Session
Organizer 1: Intergovernmental Organization, Intergovernmental Organization
Organizer 2: Intergovernmental Organization, Intergovernmental Organization
Organizer 3: Intergovernmental Organization, Intergovernmental Organization
Organizer 2: Intergovernmental Organization, Intergovernmental Organization
Organizer 3: Intergovernmental Organization, Intergovernmental Organization
Speaker 1: Andreas Wigren, Government, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 2: Ian Sheldon, Government, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: Patrícia Ferreira, Government, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 4: Adriana Labardini Inzunza, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 2: Ian Sheldon, Government, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: Patrícia Ferreira, Government, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 4: Adriana Labardini Inzunza, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Format
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: The roundtable format allows for more interactive discussion, as participants are encouraged to “have a seat at the table”. The session duration of 60 minutes, structured into two shorter sessions whereby speakers first present, followed by a short open floor discussion among participants, will ensure the discussion is on topic and participants are engaged. Due to scheduling constraints, we would kindly request the consideration of this proposal for Day One of the IGF (23 June).
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: The roundtable format allows for more interactive discussion, as participants are encouraged to “have a seat at the table”. The session duration of 60 minutes, structured into two shorter sessions whereby speakers first present, followed by a short open floor discussion among participants, will ensure the discussion is on topic and participants are engaged. Due to scheduling constraints, we would kindly request the consideration of this proposal for Day One of the IGF (23 June).
Policy Question(s)
1. What policies can help bridge connectivity divides? How can metrics tracking geographic connectivity divides between regions be used to inform policy?
2. What hurdles exist to create accurate broadband maps that depict where broadband offers are accessible? How can they inform policy?
3. What tools and models have emerged to close geographical broadband connectivity divides (e.g. infrastructure sharing models such as open access fibre networks, community-led networks)?
4. How can policy support or encourage these tools?
What will participants gain from attending this session? Governments and societies recognise that ensuring high-quality access to broadband connectivity is a necessity for inclusive and full participation in the digital economy and society. In support of this overarching aim, participants to the Workshop will gain an understanding of the latest data measuring territorial gaps (urban/rural) on a range of broadband performance indicators for over 60 countries. In addition, participants will discuss possible policy tools to overcome disparities between and within countries and in which context these tools may be appropriate.
SDGs
Description:
Ensuring that everyone is connected “well” in terms of broadband availability, quality and affordability is a key policy aim. While there has been progress, persistent connectivity gaps exist between and within countries. As societies become more connected and adopt digital technologies, divides between rural and urban areas and differences in digital adoption between groups can perpetuate or even widen. Measuring these divides is critical to better understand the state of connectivity and to enable evidence-based policymaking. Contributing to the evidence base, the OECD will release the Closing broadband connectivity divides for all: From evidence to practice publication (Q2 2025). Its innovative approach applies spatial definitions to broadband performance indicators for over 60 countries. This allows for subregional analysis to better understand territorial connectivity divides (e.g. between urban and rural areas). After presenting available data, the report provides policy recommendations to bridge connectivity divides. This workshop will explore this topic of urban-rural connectivity divides and present the novel data published in the forthcoming publication. It will further discuss policy tools and provide concrete examples of how countries around the world have taken action to close these divides. Importantly, it will also consider circumstances in low- and middle-income countries, which may face additional barriers. It will bring together speakers from the public sector, civil society and industry, spanning different continents and ensuring geographical and gender diversity. The workshop will be structured as follows: 1. Setting the Scene (5 min), briefly presenting the OECD publication 2. Session 1: 2 speakers [Ian Sheldon and Andreas Wigren] present for 5 min each (10 min) + open floor discussion on first two policy questions (15 min) 3. Session 2: 3 speakers [Adriana Labardini, Patricia Rodrigues Ferreira], present for 5 min each (15 min) + open floor discussion on last two policy questions (15 min)
Ensuring that everyone is connected “well” in terms of broadband availability, quality and affordability is a key policy aim. While there has been progress, persistent connectivity gaps exist between and within countries. As societies become more connected and adopt digital technologies, divides between rural and urban areas and differences in digital adoption between groups can perpetuate or even widen. Measuring these divides is critical to better understand the state of connectivity and to enable evidence-based policymaking. Contributing to the evidence base, the OECD will release the Closing broadband connectivity divides for all: From evidence to practice publication (Q2 2025). Its innovative approach applies spatial definitions to broadband performance indicators for over 60 countries. This allows for subregional analysis to better understand territorial connectivity divides (e.g. between urban and rural areas). After presenting available data, the report provides policy recommendations to bridge connectivity divides. This workshop will explore this topic of urban-rural connectivity divides and present the novel data published in the forthcoming publication. It will further discuss policy tools and provide concrete examples of how countries around the world have taken action to close these divides. Importantly, it will also consider circumstances in low- and middle-income countries, which may face additional barriers. It will bring together speakers from the public sector, civil society and industry, spanning different continents and ensuring geographical and gender diversity. The workshop will be structured as follows: 1. Setting the Scene (5 min), briefly presenting the OECD publication 2. Session 1: 2 speakers [Ian Sheldon and Andreas Wigren] present for 5 min each (10 min) + open floor discussion on first two policy questions (15 min) 3. Session 2: 3 speakers [Adriana Labardini, Patricia Rodrigues Ferreira], present for 5 min each (15 min) + open floor discussion on last two policy questions (15 min)
Expected Outcomes
The discussion of the Workshop will inform further analytical work and publications of the OECD, namely under the Working Party on Connectivity Services and Infrastructures, including its published Broadband Statistics. In particular, it will inform future broadband mapping efforts, which aim to develop harmonised subnational indicators to facilitate cross-country comparison and an improved understanding of broadband availability and quality across regions.
Hybrid Format: We invited our speakers to attend the meeting onsite. In case a speaker is unable to attend the meeting onsite, they will be expected to join the meeting online. We would like to ensure the best experience for onsite and online participants equally. For the interactive Q&A sessions in both parts, the online moderator will make sure that online participants are as able to take part in the discussion as onsite participants. The online moderator will oversee the chat and ensure equal participation by equally splitting the question time for onsite and online participants.
The OECD will be able to advertise the event in the community of the Digital Policy Committee, the Working Party on Connectivity Services and Infrastructures in the Digital Policy Committee. In addition, the OECD may advertise the event through its network and informal groups of experts which are expected to reach audiences beyond OECD member-countries.