Community wireless networks (also known as wireless community networks) provide a smaller-scale alternative to municipal wireless networks. CWNs have the ultimate goal of making internet access a universal service.

Held from 2-4 October 2013 in Berlin, the International Summit for Community Wireless Networks featured a handful of panels that discussed African projects. In the spotlight were wireless initiatives in DR Congo, Cameroon, and South Sudan.

Below, we’ve listed panels that touched on efforts to improve internet access in African towns, along with a brief summary synopsis from the official agenda. Tweets from attendees highlight the challenges faced by those who bring comparatively affordable wireless technology to developing nations.

Low Cost Wireless Technology for Less-Developed Countries, Congo DRC

• How wireless (Wifi and WiMax), satellite services, and low-cost wireless technology were used for electoral data transmission during elections in 2011
• Experiences in deploying a WiMax network in the city of Kinshasa for the transmission of related civil status data

"The technology must fit the context of the country" — ASNTIC rep Fundi Serge speaking about wireless in DR Congo #IS4CWN

— Open Tech Institute (@OTI) October 2, 2013

How Developing Countries Fight for Internet Access and How CWNs Can Help

• Experiences in advocating for better internet and other communications services in Latin America and Africa

"There are basically 3 issues with Internet access in Africa, and that's spectrum, spectrum and spectrum." — @stevesong #IS4CWN

— Trevor Knoblich (@MobileTrevor) October 4, 2013

Is This the Last Decade For Community Wireless?: Community Wireless in the Age of Ubiquitous Wifi

• What makes community networks unique?
• Can independent community networks co-exist (if not compete) with commercial Wi-Fi?

Jane Butler on community wifi in Africa: seems effective to simply enable youth at local school to manage a community's network. #IS4CWN

— Greg Bloom (@greggish) October 3, 2013

Jane Butler calls for community networks to enable local services in Africa, where WWW access costs 20-60% min wage 1/2 #IS4CWN

— Common Futures (@CommonFutrs) October 3, 2013

LANd of Red Clay: Community Wireless Networks in Cameroon

• Community wireless networks as access points to local content for Cameroonians, who currently face poor quality for expensive Internet access
• How activists cut access prices by about 90% for their target markets in Cameroon, despite enduring problems like poor competition and political corruption

Both Cameroon and neighbor Gabon use SAT-3 cable, but much more expensive and slower speeds in Cameroon. Even when pooling $ #IS4CWN

— Open Tech Institute (@OTI) October 4, 2013

Regulatory bodies for brodband in Cameroon are attached to president's office, no independence. No new legislation since 1998. #IS4CWN

— Open Tech Institute (@OTI) October 4, 2013

ISPs charge 1/3 of annual salary for a year-round Internet subscription, only 256kbps undedicated connection. #IS4CWN

— Open Tech Institute (@OTI) October 4, 2013

Internet is the ideal route but not the best route in Cameroon for local media and access to information. #IS4CWN

— Bincy Ninan-Moses (@NinanMoses) October 4, 2013

In India and Cameroon, Internet is not a priority in communities, Local Apps is. #IS4CWN

— Bincy Ninan-Moses (@NinanMoses) October 4, 2013

#OSJUBA Wireless, South Sudan

• The #OSJUBA – Open Sourcing South Sudan Initiative – proposes to help create a vision for the new state

Governor of state of Warrup is only female gov in S Sudan, supports empowerment for women, open source ideas #IS4CWN #OSJUBA

— Open Tech Institute (@OTI) October 4, 2013

How can S Sudan take advantage of technology as part of independence? #OSJUBA #IS4CWN

— Open Tech Institute (@OTI) October 4, 2013

S Sudan doing country-wide surveys on tablets, but don't have resources to build a server structure for it. #OSJUBA #IS4CWN

— Open Tech Institute (@OTI) October 4, 2013