Source: The Next Web
Internet connectivity is coming to be regarded worldwide as no less than essential infrastructure, and yet it’s estimated about half of the world’s population today remains unconnected.
Connecting the world’s unconnected populations will demand new approaches in business relationships, policy making, and technology solutions.
The challenge in bringing the last billions online is marked by a number of unique complications that vary depending on the given unconnected region.These could include a lack of conducive public policies, education, relevant content, technology options, or even reliable electricity. Community networks and public access figure as central among a pool of solutions through which the great promise of connecting the unconnected is most likely to be fulfilled.
The specific benefits of community networks and public access—such as adaptability to local needs, affordability and contribution to digital literacy—are particularly well suited for connecting the unconnected in rural, remote and underserved areas. IEEE has issued complementary statements on the roles of community networks and public access in advancing universal access, affirming each as “an important element of expanding internet access and allowing individuals and communities to reap the benefits of the internet.”
Community networks
As evidenced by BOSCO in Uganda, TunapandaNET in Kenya, Rhizomatica in Mexico, AlterMundi in Argentina, Digital Empowerment Foundation projects in India, Guifi.net in Spain, Tribal Digital Village in the United States and others, the world’s successful community networks are as varied as the communities they serve.
Indeed, the IEEE statement points out that “definitions of community networks can be simple or more complex” and that when “based on open internet standards are technically no different than other networks for providing internet access.”
Community networks either can provide access in areas where commercial internet service is not available, or they can offer a valuable complementary alternative to existing commercial offerings in some markets
So often, commercial providers in unconnected regions report that the licensing conditions render return on investment in service rollout to be extremely challenging. Community networks in these settings can provide an affordable and compelling way to get people online:
- they can be built and operated by the members of the communities they serve—sometimes volunteers;
- they can use locally available hardware and software—sometimes donated or open source solutions, and
- they can foster creation of highly relevant content in local languages and dealing with local issues.
The success stories around the world show that a wide variety of governance, organizational and operating models can be leveraged…
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