Women and the Sustainability of Rural Community Networks in the Global South

This article addresses the sustainability of Community Networks (CNs) in rural areas of the Global South, where they seek to compensate for the lack of telecommunications services in low-resource areas. The study, conducted in six cases in Africa, Asia and Latin America, reveals that CNs often have male biases in their governance and technological culture, despite the fact that rural populations in these countries are largely composed of women. It was found that women are less likely to use the services of NCs and to be paid for their work in them. The article highlights the importance of considering the different perspectives and approaches of women to maintain the sustainability of NCs.