Telecommunications networks and services are not effectively reaching the poor, particularly those living in rural areas. Public subsidies for traditional operators to cover the difference between tariffs and cost-recovery levels have proved limited in addressing this continuing gap.

Community Microtelcos are small-scale telecom operators that combine local entrepreneurship, community empowerment, innovative business models, and low-cost technologies to offer ICT services in areas of little interest to traditional operators.

The project "Community Microtelcos: Telecommunications and Microfinances for The Poor and The Poorest" will provide rural families in the Andes of Peru with access to telecommunications and microfinancial services in their communities for the first time. The project will in particular employ an extremely economical open source technology (Meraki, CUWiN) which support all Web2.0 services, the Wireless Commons License (WCL) which describes the terms and conditions of use, and an unique, cost-efficient and effective way to deliver, commercialize and financing these services.

Community Microtelcos as an effective alternative to address the ICT needs of the poor and the poorest.