COMMUNITY NETWORKS
AND LOCAL ACCESS

Monthly newsletter

February 2019

Welcome to the 15th monthly round-up of developments impacting your local access networks.

1. Get involved

The Internet Society is inviting applications for the online course "Building Wireless Community Networks". The e-learning course will be delivered through its learning portal Inforum. This online course covers essential topics for effective planning, deployment and operational support of wireless community networks. The course will be delivered in English and Spanish. Applications can be submitted in English here and in Spanish here.
 
Schedule for applications and selections:
 
25 February 2019    Applications open
10 March 2019        Applications close
15 March 2019        Selected applicants notified
18 March 2019        Course begins
 
The Internet Society encourages applications from people who have an interest in deploying wireless community networks for access and development purposes. For any questions, email learning@isoc.org. 

2. Events and conferences

2.1 Upcoming events

  • The 2019 Africa Internet Summit, to be held from 9 to 21 June 2019 in Kampala, Uganda, has issued a call for presentation proposals. They are seeking presentations on a wide range of issues, broadly related to the growth and development of internet access in Africa, to enrich discussion and share knowledge within the regional technical community. Read the event concept note here and submit presentation proposals here.

    The deadline for submitting an application is 5 April 2019.

3. Community networks in news and blogs

  • Community Network Champions Take a Rural Dip in India. Read more. 
  • Getting Your Community Off to a Quick Start with CN Quickstart - Community Broadband Bits Podcast 339. Listen here.
  • Connecting the last unconnected billions through community networks. Read more.
  • Inspiring young people in Kenya's Kibera slum. Read more.
  • In September 2017 the communities of the municipality of Buenos Aires, Cauca (Colombia) started the planning and construction of their own communications network with the help and support of Colnodo, the Internet Society and other actors who wanted to join the project. Watch here.  
  • Ken Sanderson discusses remote and rural First Nations community broadband communications in Canada. Watch here.   
  • [Español] Internet Society - Las Redes Comunitarias. Mira aquí. 
  • [Español] ¿Qué hacer cuando mercado y gobierno no llegan al México rural? Leer más.
  • Telone partners with Buhera-based internet company to set up network system after calls by Zimbabwe-based community network Murambinda Works to provide it with fibre to launch the project. Read more.  
  • [Español] Organizaciones civiles e indígenas presentarán propuesta para lograr cobertura plena de telecomunicaciones. Leer más.
  • [Español] Elementos fundamentales para una política de cobertura plena de telecomunicaciones en México. Leer más.

4. Relevant articles on technologies related to local access networks

  • Rethinking Affordable Access. Read more.  

  • Hyperlocal radio and do-it-yourself networks bring information close to home. Read more.

5. News on policy and regulation

  • World Telecom Labs has urged the Nigerian Communications Commission to enforce the use of excess spectrum by telecom networks in rural areas to increase connectivity. Read more.  
  • Risks and Opportunities of Late Telco Privatisation from Research ICT Africa. Read more. 

6. Reports and publications

6.1 Reports relevant to community networks and local access initiatives

  • Joint submission by Murambinda Works, Association for Progressive Communications, Internet Society and Rhizomatica on the consultation paper on light licensing of the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz band in Zimbabwe. Read more.  
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