Siglo is a regional finalist in MIT’s Inclusive Innovation Challenge

Siglo Network, a decentralized ISP that is being developed in Mexico City, is a regional finalist in the MIT Inclusive Innovation Challenge. The event will take place at the Tec de Monterrey University (Santa Fe Campus) in Mexico City this Thursday, September 5, 2019.

The Inclusive Innovation Challenge is MIT’s premier future of work prize, awarding $1.6 million annually to entrepreneurs using technology to create economic opportunity for workers. The international team selects and celebrates sixty Regional Finalists from 5 regions around the world.

Siglo Network is participating in the technology access category — one of four categories in this year’s challenge. The first nodes are launching this autumn, allowing local communities to build and host the next generation ISP for Latin America. Today, fast home internet is a luxury in Latin America. This digital poverty leads to financial exclusion.

The next wave of internet applications require blazing fast broadband for entertainment, education, and safety, but the current ISPs in Latin America use legacy infrastructure, outdated systems, and antiquated business models. Siglo Network is a decentralized ISP for and by the people. Members of the community can host Siglo Edge Nodes (SENs) that bring gigabit connectivity into their neighborhoods.

In addition to providing blazing fast broadband to homes, the Siglo Network will allow mobile workers to learn new skill sets and earn significant income. Siglo Network is already accepting applications for the following teams:

• Grow: Team in charge of building the community
• Host: Individuals who host a Siglo Edge Node in their home
• Techie: Team in charge of building the network with switches and wireless links
• Helper: Team in charge of resolving community questions
• Collector: Team in charge of moving cash for tokens

The Siglo ecosystem launched 2 years ago and includes a series of apps that allow individuals to earn tokens by completing microtasks. Tokens are exchangeable for prepaid services — like phone credit. There are over 1M registered users in Mexico and another 400K in Colombia! The Siglo team decided to launch an ISP called Siglo Network when they realized that most of their users didn’t have an affordable and fast home internet connection. According to Speedtests of Siglo users, most middle class families are paying $25 USD a month for less than 12 Mbps.

Joel Phillips, founder of Siglo Network, said, “It’s an incredible opportunity to participate in the MIT Inclusive Innovation Challenge. Our userbase is comprised of over 1 million young people searching for opportunity through digital programs. We’re thrilled to tell the MIT community about how digital inclusion can provide jobs across Latin America.”