Written by Khang Vinh Khac Nguyen & Luke Rong Guang Teoh (Edited by Jenna Fung)
On 13th January 2022, a session about access and empowerment was held online. The session first began with a presentation delivered by Luke Rong Guang Teoh and Bawani Rupasinghe. It has started with an overview of what 5G is and stated how much potential our future world holds. The presenting group then continues to elaborate on and explain why connectivity and accessibility vary in different developing countries. Following with some suggestions on how we can improve connectivity and make the Internet more accessible in the following 6 ways:
- Reducing the cost of the Internet. Making Internet service more affordable.
- Improving network efficiency
- Expanding digital infrastructure
- Improving digital literacy.
- Encouraging multilingualism
- Encouraging competition. Avoiding monopoly in the industry.
The presenting group concluded some benefits of the listed suggestions. The group believes that it may encourage economic growth, health care, and education, civic education, governance, and social cohesion.
Following with two case studies on the Internet shutdown in Myanmar and the Free Basics Meta Connectivity program respectively, the group demonstrated how the Internet is restricted or limited in some parts of the world and how it slows down the flow and dissemination of information.
In the first case, it has illustrated the current situation in Myanmar where Internet access is restricted by governments in order to slow down the flow of information. With limited access to the Internet, it prevents the government’s actions from being known both locally and abroad. This may stop the world from getting updates about the military coup and the violation of human rights in the country. In the second case, the group explained the Basics Meta Connectivity program, its significance, and the emphasis on how significant it is. The presentation was then closed with an illustration of the pros and cons of net neutrality and the conclusion of the presentation.
This time we were honored to have Gunela Astbrink and Teddy Woodhouse as speakers to provide comments to the presentation and joined our breakout group discussion to further discuss the topic with the policy questions set by the presenting group. In the speaker remarks session, Astbrink pointed out the differences between access and accessibility, which helps attendees to gain a better understanding of access and accessibility. She also elaborated on what digital literacy is and why we should pay more attention to digital literacy as the foundation of empowerment.
Our next speaker, Teddy Woodhouse began his remarks by questioning our attendees on how we think where the new technology is heading and how connectivity program is closing digital gaps and making everyone head in the same direction in terms of technology development. Woodhouse also emphasized the importance of a meaningful, sustainable, and affordable internet of the future.
After the speaker remarks session, all attendees are split into 2 groups for discussion on questions given by the presenting group. The questions are as follow:
- What are the benefits of Digital Literacy?
- What are the positive impacts of enhancing connectivity and accessibility?
- What are the limitations of Free Basics – Meta Connectivity?
- What are the pros and cons of Net-Neutrality?
- What can be the possible impacts of Internet restrictions by authorities in Myanmar?
Below are some opinions gathered from the breakout group discussion. The group mainly touched on the benefits of digital literacy and the positive impacts of enhancing connectivity and accessibility.
Breakout group 1 was facilitated by Amogh Chettuparambil, Khang Vinh Khac Nguyen, and Bawani Rupasinghe. Guest speaker Gunela Astbrink, joined the discussion in this group. The group concluded that digital literacy is important for everyone who lives in this digital era, especially the younger generation, because digital literacy is the first step for the improvement of accessibility and empowerment. In terms of enhancing connectivity and accessibility, the group believes that the improved connectivity makes impacts on both social needs and emergency disaster risks. To reconnect with each other, the Internet enables people to maintain relationships regardless of different locations and pandemic restrictions. When it comes to natural disaster prevention, access to timely information allows citizens to seek the most suitable resources such as shelter and be able to share their location if they were trapped.
Breakout group 2 was facilitated by Bea Guevarra and Zin Myo Htet. Guest speaker Teddy Woodhouse joined the discussion in this group. The group believes that digital literacy particularly in terms of access is a basic dimension of navigation and it may contribute to meaningful content moderation. This may help empower Internet users with the concept of digital citizenship, which is a progression from digital literacy. Woodhouse pointed out that people of different stakeholder groups will respond to this question very differently. This group also concluded that enhanced connectivity and accessibility could provide opportunities for end-users to access education, the healthcare system, business opportunities, and social networking with family or friends.
The training session closed with a brief summary from appointed representatives from the two breakout groups and final remarks from invited speakers, Gunela Astbrink and Teddy Woodhouse.