Planes, trains, and smartphones
Almost thirty years ago, I wrote a book called The Road Ahead, about the transformative potential of the internet and other new digital technologies. Back then, I envisioned a world where online payments and e-government would change how we interact with money, services, and each other. Today, much of that has become a reality, in part due to the development of digital public infrastructure. In my recent travels around the world, I’ve seen up close how DPI is revolutionizing the way entire nations serve their people, respond to crises, and grow their economies. And at the Gates Foundation, we see it as an important part of our efforts to help save lives and fight poverty in poor countries.
There are a few core components that constitute DPI: digital ID systems that securely prove who you are, payment systems that move money instantly and cheaply, and data exchange platforms that allow different services to work together seamlessly. These systems and platforms are to the digital world what roads, bridges, and power lines are to the physical one—an underlying structure that connects people, data, and money online. Strong DPI can propel a country forward by making it easier for people to access essential services, participate in the formal economy, and improve their lives. On the flip side, DPI that is poorly implemented (or simply non-existent) can slow a country’s development and perpetuate inefficiencies and inequities.
In the 21st century, digital public infrastructure is proving to be as important for progress as its brick-and-mortar predecessors—and the effects have been impressive around the world, wherever it’s been embraced.
Take India, where I spent time earlier this year. The country’s digital ID system, Aadhaar, gives every resident the ability to prove who they are, while its Unified Payments Interface facilitates instant payment via mobile phone. Together, these programs have expanded access to financial services dramatically. The proportion of adults with digital bank accounts nearly doubled, reaching 78 percent, in just ten years. And women’s account ownership tripled—which eliminated the gender gap in account ownership entirely. This is economic empowerment on a massive scale, unlocked by the country’s rapid expansion of mobile networks over the past decade.
Agriculture, the largest industry and source of work in most developing countries, is also benefiting from digital transformation. In Kenya, a national farmer registry with 6 million geo-tagged farmer locations sends out weekly text messages with crop and site-specific weather alerts. In Rwanda, a digital system for workers in the tea industry reduced the time between delivery of tea leaves and receipt of wages from 15 days to a maximum of three.
In healthcare, DPI is also shaking up service delivery and payment systems. Recent polio vaccination campaigns in Côte D’Ivoire and Mali used a digital approach to track vaccinator attendance, coupled with mobile money for instant payments. Over 99 percent of vaccinators were paid within a week, compared to months with previous paper-based systems. The efficiency and reliability were so compelling that almost all vaccinators now prefer digital payment. But this isn’t just about being paid on time—it’s about building trust in health systems so that life-saving vaccines can reach every child.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we saw the role DPI can play in crisis response, too. Brazil rapidly developed a smartphone app and website linked to its national ID system, enabling 70 million people—40 percent of whom previously lacked bank accounts—to register for and receive emergency aid. Togo built a similar system from scratch in only 10 days, expanding social assistance coverage from 12,000 people to 1.8 million. The contrast was stark: In countries with offline systems, people were left in need—while those with robust digital ecosystems could deliver aid faster and more efficiently. For many families, DPI was the difference between poverty and putting food on the table.
But digital public infrastructure isn’t just valuable in times of crisis—it can vastly improve access to everyday government services, too. Estonia, a pioneer in digital governance, launched its X-Road platform in 2001. Today, 99 percent of the country’s public services are available online around the clock. As a result, filing taxes takes three to five minutes while registering a business takes a mere three hours.
| That’s because, with the right investments, countries can use DPI to bypass outdated and inefficient systems, potentially accelerating their progress by more than a decade.
In my climate, tech, and global health work, I have the privilege of meeting with leaders from many countries. Their excitement about DPI is palpable. That’s because, with the right investments, countries can use DPI to bypass outdated and inefficient systems, immediately adopt cutting-edge digital solutions, and leapfrog traditional development trajectories—potentially accelerating their progress by more than a decade. Countries without extensive branch banking can move straight to mobile banking, reaching far more people at a fraction of the cost. Similarly, digital ID systems can provide legal identity to millions who previously lacked official documentation, giving them access to a wide range of services—from buying a SIM card to opening a bank account to receiving social benefits like pensions.
I’ve heard concerns about DPI—here’s how I think about them. Many people worry digital systems are a tool for government surveillance. But properly designed DPI includes safeguards against misuse and even enhances privacy. A good digital ID system, for instance, lets people choose what personal information to share and with whom. It doesn’t force anyone to participate; it offers tools they can opt into because of the many benefits. These systems also reduce the need for physical document copies that can be lost or stolen, and even create audit trails that make it easier to detect and prevent unauthorized access. The goal is to empower people, not restrict them.
Then there’s the fear that DPI will disenfranchise vulnerable populations like rural communities, the elderly, or those with limited digital literacy. But when it’s properly designed and thoughtfully implemented, DPI actually increases inclusion—like in India, where millions of previously unbanked people now have access to financial services, and where biometric exceptions or assisted enrollment exist for people with physical disabilities or no fixed address.
