Millions of people, particularly in marginalized communities and informal settlements, lack formal addresses, which prevents them from accessing essential services like banking, voting, and deliveries. Traditional street addressing systems often fail in these areas, perpetuating cycles of exclusion. A digital, universal addressing system could bridge this gap by leveraging modern technology and existing infrastructure.

How It Could Work

One approach could involve creating a global database that assigns precise longitude and latitude coordinates to dwellings. This system might:

• Use GPS technology to map locations accurately, even in areas without formal infrastructure.
• Partner with postal networks and local communities to crowdsource data through simple mobile apps or SMS-based registration.
• Provide APIs for businesses and governments to integrate the addressing system into services like e-commerce deliveries or disaster response.

Over time, this could evolve into a comprehensive "digital twin" of global habitation, supporting future technologies like drone deliveries or autonomous logistics.

Potential Benefits and Stakeholder Incentives

Such a system could unlock opportunities for multiple groups:

• Individuals without addresses could gain access to financial services, healthcare deliveries, and voting rights.
• Businesses could expand into previously unreachable markets, paying for reliable addressing data.
• Governments and NGOs might use it for better census tracking, aid distribution, and urban planning.

Postal networks could benefit from increased efficiency, while local leaders might champion adoption by demonstrating tangible benefits like faster emergency aid.

Execution Strategies

A simplified MVP could start with a pilot in one city or region, using basic SMS or app-based registration. Early partnerships with postal services and logistics companies could validate the system's usefulness. Over time, the project might expand by:

• Adding metadata (like floor numbers or landmarks) to improve urban accuracy.
• Implementing privacy safeguards, such as GDPR-compliant data handling and opt-out options.
• Exploring revenue streams like API subscriptions or anonymized dataset licensing.

Unlike proprietary systems (e.g., What3Words), using open standards like longitude/latitude could ensure wider interoperability and avoid licensing barriers.