AIRJALDI SUMMIT—
WIRELESS COMMUNITIES IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD

High speed Internet access and the applications that make use of it are changing the world beyond measure. A dazzling array of "divides" and gaps are breaking down—from educationaland political to cultural and linguistic—the list goes on.

But some gaps have not been narrowed, and in some ways have grown wider. This is particularly true for isolated communities in the developing world—places where the building of Internet infrastructure is not attractive to large commercial players. The recent deregulation of some wireless technologies has led to widespread introduction of low-cost consumer products never before financially appealing to small communities in developing countries. By adapting these new products and "hardening" them to withstand demanding environments, we are creating connectivity solutions for rural areas. And the good news is that the service is equivalent to urban connectivity but at a lower cost.

The AirJaldi Summit was held October 22-25, 2006 in Dharamsala, India, and addressed some of the ways wireless solutions can be used to provide affordable Internet access in rural and remote communities. The conference focused on how wireless networks are able to enhance many services, including the quality of education and health-care, increasing economic development, governance, and cultural exchange. Special emphasis was placed on identifying best practices for rapidly increasing connectivity for regions most in need. Summit keynoters and speakers included social activists, IT opinion leaders, philanthropists, and international technology experts. The Summit provided an opportunity for participants to share the lessons learned from the Dharamsala Community Wireless Mesh Network, a successful example of a "sustainable integration" model.

Presentation materials and full video of all sessions are available online.

Following the AirJaldi Summit, the World Summits on Free Information Infrastructure (WSFII) conducted a two-week workshop on various aspects of wireless technologies, providing hands-on training for conference participants.

The Dalai Lama Foundation is a partner in this venture and US donors may directly fund Summit activities thru the Foundation's online donation page.

The Dharamsala Community Wireless Mesh Network (see January 2006 article on the UK's netmag) interconnects more than 2,000 computers located within a 60 Km. radius around Dharamsala, India, using 30 locally developed routers based on modified low-cost consumer hardware and locally-brewed software. The network offers a wide variety of services to its users including broadband Internet access, VoIP-based telephone services, file sharing, offsite backup, etc. The network's capabilities and its exceptional affordability demonstrate a well-tested and replicable model for other rural communities in the developing world. The project has received national and international recognition for its achievements.

The Tibetan Technology Center (TibTec) developed and maintains the low-cost
Dharamsala Community Wireless Mesh Network that provides Internet connectivity to rural communities, schools and institutions in the Dharamsala region.

The Tibetan Children’s Villages (TCV) will host the summit on its campus in
Dharamsala. TCV has donated the use of its auditorium and additional spaces for the conference plenary and summit sessions.

The World Summits on Free Information Infrastructure (WSFII) held their annual meeting and workshops in Dharamsala in conjunction with the Summit. Immediately following the summit, WSFII offered a two-week workshop in a range of wireless technology disciplines.