Empowering Communities: Building Homegrown Broadband Networks

The Community Network Roadmap, developed by engineers, social scientists, and designers, aids communities in building and maintaining their own broadband networks. The Roadmap, created from research in Argentina and Mexico, emphasizes initial setup and long-term sustainability, offering inclusive strategies for technical design, social infrastructure, documentation, and problem-solving resources.

Communities worldwide are breaking barriers to internet access by creating and managing their own broadband networks. This grassroots movement aims to bridge the connectivity gap for 2.6 billion unconnected people, as noted by a 2023 International Telecommunications Union study.

The Community Network Roadmap, a collaborative effort of engineers, social scientists, and designers, provides a comprehensive guide to help communities construct and sustain these networks. This document, inspired by successful initiatives in Argentina and Mexico, emphasizes the critical stages of building and maintaining networks.

By focusing on inclusive information design and leveraging community knowledge, the Roadmap facilitates clear, accessible directions for non-experts. Its structured approach covers everything from local needs assessments and equipment choices to long-term planning and problem-solving strategies, ultimately empowering communities to achieve digital connectivity.

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