IGF 2024 WS #264 Last Mile Internet: Brazil's G20 Path for Edge Communities

    Organizer 1: Jarrell James, Internet Defense Alliance/ Ocelot Labs
    Organizer 2: Raashi Saxena, 🔒The Innovation for Policy Foundation
    Organizer 3: Fatemeh Fannizadeh, Swarm, Fair Data Society, Foresight Institute

    Speaker 1: Dennis Redeker, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
    Speaker 2: Jarrell James, Technical Community, Intergovernmental Organization
    Speaker 3: Raashi Saxena, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
    Speaker 4: Fatemeh Fannizadeh, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

    Moderator

    Raashi Saxena, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group

    Online Moderator

    Fatemeh Fannizadeh, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

    Rapporteur

    Raashi Saxena, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group

    Format

    Classroom
    Duration (minutes): 60
    Format description: Presenting our initial findings to a small theater room full of last mile community representatives, or governments with difficult to reach edge communities - we will need an atmosphere that can be intimate enough to easily ask questions. This could also be facilitated in a theater type setting if a classroom is not available.

    Policy Question(s)

    How do we drive long term investments in the community-focused Internet service providers that are best equipped to close the digital divide and accelerate fast, affordable broadband in underserved communities?

    Bridging the Digital Divide for Indigenous Communities: How can the G20 incentivize investment in culturally-appropriate, community-owned ISPs within indigenous territories in Brazil (and elsewhere)?

    This question acknowledges the limitations of traditional telecom models in reaching remote indigenous lands and emphasizes the need for models that consider cultural context and empower these communities. It positions Brazil as a leading example within the G20 framework.

    What will participants gain from attending this session? Insight into the new and much needed approaches around connecting last mile communities and greater context around strategies for innovative resilient grid solutions in general. Digital equity is only possible by working together to address the interrelated barriers to access.

    Description:

    Parabl, an applied research lab, in partnership with UN IGF Coalition on the Internet Rights Principles Dynamic Coalition have created a Last Mile Coalition. With Brazilian partners Impact Bank, Plexos Institute, & the Official Brazilian Y20 (G20 Youth) we have been developing hyper-regional scalable digital resource solutions that seamlessly interact with omni-accessible hardware. The mission is to empower Brazilian leapfrog regions by providing meaningful connectivity, enabling economic growth through innovative solutions built alongside regional interests.

    In many parts of the world, particularly in leapfrog communities, reliable internet access and energy remain significant, often parallel, challenges. These barriers hinder educational opportunities, economic development, and access to essential services. Traditional approaches often overlook the unique regional needs and contexts of these communities.

    Addressing these challenges through a coalition of hardware providers and edge computing teams - creating a modular and effective approach to connecting difficult to reach communities.

    Gateways: Universities or Comms operators create gateways. Broadcasting hardware relays high-bandwidth signals over significant distances to our Waypoints.

    Waypoints as Energy Hubs: These hubs produce energy to charge smart batteries for rent. These battery charging stations power both a local data center and stationary network broadcasters.

    Edge Cache CDN: Operating across the storage available in the network of batteries, the waypoint's micro data center, and partner universities, the Edge Cache Algorithm ensures efficient data storage and retrieval for both general resources and highly specific regionally meaningful data.

    Smart Batteries: Portable batteries operate as micro caches, optimizing data transmission and accessibility between users and the Waypoint's transmitter/data center.

    Through community network infrastructure, collectivist economics, and innovations like waypoints, edge caches, and smart batteries we're establishing new benchmarks in the Last Mile Design Space. Unleashing the full potential of leapfrog communities in months not decades - forging a path towards a more connected and equitable future.

    Expected Outcomes

    Report will be published along with a call for feedback and collaboration on future UN IGF initiatives.

    Hybrid Format: We will reach out to our stakeholder network of civil society and government collaborators. This includes members from regions with communities in difficult terrain or populations with deficiencies in energy and connectivity resources. There will be multiple opportunities for audience participation and questions.