Viasat’s Community Internet is a satellite-enabled community last-mile connectivity service, which delivers internet access to communities that previously had little or no internet connectivity. A powerful Wi-Fi antenna is fixed to a storefront (or another suitable location), enabling coverage for a radius between 200 and 500 meters. The antenna is then connected to a modem and router inside the store, which in turn is connected to a tablet – used to generate access codes, provide technical diagnostics and other back-office functionality. Finally, end users connect to the Wi-Fi network using access codes and begin navigation. Users purchase access at rates that are affordable to them, based on either small time (hourly or daily) or data amounts.

An external hard drive can be attached to the network to enable locally cached content; this is typically static content such as educational videos or e-government forms.

To date, Viasat has connected nearly 2 million people through its Community Internet sites in Mexico, Brazil, Jamaica, Guatemala, and Nigeria. We continue to expand the project’s footprint globally and have done so during the Covid-19 pandemic, in recognition of the increasing demand for affordable internet connectivity.

https://viasat.com.mx/community-wi-fi/?lang=en

• Brazil
• Guatemala
• Jamaica
• Mexico
• Nigeria

• Youth
• Women
• Indigenous and nomadic peoples
• The poor
• Refugees and internally displaced people
• Remote and rural communities

Viasat’s Community Internet project is highly scalable and globally replicable. Community Internet can be deployed with minimal local infrastructure investment – to quickly bring cost-effective internet service to locations where large gaps exist between demand, affordability, and availability of internet services.
The service is installed in a few hours at strategic locations within a community. Typical installations are conducted in partnership with a centrally located community business (e.g., general store), with internet services sold in either data or time-based packages, and availability of those services reaching deep into the community footprint. In addition, Viasat is working on expanding the access to work as a mesh network for the entire community and to expand the coverage within homes.

Viasat’s Community Internet project has a minimal ecological footprint, and we have begun to boost its sustainability by using solar-powered Wi-Fi hotspots in some locations, and plan to use other renewables in the future.

How does this project promote WSIS values in your community? Viasat’s Community Wi-Fi helps further the objectives highlighted in WSIS Action Lines: • C2 (Information and communications Infrastructure): Community Internet enables increased access to ICTs and contributes to the formation of inclusive digital societies by innovatively delivering satellite-powered broadband connectivity. • C3 (Access to information and knowledge): By connecting the unconnected we increase access to public information and knowledge through multi-purpose community public access points. • C4 (Capacity building): Community Internet facilitates access to training and remote learning opportunities. • C7 (ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life): Community Internet is the basic building block for the delivery of e-government services to remote and rural communities. It also facilitates access to remote education, healthcare and enables e-commerce. • C11 (International and regional cooperation): Community Internet is deployed in collaboration with several stakeholders, including federal and municipal government, local suppliers and businesses and regional inter-governmental organizations.