Pathways to Progress: Building Rural Connectivity to meet the SDGs

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.

The session will be comprised of three panels