The Internet is a part of the social, economic, and cultural fabric for billions of people around the globe. It is how they connect, communicate, create, and collaborate. But while the Internet revolution has come to most of the world, there are places that have been missed.
There is a solution for many of these places. Community networks — networks built, managed and used by local communities — are cornerstones of the Internet Society’s work. These do-it-yourself networks are a solution for many remote and rural areas, as well as underserved urban areas where there is a limited business case for traditional Internet service providers. Community networks offer a way for anyone, anywhere, to connect to the Internet with right tools and support.
While the technology — the “network” part of a community network — is important, our experience shows us that the most important part of building a sustainable community network is the human factor – the “community” part of a community network. Sometimes, one of the best roles the Internet Society can play is as a convenor, providing the opportunity for open discussions and helping expand and strengthen the Internet development community.