IGF 2019 WS #153
Last Mile of Internet: Innovative Attempts on Accessibility

Relevance to Theme: With the progress of global informatization and digitization, while much of the telecommunications industry is focused on next generation technology like 5G and AI, we can't forget that there are still many people excluded from the digital world. The term “digital inclusion” has already been discussed for decades and the focus has extended beyond accessibility and overcoming digital divide towards including applications and skills. After years of efforts, the global digital inclusion has been improved to a great extent. However, there are still more than 3.8 billion people who are offline, and one billion people without mobile broadband coverage. The most difficult to overcome, so-called “last mile”, is the internet access and application of remote and Indigenous communities as well as marginalized groups which confront distinct challenges. To address these challenges and to connect the “last mile” of the digital world, it is necessary promote and implement more innovative approaches.

To fulfill the goal of digital inclusion for all, the workshop will focus on innovative approaches been taken in the following three aspects.
1. Innovative approaches to lower the barriers to connectivity, including cost and coverage:
First of all, in regards to those under-developed regions, the high cost remains the fundamental barriers to internet access. Connectivity is the bedrock of digital inclusion. Therefore, how to lower the cost become the key to solve the problem. For instance, with the advantage of large coverage, wireless access technology has become an effective tool to help connect the rural communities, lower the cost of the laying network cable. A “Ger Internet” wireless home broadband solution was launched in 2017, delivering rural connectivity in remote areas of Mongolia with very low population density. Moreover, innovative financial instruments and technology innovation patterns could also be applied to decrease the financing cost of infrastructure and traffic cost of transmission, respectively.
2. Innovative approaches to bring digital connectivity to the world's most remote regions and extreme climates
For some regions with special geographical conditions, the problem lies not only on their affordability, but also on technical difficulties. For example, network solutions specifically designed to address regional challenges, such as 5G Air Fiber solutions to provide next-generation broadband to Inuit populations in the Canadian Arctic. In addition, the RuralStar solution has been deployed in Zhoushan putting an end to an era with no 3G and 4G signals, where is known for its numerous archipelagos of islands and ore quarries so that the work environment on the island is very harsh.
3. Innovative approaches to develop specialized applications for marginalized groups such as persons with disabilities, or the elderly
Another marginalized group that is vulnerable to be excluded from the digital world is persons with disabilities. According to a report by WHO, about 15% of the world's population lives with some form of disability. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) stipulates that ratifying countries ensure that persons with disabilities (PWD) enjoy their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. It also explicitly stipulates that ratifying countries shall take appropriate measures to ensure information accessibility for PWD. A mobile application called StorySign, which Huawei jointly developed with the European Union of the Deaf, translates the content of books into sign language with an AI-powered cartoon avatar to help deaf children overcome barriers when first learning how to read. StorySign is currently available in 10 different languages, and Huawei will keep working with its partners to expand the reach of this application. Many efforts and practices could also been seen in other countries, like Inclusive Smart Cities and Accessible IoT.

Furthermore, by underlining the right and wellbeing of the world’s most remote communities and marginalized groups, the workshop seeks to contribute to the achievement of (SDGs 2030) Sustainable Development Goal 1, namely to end poverty in all its forms everywhere, as well as SDG 10, namely to reduce inequality within and among countries, and to empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all. In today’s world, digital connectivity has become an essential condition for development, so that poverty eradication could not only focus on the poverty itself, but also the guarantee of necessary source and service, including internet access. In addition, this topic a correspond with SDG 9 of building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization and fostering innovation. It is important to develop innovative approaches to support affordable and equitable access of essential infrastructure for economic development and human well-being keeping up with the global progress of informatization and digitalization.

To sum-up, the primary target of global internet governance is to pass the benefits of digital technology to every person, home, and organization, and to help build a fully connected, intelligent world. Digital inclusion should not refer only to the global majority, but an inclusion for all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. Therefore, technology is good, and it should be used for good, for fulfilling the wellbeing and development of every individual and community.


Relevance to Internet Governance: Internet governance requires the participation and contribution of every individual and community of the whole world under the premise of internet connectivity popularity. It aims to build a global cyberspace that promotes openness, equality, justice, security and cooperative development. Therefore, digital inclusion is one of the paramount topics in internet governance. However, according to the “2018 World Internet Report” released by We are Social and Hootsuite, among the population of 7.7billion in the world, there are nearly half people do not have access to Internet. The attendant problems are sever, that with the digital divide emerging, social and economic inequality becomes more conspicuous.

In the digital world, stakeholders should not only focus on the technological innovation for the group at the top of the pyramid, but also the one that is beneficial for all, for the development and wellbeing of those marginalized groups. To this end, on the one hand, internet companies and research & development personals could pay more attention on the development of technologies and projects targeted on lowering the cost of connectivity, remote regions and persons with disabilities for example. On the other hand, it is also important for government and relevant sectors to provide policy and other support fostering such innovation to promote digital inclusion.

This workshop is designed to explore how Internet can act as a tool to benefit everyone in the world, rather than a booster for the advanced society. We will focus more on the very basic level, namely how can remote areas, areas with extreme climates and other special crowds connect with Internet. It may be slightly different from previous workshop that beyond the traditional efforts, we are looking for some specific innovative approaches (best practices) to lower the barrier of connectivity carried by different stakeholders. For example, a thoughtful designs that ensure the Internet usage in extreme climate or a wise ways to lower the fee. It is hoped the outcomes of this workshop could serve as a reference for internet governance, to promote more cooperative efforts of all stakeholders in the global society and to make the Internet an accessible tool for everyone.