Community networks newsletter: Bridging global and local for meaningful connectivity during the IGF and WSIS+20

• The Guarani people, facing the impact caused by internet in their Indigenous lands near São Paulo, Brasil, built a local media server, Nhandeflix, to make technology less harmful to Nhandereco, their way of life. Watch this amazing story by the Interaldeias Committee and supported by Intervozes, Coolab and LocNet here. [Available in Portuguese.] Read more about this initiative here.

• How can the future of the internet be imagined beyond social media platforms? was a guiding question at the recent workshop “After Networks: Reframing Scale, Reimagining Connections”, developed at Aachen University in Germany. Researchers, artists and other networkers reflect on what could happen after, or during, the decline of the internet into a corporate platform complex. Read more. 

• From Colombia, Association for Progressive Communications (APC) member Colnodo, in partnership with ISOC, supported an initiative that brought internet connectivity to Afro-Colombian communities in Juanchaco and Ladrilleros, located along the Pacific coast of Valle del Cauca, bringing to life the Red Comunitaria La Cachuda. Watch a video about this initiative here and read more. 

• “More than 40% of rural citizens still don’t use the internet,” says Alan Ramirez, Peruvian telecommunications engineer. He adds, “we can address this gap with community networks.” Alan shares his experience on the programme of courses developed by the partnership between the Internet Society and the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) here. 

• This year’s WSIS prize was awarded to ISOC’s Haiti chapter, for their work in the development of both theoretical and technical capacity in the field of community networks, over last five years, providing training in technical deployment and management of community networks. Read more

Gendered experiences

• In Northern Uganda’s Oyam District, The Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET), partnering with NetLabs and with support from the Internet Society, is piloting a rural broadband model to close the digital divide – especially for women. At a lively inception meeting, community members and leaders explored how affordable internet could unlock digital access, services and opportunities. Watch here and follow testimonies here.

• The article “From 5G to drones: For a feminist geopolitics of the electromagnetic spectrum” invites us to consider the spectrum while bringing it into novel dialogue with feminist geopolitics. Drawing on examples of spectrum-reliant technologies (5G, drones) the script outlines a three-part agenda: exploring EMS and the body, non-human relations with the spectrum and addressing EMS at home and everyday spectrum practices. Read more.

Enabling policy and regulation

• The IGF and the WSIS+20 offer opportunities for challenges, commitments and practical measures in support of community-centred connectivity. A policy brief – shared at the 2025 annual session of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD)– proposes a six-pillar plan for diversifying access markets to connect the unconnected. Read more.

• The Nigerian Communications Commission, in collaboration with APC and other institutional partners, hosted a two-day workshop in Abuja on crafting a policy framework to support community networks and bridge the rural digital divide. Read more. 

• After an intense work of incidence, the Philippine´s congress passed the Konektadong Pinoy Bill, a policy reform initiative of the telecoms industry with a critical solution for improving connectivity, especially for rural communities. In this article Gomer Padong from the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia (ISEA) and member of the LocNet team, analysed the context and outreach of the bill. Read more.
• And follow the Konektadong Pinoy Bill discussion in this live podcast hosted by Professor Cielo Magno, former Philippines finance undersecretary for fiscal policy and monitoring. [Available in Tagalog.] Watch here.

Publications, research and toolkits

• The Global Digital Justice Forum is launching the #DigitalJusticeNow campaign during this year's IGF to reclaim a digital order that prioritises people and the planet over profit. The campaign aims to influence the WSIS+20 review process by sharing testimonies about what digital justice means to us and how we can achieve it. Follow and share the videos of the campaign here.
• “Towards measuring the social impact and cost effectiveness of community-centred connectivity initiatives: Insights from case studies in Asia and Africa” focuses on what may be considered significant practices among community centred connectivity initiatives (CCCIs) in these regions, filling gaps in studies to measure their social impact and cost-effectiveness. Read more.
• “Self-sustaining Financing Solutions for Community Connectivity: Official outcome of the UN IGF Dynamic Coalition on Community Connectivity” is the result of a participatory process developed by the coalition, and will be presented at the IGF, in Lillestrøm, Norway. The book is edited by Carlos Rey-Moreno, Luca Belli and Senka Hadzic. Read more.

• The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and ISOC jointly launched “Footprints of 20 Years of the Internet Governance Forum”, drawn from the work developed across infrastructure, access, security and policy. The report offers a record of achievements and grounded evidence of the importance of multistakeholder support, coordination and cooperation. Read more.

• REDES A.C. has launched a handbook on emergency communications aimed at community networks, on their new site. Developed with Rhizomatica, with the support of ISOC's resilience call, the edition includes other resources for community networks, small operators and public policy decision-makers that wish to understand and strengthen the work of community networks in emergency responses. Read more. 

• A call to submit proposals to the 5th International Conference on Social and Solidarity Economy and the Commons is open to researchers, practitioners, activists and policymakers. This year’s theme that is ”Collapse and Regeneration: Community-led initiatives prefiguring liveable futures“. The deadline is 30 June. Read more.

Events

• The 4th International Conference on Financing for Development will be held in Sevilla, Spain, from 30 June to 3 July 2025. Read more.

• The WSIS+20 event will take place from 7 to 11 July 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. See the registration process and agenda here. Read more about the community-centred connectivity agenda in this policy brief.

• Global Gathering, organised by Team CommUNITY will be held from 8 to 10 September in Estoril, Portugal with participants from over 144 countries, organisations and networks. Read more. 

• The international seminar “Defendiendo la vida. Enseñanzas de los pueblos frente al extractivismo y los megaproyectos” will be held on 3 July, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. CDMX and 18 July from 18:00 to 19:30 p.m. in Central Europe. Register here. [Available in Spanish.]

• The Association of Community Networks in Kenya lead a dynamic panel in the 2025 Kenya Internet Governance Forum on strategies for “Advancing Digital Inclusion & Affordability for All”. Proposing to go beyond connectivity, the panelists explored affordability challenges, community networks, infrastructure accountability and digital literacy. Follow the session in this video.

• WOUGNET hosted "Bridging Digital Divides: Advancing Inclusive Access through Rural Broadband Connectivity Models" in the African Internet Governance Forum 2025, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The session showcased how community-led broadband models are transforming digital access in rural and underserved regions, drawing from real-world case studies in Uganda, Kenya, Ghana and South Africa. Read more.

Funding opportunities

• The Connecting the Unconnected Funding Program from ISOC supports community-driven internet infrastructure projects in rural, remote and underserved regions. Community networks, cooperatives and other forms of complementary access solutions are eligible for funding and the next application window will be open from 15 July to 27 August 2025. Read more. 

• The NGI Zero Commons Fund´s goal is to help deliver, mature and scale new internet commons across the whole technology spectrum. Applications for funding are open until 1 August 2025. Take a look at the guide for applicants and the frequently asked questions.

Community networks learning repository