Al Sur participates in ITU consultation on expanding Internet connectivity

The ITU Council Working Group on Internet-Related International Public Policy Issues (CWG-Internet) held an open consultation on expanding Internet connectivity.

In particular, organizers called for contributions focusing on the challenges and opportunities for expanding Internet connectivity, especially to remote and under-served areas, and delving into how small/community/non-profit operators help in promoting the increase of Internet connectivity.

Open online consultations are launched by the CWG-Internet and occur between two successive CWG-Internet meetings. The ITU offers limited spaces for open participation, especially for civil society, which is why in Al Sur, we wanted to be part of this process for the first time in our history as a consortium, even though subsequent follow-up is very limited.

The Al Sur document presents the connectivity barriers derived from the dominant market perspectives on ICTs public policies in the region. In this framework, the electromagnetic spectrum's commercial licenses are used almost exclusively to close the digital divide. Likewise, we highlight the role, still incipient, of community networks in Latin America, which has great potential for reducing the digital connectivity gap.

You can consult the document in English here.