Community-centred connectivity initiatives are gaining increasing recognition in international forums for their role in advancing digital inclusion. Recently, there were two significant developments – one during the annual session of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), held 7-11 April 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland, and the other at the Americas Regional Preparatory Meeting for the World Telecommunication Development Conference 2025 (WTDC-25), held 1-2 April 2025 in Asunción, Paraguay.
Although these were separate processes with different objectives, they shared a common feature: in both cases the advancements were driven by states from the Global South. Community-led initiatives have been building viable connectivity models in the Global South for some time, while also promoting social benefits and economic diversification. And in both cases, the active involvement of civil society has been crucial in bringing the debate on community-centred alternatives to the fore.
While the WTDC and CSTD processes are distinct – with the WTDC informing the development work of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the CSTD tracking broader World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) implementation across UN agencies – both forums present critical opportunities to advance inclusive, community-rooted approaches to connectivity. Progress in international forums like these can encourage more countries to adopt policies that put local communities at the centre of internet access and digital technology use.
WSIS+20 review process
The World Summit on the Information Society was a United Nations-led process held in two phases: the first in Geneva in 2003 and the second in Tunis in 2005. WSIS+20 marks the 20-year review of this process, which will wrap up at the UN General Assembly in December 2025. This aims to assess how far we have moved towards the original WSIS vision and outcomes, and to shape the next steps to build a more inclusive information society. Despite 20 years of effort, challenges persist, including the pressing need for digital inclusion strategies that address the root causes of the digital divide and connect access with broader goals of social justice and economic opportunity.
A 2025 policy brief from APC notes that “while traditional telecom operators have played an important role in bringing billions of people online, many developing countries still face significant hurdles. As a result, there is a growing consensus on the need to support different models, including community-centred connectivity initiatives (CCCIs), to achieve the WSIS targets” (find out more here).
One key milestone in the WSIS+20 review process was the recent annual CSTD session, where changes to the language of its resolution were discussed and agreed. It was during this session that a new proposal from Tanzania – supported by South Africa and Egypt, and accepted by all other states – was introduced, acknowledging the importance of community-centred alternatives.
The updated text calls upon all stakeholders to maintain the goal of bridging all digital divides, “including access to reliable and affordable broadband at the grass-roots level, including through participative and community-centered connectivity models, in accordance with national regulatory frameworks with a view to narrowing the digital divides among and within countries.”
This new language marks a step in the direction advocated by civil society organisations during the CSTD meeting and long before. Both APC and the Internet Society "urged member states to give these models the consideration they deserve, both as a contributor to diversifying economies and as a means of achieving the WSIS goals,” as pointed out by Anriette Esterhuysen (APC) during this year’s session. “What these bottom-up models need are recognition and enabling regulation, on the one hand and, on the other, financing and investment,” she recommended.
World Telecommunication Development Conference
Community-centred connectivity was also a focus at the regional preparatory meetings for the World Telecommunication Development Conference, where APC’s member organisations REDES A.C. and Rhizomatica played a key role. The Local Networks initiative, led by APC and Rhizomatica in close partnership with REDES A.C., has long worked to keep community-centred initiatives on the international agenda.
The Regional Preparatory Meeting for WTDC-25 for the Americas, organised by the ITU, convenes government representatives, industry stakeholders, international organisations and civil society actors to discuss and align regional priorities in telecommunications ahead of WTDC-25.
This year’s preparatory meeting was held together with the 45th Meeting of the Permanent Consultative Committee I of the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission of the Organization of American States in Asunción, Paraguay, from 31 March to 4 April.
“Our active participation in the meeting was essential for positioning digital infrastructures for Indigenous peoples, community networks, and local networks as high-priority issues. By showcasing successful community-led initiatives and advocating for culturally resonant digital solutions, we have helped ensure that these vital concerns are integrated into broader regional and international policy discussions, contributing to a more inclusive digital future,” said representatives from Rhizomatica and REDES A.C., both based in Mexico, in their report on the meeting.
This engagement led to concrete updates to the resolutions in advance of the WTDC conference. “In collaboration with the Mexican government, we managed to include ‘Promotion of the management of digital infrastructure to enable the production of digital public goods, including for Indigenous communities’ as an expected result,” the organisations highlighted.
In addition, during the Regional Development Forum for the Americas Region, held on 31 March, the ITU presented a publication titled “State of digital development and trends in the Americas: Challenges and opportunities”, in which the the ICT Network Bootcamp, organised in 2024 by Rhizomatica, REDES A.C. and APC, is showcased as a regional impact story demonstrating the transformative power of digital connectivity.
Can international forums foster enabling environments at local level?
Although advances were made in both the WSIS+20 review and at the WTDC, they are still considered partial, as they are part of preparatory stages. However, they point in an important direction, showing that Global South experiences can inform international processes, with the expectation that community-centred initiatives will increasingly be recognised internationally and become a focus of policy and regulatory discussions.
The WSIS+20 review offers a key opportunity to reaffirm and strengthen the original WSIS vision of a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented information society. Achieving this vision requires effective policy and regulatory frameworks at both national and regional levels. The global norms shaped by WSIS processes continue to influence how countries approach digital governance, while regional intergovernmental bodies are increasingly engaging with these issues within the WSIS framework. The review also allows for a reflection on the progress made over the past two decades and helps identify where more focused support or policy action is needed to realise the WSIS goals.
“In over 20 years since the conclusion of the WSIS process, community-centred connectivity providers have become broadly accepted as an important complement to countries’ universal access strategies. However, while progress has been made in enabling and recognising the important contribution of community-centred models, it is evident that more work is needed to unlock their full potential,” highlights APC’s policy brief on the topic.
The WTDC, on the other hand, plays a pivotal role in shaping the regulation of global telecommunications. It claims to provide a platform for governments, industry leaders and civil society to align on policies that promote sustainable, inclusive and equitable digital connectivity worldwide.“These events not only reinforced the crucial role of Indigenous communities, community networks and local operators in shaping a more inclusive, sustainable, and multilingual digital future, but also resulted in concrete policy outcomes,” noted REDES A.C. and Rhizomatica representatives. They included suggested updates to key ITU resolutions and suggestions for the Regional Initiatives for the Americas 2026-2029. “Together, these complementary achievements have strategically positioned us for the upcoming WTDC,” added the organisations in their report.
Although both forums involve making recommendations as opposed to binding decisions, they are important spaces for multistakeholder dialogue, and it is crucial that such initiatives are not made invisible in processes involving those with decision-making power at national and regional levels. For this reason, these milestones should be celebrated.
To learn more about community-centred initiatives around the world, you can hear directly from those involved on the Routing for Communities podcast. To find out more about national policy and regulations that support these initiatives and the evolution of regulatory frameworks, read "Community network regulation around the world".