Check-in and access this session from the IGF Schedule.

IGF 2024 WS #188 Youth-Led Satellite Net for Rural Global Connectivity

    Organizer 1: Nicolas Fiumarelli, 🔒Youth IGF Uruguay
    Organizer 2: Athanase Bahizire, Youth IGF DRC
    Organizer 3: Mohammad Ali Jauhar, Internet Society Youth Standing Group
    Organizer 4: Beatriz Barbosa, 🔒CGI.br
    Organizer 5: Natalie Tercova, Interdisciplinary Research Team on Internet and Society

    Speaker 1: Beatriz Barbosa, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
    Speaker 2: Nicolas Fiumarelli, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
    Speaker 3: Athanase Bahizire, Technical Community, African Group
    Speaker 4: Mohammad Ali Jauhar, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group

    Moderator

    Nicolas Fiumarelli, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)

    Online Moderator

    Natalie Tercova, Technical Community, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

    Rapporteur

    Athanase Bahizire, Technical Community, African Group

    Format

    Classroom
    Duration (minutes): 60
    Format description: The U-shaped roundtable format will facilitate an inclusive and engaging discussion environment, ideal for the hybrid session structure. This setup will ensure that both onsite and online participants can interact effectively, with equal opportunity to contribute to the conversation. The format is particularly conducive to the dynamic and interactive style of discourse that youth-led panels inspire, fostering a vibrant exchange of ideas and collaborative problem-solving, using tools such as Mentimeter, with word clouds, to engage with the audience as usual in our youth-led workshop proposals to the IGF in last years.

    Policy Question(s)

    A) What policy frameworks can best support the deployment of satellite Internet technologies in rural areas to ensure sustainability and accessibility?
    B) How can youth-led initiatives influence policy-making to integrate advanced connectivity solutions in underserved regions?
    C) What are the key challenges in scaling satellite Internet solutions in rural areas, and how can collaborative efforts address these obstacles?

    What will participants gain from attending this session? Participants will leave with a thorough understanding of the potential of satellite Internet to enhance rural connectivity, inspired by youth-led advocacy and innovation. The session will equip attendees with knowledge about emerging technologies, policy advocacy strategies, and practical insights from successful implementations. Through interactive discussions, attendees will also gain a network of contacts among young leaders and innovators in the field, empowering them with the tools and insights to contribute to or initiate similar projects in their communities.

    Description:

    This workshop, spearheaded by multiple Youth IGF initiatives, delves into satellite Internet as a transformative solution for rural connectivity challenges. By uniting experts senior speakers from various regions together with youth experts, we will explore innovative policy solutions and technological advancements that can make satellite Internet accessible and sustainable. The session aims to foster a comprehensive dialogue on the integration of satellite technologies into rural community networks, addressing both technical feasibilities and policy frameworks. Participants will engage with youth leaders who are at the forefront of advocating for digital inclusion and harnessing technology to bridge the digital divide. This collaborative effort showcases how youth-led initiatives can lead significant change and influence global Internet governance.

    Expected Outcomes

    The workshop is expected to produce a collaborative report drafted from an AI-driven + human insight report approach, using Session transcript to make every voice counts in this multistakeholder collaborative session. Youth IGF groups, and the Youth Coalition on Internet governance will detail on policy recommendations and strategic plans for deploying satellite Internet in rural communities. The discussion will also identify actionable steps for stakeholders to take in supporting youth-led initiatives educational activities in this sector. A follow-up webinar will be organized to review progress and continue the momentum, ensuring that the dialogue translates into tangible actions and community benefits.

    Hybrid Format: To ensure an engaging hybrid experience, we will leverage a digital tool to facilitate interaction between onsite and online participants. Onsite and online moderators will work in tandem to ensure seamless integration of all participants, using platforms like Zoom and Mentimeter to gather real-time feedback and questions. Active participation from the virtual audience is expected in this crucial topic. This approach will ensure that the hybrid format is not just a logistical arrangement but a dynamic, inclusive interaction model, followed by the final report that will be AI-driven + human insight approach using the transcript of the session as a way to follow up on NETMundial recommendations for AI-driven multistakeholder processes and to make every voice counts transparently in the bottom-up.