Cnewsdesk: Naveed Haq is the Senior Director of Infrastructure and Connectivity at the Internet Society (ISOC), with a primary focus on the Asia-Pacific region. With a deep passion for building networks and connecting the unconnected, he has collaborated with diverse communities on a wide range of initiatives. His expertise spans Internet technology, policy, and regulation, and his work is guided by a belief in the power of inclusion, collaboration, and a truly open Internet.
In this exclusive interview, Naveed spoke about the ISOC’s ambitious efforts to bridge the digital divide through community-led initiatives, from establishing the world’s highest community network near Mount Everest to bringing connectivity to remote Pacific islands.
Question 1: You’ve worked extensively across Asia-Pacific to improve infrastructure and connectivity. What have been some of the most rewarding or challenging experiences in that journey?
Naveed Haq: Establishing internet connectivity and access infrastructure in overlooked or hard-to-reach areas demands passion and creativity. The most challenging work is also the most rewarding, particularly when it involves working with the community.
There have been many such experiences, but three stand out as the best thus far:
First, the Everest Community Network in Nepal. By collaborating with the Nepal Internet Foundation and the local Sherpa community, we established the highest community network in the world, creating new opportunities in the Nepalese villages of Khunde and Khumjung, located just 10.3 kilometers from Mount Everest Base Camp. The network runs over fiber and provides internet connectivity to over 1,500 Sherpas. You can read more about it at internetsociety.org/issues/community-networks/success-stories/nepal/.
Second, the Maldives Internet Exchange Point (MVIX). Working with small internet service providers in the Maldives, we established local peering in the middle of the Indian Ocean. It all started with informal discussions when a team of local ISPs connected with us and APNIC. We assisted them in planning, training, designing, and deploying the first Internet Exchange Point (IXP) in this small island developing state. MVIX exemplifies how the combined efforts of a community of network engineers, along with support from organizations like ours, can significantly enhance the overall resilience of the Internet. More details are available at pulse.internetsociety.org.
Third, Gabaspot Community WiFi in Papua New Guinea. The Gabagaba community network is a significant policy achievement that promotes a community-centered environment for connectivity through the use of Universal Access Funds, thanks to Papua New Guinea’s ICT Regulator (NICTA). Run and managed by the local village community, Gabaspot provides reliable Internet access, which was previously very limited in Gabagaba, a rural village in Papua New Guinea. With our support, the Gabaspot Network now provides reliable connectivity to approximately 5,000 people. Nearby schools teach digital literacy skills, farmers can learn new techniques online, and residents can access new employment opportunities through remote work. You can watch more about this at youtube.com/watch?v=WfP83OwnN-I.
Question 2: As Senior Director of Infrastructure and Connectivity, what are your current priorities or focus areas?
Naveed Haq: The Internet Society’s 2030 Strategy embodies our mission: the Internet is a resource to enrich people’s lives and a force for good in society. Over the next five years, we will prioritize actions that aim to improve the lives of people everywhere. My focus areas center around access to affordable, reliable, and resilient Internet.
For us, each new Internet exchange point enhances resilience, ensuring that businesses remain online, and every new community-centered connectivity solution opens up opportunities for a child or a family in that community.
Our primary focus areas for the IXP work are the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS). For community-centered connectivity, our target demographics for the next five years include indigenous peoples, displaced populations, and women-led social enterprises.
Question 3: How do you measure the real-world impact of infrastructure projects aimed at connecting the unconnected?
Naveed Haq: We evaluate the impact using both qualitative and quantitative indicators. The impact stories of our work in connecting the unconnected demonstrate how community-centered connectivity solutions help narrow the digital divide by enabling communities to come together and establish and maintain their internet connections. Internet by the people, for the people. Please do read these stories at internetsociety.org/issues/community-networks/success-stories/.
Question 4: What emerging technologies do you see playing a key role in bridging the digital divide over the next decade?
Naveed Haq: I believe the ongoing evolution of the spectrum will create more opportunities to connect remote and underserved areas. Dynamic spectrum opportunities in TV white spaces and Wi-Fi 6 exemplify these developments. Additionally, the growing industry of low-Earth orbit satellites could support affordable and reliable community-centered connectivity solutions to bridge the divide.
Question 5: How do policy and regulation either accelerate or hinder connectivity efforts in developing regions?
Naveed Haq: For the millions still unconnected, traditional networks often do not reach them. Without coordinated action, we risk leaving a significant portion of the population disconnected even a decade from now, thus perpetuating the digital divide. Policymakers play a critical role in fostering an enabling environment. The digital divide persists due to market and policy failures. Closing it for good requires establishing a regulatory environment that accommodates all types of connectivity. An Internet for all demands diverse approaches and models that can meet various needs, and it is achievable. Imagine a program that supports small villages-those with populations under 2,000-by providing initial funding, training, and resources to build their networks. These communities could operate small-scale businesses, charging minimal fees to ensure sustainability while bringing transformative benefits to their families and neighbors. Unfortunately, smaller operators often struggle to compete with large telecom giants. Ultimately, if we empower communities-whether indigenous, displaced, or remote-to take charge of their connectivity, they can build sustainable solutions with our support. No traditional network provider will invest in these areas, but together with local communities, we can make it happen.
We do advise on policy strategies that can help close theconnectivity gaps. You can read about them at internetsociety.org/resources/advancing-community-connectivity/.
Question 6: You’ve worked with diverse communities and cultures. What strategies have helped you build effective, inclusive collaborations?
Naveed Haq: Listening is essential! The more you listen to communities and learn about their cultures, the greater your chances of success. These community-led initiatives, whether involving infrastructure like IXPs or promoting community-centered connectivity, require community ownership and partnerships. The operational sustainability and impact of such efforts are closely tied to effective collaboration with the communities. Listening also helps to understand the requirements, which can vary from community to community. If you can provide a solution that addresses local needs, interest and participation from the community will grow! There is no universal solution you can implement to connect the unconnected.
Question 7: You’ve often spoken about your passion for an open and inclusive Internet. What does a truly open Internet look like to you in practice?
Naveed Haq: Every minute of every hour, people connect online to share information, ideas, and dreams. By working with our global community, we help create a trustworthy Internet. Together, we advocate for a secure and functional Internet while educating people to make safer choices online. The Internet has significantly improved people’s lives worldwide. It has changed the way we work, learn, communicate, and even experience love. We contribute to and shape it every minute of every day. However, the Internet is facing threats. Actions and policies from governments and corporations endanger its integrity, risking a fragmentation into isolated networks. Any policy or decision that threatens the open, global, and interoperable nature of the Internet-those qualities that have enabled people worldwide to benefit from it-contributes to the fragmentation of the Internet. Instead of the cohesive, seamless Internet that the world relies on and enjoys, we risk ending up with a fractured, diminished version that bears little resemblance to our current experience. It’s an opposing version of an open Internet, where regular individuals cannot freely create, share, and connect.
Question 8: What role do local communities and grassroots organizations play in shaping digital inclusion efforts?
Naveed Haq: They are vital to a successful and sustainable community infrastructure or connectivity project. Local technical communities, such as NOGs or ISP Associations, play a crucial role in shaping local peering and enhancing the resilience of the infrastructure. In terms of community-centered connectivity, nearly every project we have completed has been led by a local grassroots organization. In Africa, for example, some of these organizations have now become successful brands in community connectivity-have a look at aheri.net. With an enabling policy environment, social enterprises could play a vital role in providing community-centered connectivity solutions to rural and remote areas and managing them effectively. They can take on a larger role in addressing challenges related to the digital divide while also generating revenue through business activities.
Question 9: What inspired your journey into Internet infrastructure and policy in the first place?
Naveed Haq: I grew up in a rural village in Pakistan where, back in the 1980s, there was no concept of the internet. It wasn’t until the late 1990s, during my university studies, that my father bought me a computer. We purchased a prepaid card for internet access, which cost about $4 for a 30-minute session. We connected at 40 kilobits per second, and it took nearly four minutes to load a single Yahoo page. Yet, that experience was transformative-it revealed the internet’s potential.
I was fortunate to begin my career with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, where I worked for a decade and developed my expertise in policy and regulations. I was even luckier to join the Internet Society in 2013, which has continued to inspire and fuel my passion by collaborating with the community on various technical and policy issues, particularly regarding connectivity and infrastructure.
Question 10: How can the Internet Society help build the capacity of members regarding technological and policy issues?
Naveed Haq: Internet Society members and chapters drive our efforts within communities. Our community members can take courses to enhance their technology and policy skills. They organize campaigns, host events, contribute, connect, and meet with other advocates worldwide. Therefore, if you believe that everyone has the right to a life full of opportunity, regardless of who they are or where they live, join us at internetsociety.org/become-a-member/
