An enabling environment for community-centred connectivity: A WSIS+20 agenda to leave no one behind

Twenty years into the World Summit on the Information Society process, there are still fundamental challenges in meeting universal access goals. This shortfall is ultimately due to the absence of a business case that meets traditional operators’ profitability requirements. While traditional telecom operators have played an important role in bringing billions of people online, many developing countries still face significant hurdles. As a result, there is a growing consensus on the need to support different models, including community-centred connectivity initiatives, to achieve the WSIS targets. This policy brief proposes a six-pillar plan for diversifying access markets to connect the unconnected:

• Pillar one: Deepen insight into the value of a diversified ecosystem
• Pillar two: Reduce regulatory requirements for CCCIs
• Pillar three: Establish innovative financing and investment models
• Pillar four: Adopt mechanisms to share spectrum
• Pillar five: Ensure affordable access to backhaul networks
• Pillar six: Raise awareness and build capacity.