Bridging the urban-rural digital gap – a commercial or community effort? – PL 01 2018

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5 June 2018 | 11:45-13:00 | GARDEN HALL | remote participation | video streaming
Consolidated programme 2018 overview

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Session teaser

Telecom infrastructure is mostly built commercially by Internet Service Providers (ISPs). In unprofitable, usually un-served or underserved areas, a Community Network (CN) is a possible alternative solution. CNs are funded through donations – local, municipal of state funds or other grants. This funding disrupts markets. How does one develop strategy to effectively and efficiently allocate these funds? What should be short/long term goals? What should the criteria be to assess benefits and costs of non-profit interference? How does one develop strategy that provides a synergy between commercial ISPs and community efforts? How does one make decisions where to allocate public funds: subcontract ISPs, build governmental networks, support CN, generate demand though vouchers and education or anything else?

Keywords

  • Internet Access
  • Community Networks
  • Telecom operators
  • ISPs
  • Demand generation
  • Vouchers
  • Education
  • Governmental networks
  • Broadband strategy
  • Synergy
  • Public funds
  • Regulation
  • Internet Exchange Points - IXP

Session description

The Scope of the session will be focused on four essential aspects (pillars) that have to be considered for successful rural connectivity national strategy or local project.

These are:

1) Financing and how to make projects sustainable

2) Competitive element / technology neutrality – how to ensure that

3) Policies, programs and regulations ( e.g. World bank program, Easter partnership, connectivity for All)

4) Ensuring demand

Obviously there are many other aspects related to the topic of the session that will be raised during the discussion.

Format

The Session will start with a Lightning Talk about "Tusheti Community Networks Project". Tusheti is the most remote, mountainous,region in the north-eastern part of Georgia.

The talk will be delivered by Rati Kochlamazashvili, a representative of the local community.

The Lightning Talk will be followed by the moderated discussion among Key Participants within the scope of the session (find above). ( No formal presentations will be delivered - each Key Participation will be given an option to use one diagram or visual'')

Local and remote audiences (via Webex) will be able to actively participate in the discussion.

Further reading

Tusheti Project: [1]

Broadband Europe: [2]

Policy paper: Unleashing Community Networks: Innovative Licensing Approaches : [3]

'Anti-authority' tech rebels take on ISPs, connect NYC with cheap Wi-Fi [4]

IGF 2017- Community Networks: the Internet by the People for the People (DC on Community Connectivity) [5]

People

Focal Point

  • Sandro Karumidze, Internet Society - Georgia Chapter

Subject Matter Expert (SME)

  • Olivier Crépin Leblond (EURALO)

Organising Team (Org Team)

  • Claudio Lucena, Visiting Research Fellow, The Center for Cyber, Law and Policy, University of Haifa, Israel
  • Kristina Olausson, Policy Officer, ETNO
  • Melle Tiel Groenestege, Digital Policy Advisor, VEON
  • Mariam Sulaberidze, International Relations and Project Management Office, Georgian National Communications Commission
  • Giorgi Dapkviashvili, Head of ICT Development Division, Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia
  • Maarit Palovirta, Senior Manager, Regional Affairs Europe, Internet Society
  • Rati Kochlamazashvili, Tusheti Development Fund
  • Nino Kubinidze, Director, Opennet

KEY PARTICIPANTS

1) Raúl Echeberría, Vice President Global Engagement, Internet Society

Biography: Raúl Echeberría joined Internet Society in 2014 as Vice President of Global Engagement after completing his 6 years term on Internet Society’s Board of Trustees. Raúl was one of the founders of LACNIC (the Internet Address Registry for Latin America and the Caribbean). He served first as Chairman of the Board and after that as the CEO of LACNIC between 2002 and 2014. He was one of the members of the Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG) created in 2004 by the United Nations Secretary General and played a relevant role in the negotiations that took place in relation to this issue at the 2005 Summit in Tunis. In 2006, he was again distinguished by the United Nations Secretary General, being chosen to be a part of the Internet Governance Forum's Multistakeholder Advisory Group, group in which he served until 2014. Raúl is well recognized for his participation in the Internet Community and also for his work on promoting the development of Internet both regionally and globally. Raúl is located in Uruguay.

2) Giorgi Cherkezishvili, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia

Biography: Mr. Giorgi Cherkezishvili is a Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia since March, 2017. One of the directions under his responsibilities is ICT & Innovations. Before joining, the Ministry Mr. Cherkezishvili worked in different high level positions at the JSC Partnership Fund, JSC Bank of Georgia, Chamber of Control of Georgia and at the Black Sea International University as an Invited lecturer. Mr. Cherkezishvili holds a Master degree in Business Administration, Specialization in Global Management from the Grenoble Graduate School of Business (France) and Caucasus Business School (Georgia) Dual MBA Program and Master/Bachelor degree in international Relations from the Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University.

3) Marta Capelo Gaspar, Director of Public Policy | ETNO

Biography: Marta Capelo is ETNO’s Director of Public Polic. She leads on core telecoms issues, including network access, spectrum and other core regulatory files. Marta also oversees engagement on 5G as well as connected and automated driving. Prior to joining ETNO, Marta worked as the Transport and Communications Counsellor for the Portuguese Permanent Representation to the European Union. Before that, she was a Member of the Cabinet of the Portuguese Secretary of State for Infrastructure, Transport and Communications. Marta has extensive experience in telecoms regulation as well as intellectual property, data protection and e-Commerce services. In the early years of her career, she worked as a lawyer for leading Portuguese and international law firms in the technology, media & telecoms practice.

4) Melle Tiel Groenestege, Digital Policy Advisor, VEON

Biography: Melle Tiel Groenestege is Digital Policy Advisor at VEON and works on a range of topics related to the transformation of VEON into a digital communications provider with a large footprint in emerging markets. These topics include digital national strategies, the promotion of a stable investment climate, digital inclusion, digital financial services and data policies. He also manages engagements with key partners including the WEF, UN Broadband Commission, GSMA and official representatives to The Netherlands. Before joining VEON he started a consultancy that focused on advancing corporate interests with positive societal impact. Previously, Melle worked at International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on corporate strategy, focusing on advancing the UN SDG agenda through the use of ICTs. As the chairman of the Digital Agenda at one of the largest Dutch political youth organizations he was instrumental in developing a progressive digital policy strategy. Melle holds a MSc in Business Information Management from the Rotterdam School of Management, two BSc in International Business Administration and Political Science, and studied at the National University of Singapore.

5) Michal Boni, Member of European Parliament

Biography: Member of the European Parliament since 2014, Vice-Chair of Delegation to the EU-Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee, Member of Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, Committee on Constitutional Affairs and Delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, Substitute Member to Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee. Michal Boni holds a PhD from the University of Warsaw where he lectured in the Department of Polish Culture for many years. Involved in the ‘Solidarity’ underground movement since 1980 and a member of the national authorities of ‘Solidarity’ since 1989, he became Chairman of the Mazowsze Region Management Board in 1990. He served as Minister of Labour and Social Policy in 1991 and from 1992 until 1993 as Secretary of State in the same ministry responsible for labour market policy. Between 1998 and 2001 he was the Chief Advisor to the Minister of Labour and Social Policy. From 2008 he served as Minister- Head of Strategic Advisors to the Prime Minister Donald Tusk and from 2011 until 2013 as Minister of Administration and Digitisation of Poland. In 2016 Michal Boni was awarded a MEP award in the category: research and innovation.

MODERATORS

* Mariam Sulaberidze, Head, International Relations and Project Management Office, Georgian National Communications Commission

Biography: Mariam Sulaberidze is head of international relations and project management office of Georgian National Communications Commission. Her main responsibilities cover managing of the GNCC international relations and projects (international, as well as other projects) including coordination of fulfillment of obligations under international agreements of Georgia in the field of electronic communications and media. Prior to joining the GNCC Mariam worked for one of the biggest telecom operators JSC “Silknet”, where she was managing processes at the Carriers Department. She has an extensive experience in Project management and over 10 years’ experience in telecom business.

* Natalia Saginashvili, Researcher, Small and Medium Telecom Operators Association of Georgia

Biography: Natalie Saginashvili is a researcher at Small and Medium Telecom Operators Association of Georgia. The mission of the organization is to improve the business environment in the telecommunications sector and help the process of the harmonization local rules to the EU legislation. Previously Natalie has worked at In-depth Reporting and Economic Analysis Center.

Remote Moderator

* Aamir Ullah Khan, YouthDIG

Reporter

* Ilona Stadnik, Geneva Internet Platform www.giplatform.org

The Reporter takes notes during the session and formulates 3 (max. 5) bullet points at the end of each session that:

  • are summarised on a slide and presented to the audience at the end of each session
  • relate to the particular session and to European Internet governance policy
  • are forward looking and propose goals and activities that can be initiated after EuroDIG (recommendations)
  • are in (rough) consensus with the audience

Current discussion, conference calls, schedules and minutes

See the discussion tab on the upper left side of this page. Please use this page to publish:

  • dates for virtual meetings or coordination calls
  • short summary of calls or email exchange

Please be as open and transparent as possible in order to allow others to get involved and contact you. Use the wiki not only as the place to publish results but also to summarize the discussion process.

Messages

A short summary of the session will be provided by the Reporter.

Find an independent report of the session from the Geneva Internet Platform Digital Watch Observatory at https://dig.watch/resources/bridging-urban-rural-digital-gap-%E2%80%93-commercial-or-community-effort

Video record

Will be provided here after the event.

Transcript

Will be provided here after the event.