Session
Organizer 1: Raquel Jorge Ricart, European University Institute
Speaker 1: Valeria Betancourt, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 2: Lise Fuhr, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: Mallory Knodel, Technical Community, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 4: Onica Makwakwa, Civil Society, African Group
Raquel Jorge Ricart, Intergovernmental Organization, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Raquel Jorge Ricart, Intergovernmental Organization, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Raquel Jorge Ricart, Intergovernmental Organization, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Theater
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: We have reached full capacity in the number of confirmed speakers. We also want to include Q&A and simulated "exercises" with data and visualizations on the impact of infrastructure and connectivity in the respect for rights in low-income countries. Specific examples on low-cost technologies.
- Which is the impact of secure, trustworthy, low-cost infrastructure in the access to long-term, sustained connectivity in low-income countries? - How can democratic, rights-respecting international cooperation may lead to truly feasible projects on the ground in low-income countries? - How to engage with local communities and tailor projects to specific regional contexts?
What will participants gain from attending this session? - Understand the scope of digital divides in the triad between secure network infrastructure, sustainable connectivity, and promoting human rights in low-income countries. - Address the challenges of policy development on the ground regarding developing and deploying low-cost technologies and the responses that international cooperation may bring, always tailored to specific regional contexts. - Showcase why secure network infrastructure leads to long-term sustainability in connectivity services and to greater respect for economic and social rights. - Examine the role of local communities and policy initiatives, including capacity building, to have ownership over projects on infrastructure and connectivity through international cooperation.
Description:
Digital divides - and dividends - persist across countries, especially in low-income states. Besides the fact that fewer people are online, those who are connected use less data, meaning that they are not fully realizing the potential of connectivity or the benefits of digital transformation. Additionally, mobile phone ownership exceeds Internet use. Broadband affordability in data-only mobile and fixed broadband continues to improve. However, cost remains a significant barrier to connectivity and a key driver in the global digital divide. The interplay between economic, social, and infrastructural factors leads to low connectivity and digital disparities that hinder, in turn, the respect for human rights in low-income countries. To reduce these digital divides, the development of secure, trustworthy infrastructure is a prior necessary element to ensure people have low-cost technologies. In turn, the development and deployment of long-term, sustainable, and high connectivity is the way to guarantee that people access but also use digital technologies, thus reducing the economic and social disparities that low-income countries face, both related and unrelated to the disposal of infrastructure. However, infrastructure and connectivity are not sufficient elements. International cooperation is needed to drill into the challenges that the policy implementation of these two elements, tailored to specific regional contexts, requires. First, ensuring that they are secure, trustworthy, sustainable and with ownership by the stakeholders on the ground. Second, engaging with local communities on the economic and societal needs when installing these services, and the needs regarding capacity-building to increase digital literacy and technical skills in low-income countries. For Internet governance to be truly applicable, we cannot rely on separate policy actions by topic or sector. Rather, we must work towards an Open Internet that promotes a synergistic effect and the interdependence between secure and sustainable infrastructure, accessible connectivity and human rights.
- Publication of a policy brief on main outcomes at the European University Union's website - Issue Briefs on link between infrastructure and connectivity and SDGs - Follow-up events through the Network of DFI Supporters with five (5) working groups for each of the five principles of the Declaration for the Future of the Internet, with representatives from all stakeholder groups other than governments.
Hybrid Format: - Interaction through simulated "exercises" with data and visualizations on the screen about the impact of infrastructure and connectivity in the respect for rights in low-income countries. Specific examples on low-cost technologies. - All speakers will be in person. - IT tools needs: PowerPoint, videos.