Notes on Rural Broadband Access Webinar (15 July 2020)

natalia, A4AI brazil

pretty theoretical. dinesh was listening so didn't make much notes.
some tips about how to make policy (this slide was shown repeatedly)
1. Harness market competition
2. Streamline regulatory processes
3. Invest in and improve public access and universeal service funds
4. Effectively manage spectrum resources
5. Leverage innovative architectures, business models, etc
6. Adapt appropriate tax and fee structures
7. Stimulate demand for broadband services
8. Monitoring and accountability
read meaningful connectivity standard from A4AI - they advocate for a minimum 4G speed

rural areas are badly connected
- not qualitatively connected - 2G, not functional 3G
- no broadband
- covid19 has increased our dependence on internet but the rural gap widens
- urban areas 400% connectivity - one person has 4 options (multiple SIMs)
  whereas rural areas hardly 50%
liberalisation of isp where small players can flourish is not allowed
DEF is the largest community network installer in the region
- not able to scale up to entrepreneurship model
  still dependent on external funds
- many backhaul providers are reluctant to give backhaul to DEF as they see a loss of market where they could have charged higher for those villages.
2030 is too late a target to get the other 50% online

support from Can Gov to study accessibility in 2018
altermundi - good example of community network
- backhaul provided by a university
- setup cost - 100 USD
- monthly cost - 5 USD/month
rhizomatica - less common example
- setup their own GSM network
- possible because of progressive policy in Mexico - spectrum free for indigenous communities
- not seen by other countries, though trying in Colombia
- setup cost - 10K usd
- monthly cost - 2.5 USD /month for unlimited calling
increased role of women in setting up and maintaining infrastructure
strong colloboration with community radio - use of tower, power, etc
key contstraints
- limited human capacity - brain drain, etc
- lack of enabling regulatory environment - not much sharing ecosystem

covid19 has shown us that now more than ever we need equal access to internet to everyone
in uganda - new licensing framework for Telecoms
- one of the first country to create community network license
- barriers - taxes and fee structure
new licensing has eased a little bit, but still have some blocks
tax on social media users - CIPESA is trying to remove it as it
- discourages ppl to use internet
- also it affected women more than men (didn't get how)
- ToRead - who wins and who loses…
  a paper written by APC and CIPESA on this issue

Usually rural people who we train to setup and maintain community networks end up migrating to cities as they get better pay with new skills

gave an example - not true always
- they trained someone in maharashtra and he is earning 2000USD per month
- he is chosen for Bharat NAT? - to connect village councils with fibre
- a good policy helped in this regard

Integrated approach
- Look beyond telcos
- Smart Village initiative in Niger supported by many organisations including World Bank

each country should have right to broadband as per constitution
- as in everyone should have access to 100Mbps internet