On Wednesday, 11 September 2024 at 7pm-9pm EDT (23:00-01:00 UTC) the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA) hosts a virtual session ‘Pathways to Progress: Building Rural Connectivity to Meet the SDGs‘ as part of the Science Summit at the United Nations General Assembly 79 (UNGA79).
In the quest to implement the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the enhancement of rural connectivity stands as a pivotal challenge, especially in underdeveloped and developing regions. This session will explore the role of standards and open-source technologies in transforming rural connectivity to enable better alignment with the SDGs. Experts will discuss how open-source and standards-based solutions can provide adaptable and sustainable technology options that empower rural communities, foster digital inclusivity, and facilitate access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.
By analyzing various case studies where open-source platforms have been successfully integrated into rural connectivity projects, for example the Bolo Project in India, the session will illustrate the potential for standards and technologies to be used to catalyze social and economic development. The discussion will also tackle the technical and logistical challenges involved in deploying technologies in less accessible areas, including issues of maintenance, scalability, and communication engagement.
Additionally, the session will discuss strategies for leveraging open-source technologies to build resilient infrastructure that supports rural development and ensures sustainable, inclusive growth. Emphasis is placed on the critical role of standards development leveraging multi stakeholder collaborations involving a diverse group of stakeholders to achieve a cohesive approach to address rural connectivity.
The session aims to provide a blueprint for leveraging standards and technology to not only bridge the digital divide but also to make substantial progress toward the realization of the SDGs in rural settings.
Welcome
Karen McCabe, Senior Director of Technology Policy, IEEE Standards Association
Keynote
Tom Coughlin, IEEE President 2024
Panel 1: Policy and Regulatory Aspects of Rural Connectivity
Prof. V. Sridhar – Centre for Information Technology and Public Policy (CITAPP), IIIT Bangalore
Jane Coffin – ITU Giga Project
Afsin BUYUKBAS – Head of Spectrum Management , ICT Authority of Türkiye
Moderator: Karen McCabe – Senior Director of Technology Policy, IEEE SA
Panel 2: Infrastructure, Application and Use Cases Relevant to Rural Connectivity
Talant Sultanov – Global Digital Inclusion Partnership (GDIP), Women in Digital Economy Fund (WinDEF)
Valentin Kravtchenko – CEO, Grey-Box.ca
Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay – CEO, Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) India
Moderator: Purva Rajkotia – Director, Connectivity and Telcom Practice, IEEE SA
Panel 3: Standardization and Open-Source Importance to Rural Connectivity
Sandeep Agrawal – Administrator (PM-WANI Central Registry), C-DOT India
Ritu Srivastava – Jadeja Consulting / Director, CR-Bolo Project India
Purva Rajkotia – Director, Connectivity and Telcom Practice, IEEE SA
Moderator: Karen Mulberry – Sr Manager, Technology Policy, IEEE SA
Closing Remarks
Karen McCabe, Senior Director of Technology Policy, IEEE SA
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