Session
Organizer 1: Raquel Jorge Ricart, European University Institute
Organizer 2: Patryk Pawlak, 🔒 Carnegie Europe
Speaker 1: Valeria Betancourt, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 2: Lise Fuhr, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: Mallory Knodel, Technical Community, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 4: Onica Makwakwa, Civil Society, African Group
Raquel Jorge Ricart, Intergovernmental Organization, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Patryk Pawlak, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Raquel Jorge Ricart, Intergovernmental Organization, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: We would like to ensure sufficient time for the dicscussion among the participants, including those online. During the session, we would also like to provide opportunity for engagement with online audiences which may be difficult during a shorter session. We also want to include Q&A and simulated "exercises" with data and visualizations on the impact of infrastructure and connectivity in the respect for rights in low-income countries. Specific examples on low-cost technologies.
- What is the impact of secure, trustworthy, low-cost infrastructure in the access to long-term, sustained connectivity in low-income countries?
- How can international cooperation lead to truly sustainable trustworthy internet infrastructure projects on the ground in low-income countries?
- How to engage with local communities and tailor projects to specific regional contexts?
What will participants gain from attending this session? - Better understanding of the scope of digital divides in the triad between secure network infrastructure, sustainable connectivity, and promoting human rights in low-income countries.
- Learn about objectives of the Declaration on the Future of the Internet and its implementation among in over 70 signatory countries
- Learn concrete examples about how the principles of the DFI can be integrated into infrastructure projects, focusing on human rights, security and interoperability.
- Better understanding of how to foster multi-stakeholder collaboration in both infrastructure development and DFI advocacy..
- Expand knowledge how trustworthy, secure network infrastructure leads to long-term sustainability in connectivity services and to greater respect for economic and social rights.
- Learn how local communities and specific policy initiatives, including capacity building, can have better ownership over projects on infrastructure and connectivity managed through international cooperation.
Description:
Digital divides and dividends persist across countries, especially in low-income states. Besides the fact that fewer people are online, those who are connected use less data, not fully realising the potential of connectivity or taking advantage of the benefits of digital transformation. Additionally, mobile phone ownership exceeds Internet use. Globally as of 2023, 78% of individuals aged 10+ own a mobile phone. On average, in every region and income group, the percentage of individuals who own a mobile phone surpasses that of Internet users. Broadband affordability in data-only mobile and fixed broadband continues to improve. While cost remains a significant barrier to connectivity and a key driver in the global digital divide, human rigts based digital transitions such as the ones promoted by the Declaration for the Future aim also at tackling the complex interplay between economic, social, political and infrastructural factors that are crucial for achieving true digital equity and SDGs.
International cooperation is needed to drill into the challenges that the policy implementation of infrastructure development, SDGs and the DFI tailored to specific regional contexts, requires. This workshop aims to foster an integrated approach to international digital cooperation by combining the challenges of infrastructure development with the strategic implementation of the Declaration for the Future of the Internet (DFI). For Internet governance to be truly applicable, we cannot rely on separate policy actions by topic or sector. Rather, we must work towards an Open Internet that has a synergistic effect and the interdependence between secure and sustainable infrastructure, accessible connectivity and human rights. These are core elements that are feasible and applicable through international cooperation, tailored to specific regional contexts and the engagement with local communities.
- Publication of a policy brief on main outcomes at the European University Union's website
- Publication of a short policy brief on link between infrastructure and connectivity and SDGs
- Follow-up events through the Network of DFI Supporters with five (5) working groups for each of the five principles of the Declaration for the Future of the Internet, with representatives from all stakeholder groups other than governments.
Hybrid Format: - Interaction through simulated "exercises" with data and visualizations on the screen about the impact of infrastructure and connectivity in the respect for rights in low-income countries. Specific examples on low-cost technologies.
- All main speakers will be in person but we will also actively reach out to members of the community in other parts of the world with the invitation to join the session and share their insights. This will be particualrly the case for 4 countries with which we have already had close engagement: Burundi, South Africa, Kenya, Senegal.
- One of our staff members will be present in-person to provide assstance with the hybrid session.