Re: [CNSIG-Council] Regional Meeting (APAC)

On 2018-07-09 06:55 AM, Nicolás Echániz wrote: Hi! I've been there last year, and know many of them. Also Carlos Rey-Moreno (I believe he is here already) was there too. TakNet is from Thailand, AFAIK their model is like a Network4Community social enterprise model, where the org manages most of the complexity. They have a mesh network running batman-adv TP-Link modified routers. APNIC has an article about them: https://blog.apnic.net/2017/02/17/taknet-community-networking-thailand/ They work together with the University of Cambridge, and it was born as a research project (similar to what Zenzeleni was at the beginning). http://cnxapac.org/index.php/report/#1511858859716-34ee1a4b-c18f -- OpenFreeNet is from India, is being pushed by our common friend Senthil Kumar, using LibreMesh. The community involvement is big, although it is a very young project and he (Senthil, who is promoting the networks) is not from the communities, so it is still early to say the organization level of the community. http://cnxapac.org/index.php/report/#1511858985637-74442344-7f1f -- rural communities access to information society RUCCESS Don't remember them, but based on the article here: https://www.internetsociety.org/beyond-the-net/2016/rural-communities-acces… It is about Community Learning Hubs, more Access (Networks4Communities) and ICT training than about community organization. the objective of the project, as stated in their report https://www.internetsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Nepal20RUCCESS20… Are: • provide high-speed and reliable Internet access to rural population. • To provide ICT services to rural population. • To provide technical skills to operate the ICT equipment to people who operate the Community -learning hub. • To facilitate communication and information flow required for the rebuilding process • To provide a model of community ICT hub for other interested groups to replicate in other villages Doesn't feel much CN to me. http://cnxapac.org/index.php/report/#1511858988929-f910724d-f590 --- The SAFA Network is a network in the context of the Wireless4Communities ISOC&DEF project: http://wforc.in/ https://www.internetsociety.org/projects/w4c/ "provides last mile connectivity to rural and remote areas of the Asia-Pacific using wireless technologies." Based on my observation in my visit to DEF and conversations with Ritu, the level of community engagement in the management, sustainability and technical activities is close to none. They are trying to expand it, but as of the end of last year, the community members were not the owners of the network. --- The GUNA Network is one maintained by DEF. I spent 10 days with them in Delhi, talking and discussing about the GUNA network, and supporting them in the process of building their idea of the of Internet in a Box: https://defindia.org/a-unique-concept-to-connect-the-unconnected-enters-pil… The model repeats: networks4communities, NGO deploying and maintaining infrastructure for the communities. I feel this is a model that grows because of the Social context there: hope we can discuss more about Cultures and the compatibility of Network Models on each here. I'm working with U of Washington on these. --- In that list there are also some that are Municipal Networks, and one that is run by a Corporation. If noone appears, I can offer myself to coordinate with them. We have been talking about what a CN is in the context of the CNSIG, but I believe that we need to discuss more about where we draw the line... Maybe we need to speak more about it, and promote the community aspect of community networks, invest time in helping networks4communities grow their community ownership. I would love to push this part forward if it is of interest of the CNSIG. Regards,