Community networks across Africa are adopting diverse approaches to expanding connectivity and addressing the digital divide in underserved communities. This session will bring together community network operators and practitioners from different African countries to share their experiences, showcase their work, and discuss the approaches they are taking to build and sustain locally driven connectivity solutions.

Through contributions from networks operated by Internet Society Chapters, nonprofits, community-based organizations, cooperatives, social enterprises, and other local initiatives, the session will explore the technologies and infrastructure being deployed, organizational and governance models, financial sustainability approaches, and the communities they serve.

Participating community network representatives will have the opportunity to share their experiences through live virtual presentations or pre-recorded contributions, highlighting their deployments, successes, challenges, and lessons learned. The session will provide an opportunity for knowledge exchange, visibility, and discussion around the diverse community network models emerging across Africa.

Format

Session — Moderated, multi-speaker session featuring live virtual contributions and/or pre-recorded presentations, followed by Q&A and discussion.