Broadening Connectivity: A Conversation with Steve Song and Mike Jensen - Part I

Today we're speaking with Steve Song and Mike Jensen about connectivity policy and technology adoption strategies to broaden internet access in developing countries, interviewed by Work Bank team members Robert Hawkins and Alex Twinomugisha. Steve Song is a researcher, entrepreneur, and advocate for cheaper, more pervasive access to communication infrastructure. He is currently a Fellow at the Mozilla Foundation as well as a research associate with the Network Startup Resource Center (NSRC) where he works to expand the use of wireless technologies through shared spectrum strategies. His blog (http://manypossibilities.net) a popular destination for anyone interested in African telecommunications and Internet issues. Since 2009, Steve has been actively maintaining public maps of undersea and terrestrial fibre optic infrastructure in Africa. Steve is also the founder of Village Telco, a social enterprise that manufactures low-cost WiFi mesh VoIP technologies to deliver affordable voice and Internet service in under-serviced areas. Previously, Steve worked at the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), where he led the organization's ICT4D program in Africa, funding research into the transformational potential of ICTs. Mike Jensen is a South African ICT specialist who co-founded Canada's first ISP for non-profit organisations - The Web - in 1987. The Web is also one of the founding members of the Association for Progressive communications (http://apc.org). Since then he has worked across the developing world to help build internet infrastructure, particularly in Africa. In 1995 he co-wrote Nelson Mandela’s inaugural speech for the ITU’s flagship event, TELCOM, and in recognition of his contributions to the development of the Internet, he was inducted into the Internet Society's Internet Hall of Fame (IHOF) in 2017. Mike's main focus is on connectivity policy and technology adoption strategies focusing on efforts to help broaden access to ICTs in developing countries.  He mainly works with civil society, governments and development agencies to advise on infrastructure development strategies which increase internet access. This ranges from advising on projects which encourage governments to ensure all new roads include ducts for fibre, to raising awareness of techniques for using TV radio spectrum for wireless broadband, and assisting in the development of Universal Access strategies.