Conference Agenda

The United Nations has adopted the term “meaningful connectivity” to describe “the possibility for everyone to enjoy a safe, satisfying, enriching, productive and affordable online experience” as key for enabling digital transformation and meeting the Sustainable Development Goals. It points out that universality and affordability are complementary: “neither universal connectivity with poor quality nor meaningful connectivity for the few will yield significant, society-wide benefits.” It identifies several “connectivity enablers”: infrastructure, affordability, devices, skills, and safety and security.

This paper posits that conditions isolated regions in the Global South face challenges similar to those in remote North America to achieving universally available, affordable and sustainable broadband. It analyzes international-agency funded broadband projects in several Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and compares their goals and strategies with findings to date from public sector broadband projects in remote and Indigenous regions of North America. It then identifies lessons learned so far from these initiatives, and proposes topics for further research to evaluate the extent to which they achieve “meaningful connectivity.”

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are a distinct group of 39 States and 18 Associate Members of the United Nations that face unique social, economic and environmental vulnerabilities. These small islands face challenges of remoteness, small and often scattered populations, and underdeveloped economies. They therefore find it difficult to attract sufficient investment in broadband connectivity, both to external networks and within their own territory and communities. Where facilities are available, operating costs for the small populations often result in high usage charges. They may also lack other key elements such as reliable power supplies, transportation links, and digital skills to benefit from connectivity. Many of these challenges are mirrored in the Far North.

To gain an indication of progress and issues still to be addressed in isolated regions, the paper examines ICT/connectivity projects of major multilateral development funders over the past decade, namely the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). It reviews six infrastructure projects primarily funded by the World Bank or ADB and seven Smart Village/Smart Island (SVSI) projects funded by the ITU.

Available sources include project needs assessments and valuation reports as well as data on connectivity, pricing, and regulatory structure and degree of competition in each project country. In addition, the paper presents findings from the author’s research in remote and Indigenous regions that appear relevant to achieving affordable access to sustainable broadband for SIDS and other isolated developing regions.

The paper also points out that although many millions of dollars have been spent or committed by these international development agencies on infrastructure and resources to generate benefits from access to connectivity and facilities, little attention has been paid to research. It appeared that no independent evaluation research had been budgeted for in the projects, and only one SVSI needs assessment of those reviewed suggested involving academic researchers. The paper concludes with proposed research questions, and states that it is not too late to conduct “before and after” research in the SVSI sites, and that “after only” evaluation models can be used in completed projects, along with comparisons with earlier traffic and pricing data.