First Summit on Community Networks in Africa

Introduction/Background

Connecting the next Billion is one of the central issues on the international Internet and Internet Governance agenda. At the Internet Society, we consider “Connecting the Next Billion” as a key issue, as it relates directly to our mission and vision. Despite the success of the mobile revolution in Africa, there are significant barriers to connectivity.

Community established networks also referred to as “community networks” (CN) are an emerging and sustainable solution to address the connectivity gaps that exist in urban and rural areas around the world. In Africa, where these gaps are more evident. A recent survey was able to identify 37 community networks initiatives in 12 African countries, of which 25 are considered active. [1]

To understand better how this phenomenon is evolving in the continent, the First Summit on Community Networks in Africa will be held on 22nd November 2016 in Nairobi Kenya within the AfriCHI conference. The Summit aims to bring together more than ten community network operators in Africa to engage in experience sharing on their challenges and opportunities. The objective of the summit is to promote increased collaboration between community network operators in the region and to provide an opportunity for them to engage with other stakeholders.

Who Should Attend

Community Network operators, Wireless Network Researchers, Policy Makers, Regulators and Regulatory Associations, Civil Society organisations and members of the public interested on the topic. 

Venue

Auditorium in the University of Nairobi towers, University of Nairobi

Draft Summary Agenda

Registration

Participation fees: 30 USD

1. For registrations please proceed to https://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventId=1864389
2. Select "Registration Type: Workshops/Courses/..."
3. After entering your personal details please select “Community Networks in Africa” under the agenda items

Useful Information

• Lunch will be provided
• French - English simultaneous translation will be available

Logistics Around the Event

• ACM Dev, 18-20 November: http://acmdev.org
• AfriCHI, 21-25 November: http://africhi.net/
• Entry visas for Kenya: http://evisa.go.ke/single-entry-visa.html
  Single Entry Visa. Issued for a single entry to persons whose nationalities require a visa to enter Kenya either for business, tourism or medical reasons.

Examples Community Networks in Africa attending the Summit

• Connecting Eenhana, Fatsuam Foundation and Mesh Bukavu from: “(Re)Building Technology: Community Technology Fieldguide”
• Ensemble Pour La Difference and Fjord: “Bringing The Internet To Africa’s Forgotten Island”
• Tunapanda Net: http://www.tunapanda.org/
• Zenzeleni Networks: http://zenzeleni.net
• BOSCO Uganda: http://boscouganda.com/our-approach/bosco-network/
• Murambinda Works: http://www.machaworks.org/murumbinda.html
• Macha Works: http://www.machaworks.org
• Soweto Wireless User Group (SoWUG): http://sowug.org.za/

Examples of Other Community Networks in the world

• Internet Society Wireless for Communities in South Asia: http://www.internetsociety.org/what-we-do/where-we-work/asia/south-asia/wireless-communities
• Digital Empowerment Foundation: http://defindia.org
• Guifi: https://guifi.net
• Rhizomatica: https://rhizomatica.org

Contact

• Carlos Rey-Moreno: carlos.reymoreno@gmail.com
• Michuki Mwangi: mwangi@isoc.org

Notes

[1] C. Rey-Moreno, M. Graaf, “Map of Community Networks in Africa”, 1st Report on the Dynamic Coalition on Community Connectivity: “Community Connectivity: Building the Internet from Scratch”. Ed. FGV Rio Editions. December 2016. In press