these islands, with nearly half residing in the capital, South Tarawa. The country's scattered geography poses significant challenges for technology and telecommunications infrastructure. Despite this, mobile and internet penetration have seen marked improvements over the years, largely due to undersea fibre optic cable connection with the Southern Cross NEXT cable going into service during 2022. However, Kiribati still has one of the lowest rates of internet usage in the world, indicating a nascent technology sector. In terms of renewable energy, the country is highly reliant on imported fossil fuels but has made strides in solar power implementation, thanks to its equatorial location. Its low-lying atolls also make it one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, prompting innovative infrastructural solutions for resilience.