Dear Jane,

Thank you for the informative messages and links. DEF has done considerable work in the area of Community Networks, and several networks such as the one that Sarbani has written about exist in India. However there are issues related to the scale and scope of operation, which revolve around the regulatory policies that make it a little difficult to create and operate networks. 

If I understood well, the NY Mesh network has a supernode from the IXP and its bandwidth comes from the IXP.   I am copying this thread to Osama Manzar of DEF to ask if there are examples of Community Networks in India that do not depend on agreements with Telecom Operators / telecom related ISPs, which may not wholeheartedly support Community Networks beyond the notion of small rural networks. 

There are a few problems that need to be addressed, and a different connectivity model may be required together with ample support from the Telecom ministry for the spread of community networks in India. 

Thank you.





On Thu, Aug 16, 2018 at 11:01 PM Jane Coffin <coffin@isoc.org> wrote:
Apologies - I hit send before adding the links:

DEF:  http://defindia.org/
Video on The Land of Zero Connect:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq27X8CJLTM
Link to APC's Community Network Newsletter:  https://www.apc.org/en/project/local-access-networks-can-unconnected-connect-themselves
ISOC's Community Network site:  https://www.internetsociety.org/issues/community-networks/




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On 8/16/18, 11:52 AM, "dc3-bounces@listas.altermundi.net on behalf of Jane Coffin" <dc3-bounces@listas.altermundi.net on behalf of coffin@isoc.org> wrote:

    To add - you will find a lot of interesting information here at the DEF site:
    See also this video about a remote area of India and lack of connectivity and Community Networks coming in to help:

    We often hear these arguments about "coverage".  The issue is not just the mobile network footprint (coverage area), but whether the services are affordable, and if end-users have a choice.  Community Networks are a viable option in


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    Mobile/WhatsApp:  +1.202.247.8429

    On 8/16/18, 11:27 AM, "dc3-bounces@listas.altermundi.net on behalf of Sarbani Banerjee Belur" <dc3-bounces@listas.altermundi.net on behalf of sarbanibelur@iitb.ac.in> wrote:

        Hi Sivasubramanian,

        Community networks does exist in India and it is a sustainable initiative.
        Gram Marg at IIT Bombay has set up one spanning 10 villages in Palghar,
        Maharashtra, Digital Empowerment Foundation has set up some as well. There
        are more going to be set up in this year and the next. These CNs are set
        up in locations that have no mobile connectivity and are usually in
        remote, rural villages of India.
        Local ISPs have come to the rescue and provide bandwidth in such locations.

        With regards,
        Sarbani

        > In Chennai, India, I spoke to someone in an educational institution about
        > starting a Community Network. He argued that access is no longer a problem
        > as Telecom companies offer 3G and 4G services everywhere. He wouldn't
        > listen to arguments concerning the cost and clever pricing models of
        > access
        > that indiscernably amass huge sums by microscopic extraction,  wouldn't
        > listen to arguments about nominal and actual bandwidth.  He and some
        > others
        > take the position that a case does not exist for Community Networks here.
        >
        > Happens to be an iconic opinion. It is a challenge to present arguments,
        > articles such as this are of ample help.
        >
        > Sivasubramanian M
        >
        > On Thu, Aug 16, 2018, 5:20 PM Marco Zennaro <mzennaro@ictp.it> wrote:
        >
        >> Interesting news:
        >>
        >>
        >> https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/ne5k5m/consumer-reports-broadband-company-ratings
        >>
        >> Cheers,
        >> Marco
        >>
        >> Marco Zennaro, PhD // Research Officer // T/ICT4D Lab // ICTP //
        >> wireless.ictp.it
        >>
        >>
        >>
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        --
        Dr. Sarbani Banerjee Belur
        Senior Project Research Scientist
        Program Manager
        Gram Marg: Rural Broadband Project
        Department of Electrical Engineering
        IIT Bombay
        Powai
        Mumbai 400076
        Mob: +91 9867282979
             +91 7045620077
        Website: www.grammarg.in
        Homepage: http://homepages.iitb.ac.in/~sarbanibelur/
        Blog: sarbanibelur.blogspot.com

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