Local access

The research report "Bottom-up Connectivity Strategies: Community-led small-scale telecommunication infrastructure networks in the global South" explores the benefits of, and challenges facing, small-scale, community-based connectivity projects. Here we look at the motivations behind the research.

This report presents an overview of the third edition of the Community Network Exchange (CNX) held in December 2019. The three-day summit in southern India brought together practitioners of community networks and community radio stations from 12 countries in Asia and South America.

The initiative is being implemented by APC in partnership with Rhizomatica and aims to develop the models, capacities and sustainability of community networks.

This book is a guide on how to build a community network, a shared local telecommunications infrastructure, managed as a commons, to access the internet and other digital communications services. It was written collectively by a group of community network pioneers in Europe, activists and researchers during a writing residency week held in Vic, Catalonia in October 2018.

Zenzeleni Networks and APC jointly submitted a response to the call for comments on the Licensing Process for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) Spectrum made by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA).

In an increasingly interconnected world, it is easy to forget that many people lack basic internet connectivity. We encourage the ITU to continue to focus on its core mandate of “connecting all the world’s people”, and explore new and emerging technologies to improve connectivity.

Alternative local access models like community networks offer the potential for connectivity in areas whose needs are not being met by governments, big companies and other traditional actors. Highlighting the work of these community-led initiatives was one of APC’s priorities at this year’s

Catalytic intervention grants aim to support a more sustainable community network environment. Eleven community network projects from different regions were selected, and we want you to meet them and the organisations and representatives behind them.