5 min. Moderator set the scene – / the round table will explore how shifting the ownership of devices, infrastructure and content platforms can unlock the puzzle to connect the next billion and shape our digital future. Recent contributions to the discussions around Internet Governance are challenging the traditional business models from mobile operators, ISPs and large content providers looking for alternatives to bring affordable and meaningful access to communities worldwide. What if we get to decide, how, why, how much and for what we connect to the Internet? Creativity to design devices better suited for community needs, to build our own networks to connect to the Internet (like a cooperative or a community network), to establish community datacentres at the edges of the network, to support local media outlets might be a game changer. If our purpose is to connect the unconnected and make the most out of our own Internet access, can we just granted it to the larger corporations to do it right? How can we put creativity to good use to shape our own digital future?
40 min. Fire starters - Speakers have been distributed to contribute mainly on a given topic. They will provide fire starters remarks for a round table discussion, as follows:
- Devices: Nicolas Echaniz (Altermundi, Argentina) and Carlos Rey-Moreno (Zenzeleni Networks/Univ. Western Cape, South Africa) will focus his contributions about the LibreRouter design and the global collaboration behind the design and production of this connectivity device. Benjz Sevilla (Ateneo de Manila, The Philippines) will share about their work designing drones for humanitarian assistance. They will present the devices they have worked on.
- Content & services: Jennifer Chung (Dot Asia Organization) will share about the experiences from .Asia supporting organisations that produce local content in Asia, that reflect their cultural identity. Shita Laksmi (Diplo Foundation) will share about how content and services respond to local needs and Anya Orlova (UNESP, Brazil) will share about her findings about the impact of connectivity and access to engage in global processes.
- Access infrastructure: Michael Ginguld (AirJaldi, India) Steve Song (NSRC) and Jochai Ben-Avie (Mozilla) will speak about innovative business models for Internet access provision and other innovative approaches to data infrastructure.
20 min. Discussion - The speakers will then discuss on a round table the correlation among the 3 elements outlined above (devices; access infrastructure; content & services) the challenges that those seeking to address the needs of underserved communities faced when tackling the access challenge and overcome barriers for innovation.
20 min. Questions and comments from the audience.
5 min. Main takeaways by session rapporteur – Carolina Caeiro