Verizon Innovative Learning, the Verizon Foundation's education arm, will announce the launch of its first-ever 5G EdTech Challenge Tuesday to reward projects that create compelling solutions to challenges in under-resourced middle school classrooms using 5G, executives tell Axios.

Why it matters: Verizon sees its future as tethered to 5G and incorporating opportunities for the technology in the education sphere is a key goal for its implementation.

• Verizon Wireless President Ronan Dunne is particularly invested in the promise of 5G, telling Axios: "I'm a strong believer that digital access and closing the digital divide helps with bringing new talent and driving opportunities."

The details: Verizon is launching the initiative in partnership with NYC Media Lab.

• The ten most compelling projects will receive funding of $100,000, access to 5G nodes and training from experts on the technology to bring their projects to life in schools in Q3 of 2019, the company says.
• Submissions will be evaluated by a group of industry leaders, social impact advocates and tech experts convened by the Verizon Foundation and NYC Media Lab.