Telekomunikané

Telekomunikané is a term used in information and communication technology to describe a holistic approach to telecommunication that emphasizes communal participation, interoperability, and resilience. It is generally treated as a concept or framework rather than a single technology.

The term is a neologism that emerged in academic and policy discussions in the 2010s and 2020s, particularly in European and North American contexts. It combines elements of telecommunications with notions of community and shared infrastructure, underscoring the social dimension of networked communication.

Its core principles include open access to networks and services, federated and interoperable protocols, user empowerment through local control and stewardship of infrastructure, privacy and security by design, and resilient operation through decentralized, multi-layer architectures.

Technically, telekomunikané is associated with distributed and mesh-like infrastructures, edge computing, and the use of open standards to enable cross-domain communication. It favors federated services over centralized platforms and relies on encryption and identity management that preserve user autonomy and accountability.

Applications include community networks for education and media, disaster response communications, participatory governance and civic tech, and research environments for collaborative data sharing.

Critics point to governance and interoperability challenges, potential fragmentation across incompatible systems, security risks in decentralized networks, and issues of digital inclusion and funding. Proponents stress the need for standards and governance models that balance openness with accountability.

See also: mesh networking, community networks, open standards, federated identity, digital rights.