Community access networks: how to connect the next billion to the Internet
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Despite recent progress with mobile technology diffusion, more than four billion people worldwide are unconnected and have limited access to global communication infrastructure. The cost of implementing connectivity infrastructure in underserved areas remains a major barrier.Más información
Despite recent progress with mobile technology diffusion, more than four billion people worldwide are unconnected and have limited access to global communication infrastructure. The cost of implementing connectivity infrastructure in underserved areas remains a major barrier. Impoverished rural communities largely make up these unconnected areas, where communities are too poor to incentivize infrastructure investments from traditional telecommunications providers. The ensuing divide is especially acute for women, as it is estimated that 12% fewer women than men have Internet access worldwide, and this rises to a 29% gap in least-developed countries.
According to World Development Report 2016: Digital Dividends, there is consensus that access to telecommunications services is a prerequisite to sustainable socio-economic development. This is reflected in several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that target inequalities in access to information and communication technologies (ICT) and telecommunications services. This includes, most significantly, SDG Target 5.b, which aims to enhance the use of enabling technologies to promote women’s empowerment, and Target 9.c, which aims to increase access to ICTs and provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in less-developed countries by 2020.
Exploring alternative strategies that focus on locally owned and managed communication infrastructure and investigating innovations in low-cost communication technology may provide solutions that bring down costs and expand and sustain infrastructure. Current examples include Rhizomatica, which is helping remote indigenous communities in Mexico gain access to previously unused spectrum, resulting in affordable voice and broadband services.
This project examines whether existing local access innovations can be scaled up and replicated in other areas. It will provide case studies and formulate recommendations with respect to telecommunications policies that are inclusive and promote equity in access to connectivity.
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Resultados de la investigación Opens in new tab
The project aimed to understand current telecom regulations which can enhance or deter community networks and other small network operators from delivering affordable access to the Internet. The project included four activity areas: 1) In-depth case studies and analysis, 2) Open telecom data, policy and regulation, 3) Awareness raising and movement building, and 4) Support for existing and emerging initiatives. This detailed report covers multiple project activities regarding the potential of community networks. Due to limitations in national operator broadband models of connectivity, there is increasing interest in exploring alternative strategies for reaching the 4 billion who are unconnected.
Increasing numbers of networks are emerging where community members build and operate their own telecommunication infrastructure, often managed on a cost recovery basis, rather than for commercial gain. However, most governments are not yet aware of the potential impact of independent small-scale community-based networks. The research aimed to provide information useful for evidence-based policy making that will contribute to creating a more enabling environment for local access networks. This report details the results of the project. Initiatives studied in the research are summarized and grouped by country.
The book documents the details, benefits and challenges of small-scale, community-based connectivity projects. Association for Progressive Communications (APC) researchers visited 12 rural community networks in the global South in 2018. The networks examined in the research either provide Wi-Fi-based internet connectivity or mobile voice and/or internet services. The social impacts of six cases (Argentina, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa and Uganda) were studied in greater detail. Increasing numbers of community-led networks are emerging where members build and operate their own telecommunication infrastructure, often managed on a cost recovery basis rather than for commercial gain. However, most governments are not yet aware of their potential impact.