On February 13, 2025, the sixth session of NetMission Academy 2025, titled “Diversity, Inclusion & Sustainability on the Internet & Internet Governance,” took place, moderated by Barkha Manral and Sameer Gahlot. This session dives into Hokkaido data center, and Photonic-Electronic Convergence as an emerging technology. Guest Speakers Jaewon Son (Doctoral Researcher at KIT’s ITAS), Hinemaua Rikirangi (Strategic Business, Engagement & Culture Specialist, and General Manager, InternetNZ), and Shannon Olsson (Founder of Echo Network) share their experiences and insight into diversity, inclusion, and sustainability on the Internet and Internet governance.
The SG#3 team gives an overview of the case studies and explains how these case studies promote diversity, inclusivity, and sustainability presented by Naylie Hashim, Naiyana Jaratruangsaeng, Angelina Dash, Leena Goyal, and Rafi Uddin. Decentralizing data centers enhances accessibility, while also enabling marginalized communities to access essential digital services. Additionally, this technology strengthens resilience against natural disasters and holds potential for emerging innovation. With the widespread adoption of PEC, it is expected to reduce energy consumption, promoting scalability and efficiency while significantly lowering power usage.
A comparative case study on Photo-Electronics and ICANN highlights South Korea’s role in promoting global Internet sustainability and diversity prepared by Ammarah Wakeel. The study examines gaps in digital accessibility and equitable transformation, particularly for SMEs. To address these challenges, the government collaborates with research centers and universities like KOPTI, Yonsei University, Seoul National University, and Korea University. These efforts have led to an energy-efficient, sustainable Internet while expanding opportunities such as offline digital education, improved communication for rural and disabled communities, and nationwide affordable high-speed Internet.
Another comparative case study on Malaysia’s Photonics Initiative was presented by Lim Jia Chyin. The case study focuses on expanding optical fiber infrastructure to bridge connectivity gaps, particularly in urban areas like Sabah and Sarawak. A key aspect of this initiative is the development of education and research, with institutions such as Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) leading advancements in photonics. Additionally, photonics is being explored for sustainable applications, such as smart agriculture, where it is used to monitor soil moisture levels and optimize irrigation practices for efficient water usage. Through these efforts, Malaysia aims to enhance digital connectivity and promote sustainable technological advancements. Khursheed Akram concluded the presentation and shared the policy question provided by SG#3.
During the guest speakers session, Jaewon Son highlights inclusion and sustainability through public participation in the Geographic Information System (GIS). Geographic data can be integrated into computer systems to analyze and display geographically referenced information. Hinemaua Rikirangi discussed the development of the Internet, which contributes to NZ’s national economy, delivers social and economic outcomes, and streamlines processes. Shannon Olsson emphasized the importance of life on this planet, the relationship between them and us, and why she joined an echo network, a social innovation partnership, to reach sustainable goals.
In the breakout group discussion, participants shared innovative solutions to address issues related to the digital divide and the ethical and social implications of emerging technologies to ensure diversity, inclusion, and sustainability on the Internet.
Written by Long Seng