New round of funding awarded to promote Internet resiliency in disaster response

We are pleased to announce a new round of grant funding to six projects in three countries to promote Internet infrastructure and network resiliency through our Resiliency Grant Program. Established in 2021, this program supports communities to ensure readiness, maintain and repair Internet infrastructure, and maintain or re-establish connectivity when faced with unexpected events such as natural disasters.

“When a disaster like an earthquake or cyclone strikes, connectivity to the Internet becomes a vital tool – both for people in need and those responding to the emergency. Through these grants, we aim to support communities to reduce vulnerabilities and build the capacity and resilience to navigate future emergencies.”
Maiko Nakagaki, Program Officer, Resiliency Grant Program

“At Atma Connect, we are committed to helping communities on the front lines of disaster be more resilient, and we’re excited about the transformative potential when communities have Internet access that can withstand disaster and can use it during a crisis to help neighbors, save lives, and reduce losses.”
Meena Palaniappan, CEO, Atma Connect

The projects selected in 2023 include:

SubOptic Foundation – United States – USD $500,000 to enhance and protect subsea telecommunications cable infrastructure in the Caribbean region. This project aims to develop a first-of-its-kind study on the resilience of subsea cable infrastructure and a roadmap for subsea cable protection and resiliency in the region.

Digital Empowerment Foundation – India – USD $395,006 for the Uttarakhand Wireless Aid Community Network. This project aims to build resilient Internet infrastructure in ten communities in natural disaster-prone areas across the state of Uttarakhand. Resilient Internet infrastructure will be set up and community members will receive training to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair relevant infrastructure.

Allied Media Projects in partnership with Community Tech NY – United States – USD $481,324 to convene and train community-based organizations from across the United States and the Caribbean to build and utilize the Portable Network Kit – a “wireless network in a suitcase that helps people understand how to build their own mini-Internet” – as a tool for disaster preparedness and for connectivity in the aftermath of a natural disaster.

Atma Connect – United States – USD $400,000 to implement community-led, sustainable technology solutions in Sukabumi, Indonesia. The aim of this project is to develop a replicable model of community-led, sustainable Internet connectivity that enhances resiliency in communities facing natural disaster-related issues.

Instituto Nupef – Brazil – USD $472,239 to promote resilient Internet infrastructure and capacity-strengthening across six territories in Brazil. This project aims to upgrade existing infrastructure, update networks and train community members to manage and maintain systems and increase resiliency.

Rhizomatica Communications – United States – USD $348,933 to deploy back-up backhaul and power systems in natural disaster-prone areas across Mexico and Argentina. This project aims to strengthen existing networks, expand networks, provide on-site capacity-building and create training materials in order to increase resilience with respect to natural disasters in these areas.

Organizations currently implementing or recently completed their projects through our Resiliency grant program include: Information Technology Disaster Resource Center (United States), Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (India), and Research Education Network Uganda.