The increased reliance on the Internet during periods of lockdown and confinement resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the need to ensure that everyone can use the Internet. The Middle East and North African (MENA) region have experienced impressive growth in the availability and adoption of the Internet in recent years, with a number of the Gulf States at the global forefront of new fiber broadband networks and 5G mobile networks along with near universal adoption of the Internet.
However, other countries in the region are lagging further behind. As a result, as of 2019, average Internet adoption in the region was at 55%. While this is slightly ahead of the global average, a significant challenge is that the growth rate is steadily falling.
To tackle these issues, on 15 December 2021, the Internet Society participated at the Arab Forum on Digital Cooperation and Development (AFDCD 2021) and contributed to cutting-edge discussions on innovative connectivity solutions in the Middle East and North Africa. This high-level meeting aimed to highlight the need for innovative ways for connectivity in Middle East and North Africa and the beneficial policies that can create an enabling environment for them.
Session 1:
Setting the scene: shedding light on examples for popular innovative connectivity models; case study from another region. Introducing Community Networks and how they could be developed; What Challenges do community networks face:
a) Technical Challenges
b) Policy and Regulatory Challenges
- Opening remarks: ESCWA and Internet Society
- Keynote speaker: Dr Walid Mathlouthi, Head of Future Network and Spectrum Management Division, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Topic: Shedding light on examples for popular innovative connectivity models - Panel: Complementary Access Solutions, Opportunities, and Challenges (Technical, Policies and Regulatory challenges)
Moderator – Michael Kende, Senior Advisor, Analysys Mason; Digital Development Specialist, IFC
Panelists:- Juan Peirano, Senior Policy Advisor, Internet Society
- Marwa Azelmat, Women’s rights policy advocacy coordinator, APC
- Sharaf Azzain, Entrepreneur and Founder of Ultimate STC; President of Internet Society Yemen chapter
Session 2:
Issues Related to Lack of Access to Spectrum& Infrastructure:
a) How to enable the regulatory environment to sustain a Community Network.
b) Financial and Sustainability Challenges
c) Country case study from the region
- Opening Remarks: Arab League
- Keynote speaker: Martha Suarez, President, Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA) (by Video Recording)
Topic: Issues Related to Lack of Access to Spectrum and Infrastructure Sharing - Panel: Enabling Community Networks regulatory environment, Financial and Sustainability Challenges
Moderator: Hanna Kreitem, Senior Advisor, Internet Technology and Development, MENA, Internet Society
Panelists:- Carlo Maria Rossotto, Principal Investment Officer, Global Head, Upstream Telecom Media and Technology (TMT), Infrastructure, IFC
- Guillaume Lebrun, Global Connectivity Policy, Facebook
- ITU (TBC)
- Q&A and Closing
