Steve Song is Senior Director, Infrastructure Mapping and Development at the Internet Society, where he works on open data standards for internet infrastructure and maintains public maps of Africa’s undersea and terrestrial fiber optic networks, a project he has run since 2009. His current focus is on terrestrial fiber optic infrastructure and unlocking more effective, affordable internet access globally.
Song is the founder of Village Telco, a social enterprise that built low-cost WiFi mesh VoIP technology to deliver affordable voice and internet service in underserved areas. He was instrumental in launching South Africa’s first Television White Space pilot in 2011, helping open the door to dynamic spectrum-sharing approaches for expanding connectivity. Earlier in his career, he led the International Development Research Centre’s ICT for Development program in Africa, funding research into technology’s potential to drive change across the continent. He has also served as a Mozilla Fellow and as a research associate with the Network Startup Resource Center (NSRC).
Song brings decades of frontline experience in community networks, spectrum policy, and infrastructure mapping to Connect Humanity’s board.