✨DPI Overview

An approach that works to transform nations at scale

At the Centre for DPI, we'd like to put out our thinking to help countries answer the question: what is this “magic sauce” that you call DPI, and how can it fast-track our national digitisation plans to create inclusive and innovative digital economies?

To answer this question, it's useful to first look back. The DPI movement is inspired by the open standards and specifications that created the Internet (TCP-IP, HTTP, HTML, SMTP, etc.) and mobile networks (GSM, SMS, LTE, etc.), which operated as the original digital infrastructure of the late 20th century, triggering a burst of public and private innovation that broke barriers and drove inclusion. Our controversial opinion: no other technology innovation in recent memory - not the iPhone, not the laptop, not even the computer chip - has triggered as much subsequent innovation as those original open standards. Read that again slowly.

So looking ahead, how can countries take a similar approach to catalyse inclusion and innovation in areas such as access to money, healthcare, education, and competitive innovation in services?

The DPI approach is about moving from platforms to open networks powered by protocols. We think there are three (3) foundational categories that make up 21st-century digital public infrastructure:

This is not an exhaustive list! These blocks are necessary but not sufficient to achieve a thriving digital economy. It is also important to note that the blocks can only be considered as DPI if they are built in accordance with the technical architecture principles. A data sharing system that is not interoperable, or a digital ID that is not minimalist or reusable, cannot be considered as digital public infrastructure.

Examples of how these DPI blocks can supercharge interactions in society:

1. Identities & Trust Infrastructure:

Identities help establish foundational information about any noun (person, object or business).

With this capability, any entity - with an individual's consent - can verify their identity (confirming "Are you who you claim to be?") through the e-Authentication capability. Additionally, basic information can be collected through e-KYC ("Can you provide more details about yourself?"). This process helps reduce the costs for services such as banking and insurance.

Trust Infrastructure enables individuals to interact and transact without needing to be physically present or using paper, utilising digital signatures and public key infrastructure to ensure secure transactions.

1. Data Sharing & Credentials:

It enables individuals or entities to verify the authenticity of certificates and licenses by scanning digitally signed QR codes for high-trust, tamper-proof personal data sharing. Furthermore, it facilitates real-time, consent-based data sharing between systems, thereby reducing the cost of services like lending. Data sharing also includes the creation of publicly accessible datasets for research and analytics available via open APIs.

1. Payments & Transaction Networks

Payments infra enables anyone to make digital payments to anyone, including street vendors who may have limited digital or financial literacy, by simply scanning an interoperable QR code. This helps the conversion of a cash-based economy to a digital economy. The integration of digital identity and payment systems also allows governments to efficiently distribute social benefits without leakages.

Transaction Networks allow any product or service to be discovered and fulfilled across multiple applications, whether it's discovering a lawyer or a telemedicine provider and booking an appointment with them, choosing a mode of transport, or even searching and applying for scholarships.

Many different building blocks in each of these categories can drive exponential outcomes within and across various sectors.

...by creating ecosystems that combine:

1. the right technology architecture;

2. supplemented by governance frameworks that are transparent, accountable, participatory;

3. and robust public and private market innovation.

We've also thought through some implementation/execution guidance that we hope is helpful to translate DPI theory into practice!