The next wave of internet users will not come from highly connected urban centers. They will come from emerging markets. From small towns, rural areas, and mobile-first populations across India, Indonesia, Brazil, Nigeria, and beyond. And building for them is very different. Because the assumptions most products make—fast internet, expensive smartphones, stable payments, high digital literacy—often don’t hold. If you want to build for the next billion users, you’re not just solving software problems. You’re solving infrastructure problems, trust problems, accessibility problems, and affordability problems. This is what engineering for emerging markets really looks like. The Reality of Emerging Markets When engineers build products in mature markets, they often assume: Reliable 4G/5G High-end devices Unlimited storage Digital payment adoption English proficiency But emerging markets look different.…