The Internet Society (ISOC) and Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) are co-organising the Community Network Exchange (CNX) in support with other partners from 12th December to 13th December 2019 with the objective of learning, information sharing, encouraging South Asian regional dialogue, and developing strategic partnerships  for creating ‘Community Networks’ as a technological alternative and infrastructurally independent that can be looked at as an alternative to the Internet for people’s communications system. The theme of CNX 2019 will be “Can Community Networks become Internet of People!”

In this document, you will find advisory regarding:

  • Travel
  • Accommodation
  • Venue
  • Food arrangements and medical concerns
  • Internet connectivity, mobile phones, and electric sockets
  • Currency Exchange
  • Weather
  • Post summit

Travel

Airport terminals: You will be arriving at the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru. On your arrival kindly get the visa formalities completed at the earliest (international guests).

Visa requirements: Foreign Nationals coming to India are required to possess a genuine and valid national passport or any other internationally recognized travel document establishing his/her nationality and identity and bearing photograph of the foreigner. Nepal and Bhutan nationals if entering India by land or air from the Nepal or Bhutan border respectively do not require a passport for entering into India. However, they are required to possess, authorized identity proof. Further if they are entering India from a place other than their own country then possession of their national passport is a must. Citizens of SAARC Countries categorized as Group B (General/Public categories including Businessmen, Journalists, Sportsmen etc.) who are coming under “Visa Liberalization Scheme” are exempted from requirement of Visa and Police Reporting.

Local travel arrangements:

On Arrival (11/12 December 2019)

Your local travel arrangements from the airport, ‘Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru’ and or common pick up point to the venue, iruWay, Janastu Basecamp, Devarayanadurga, Tumkur, Karnataka is arranged by us.

As Janastu community space is 1.5 hours’ drive (40 km) from Bangalore airport, so we will be taking the group of minimum 4 to 5 members together. Thus, you will be informed on Whatsapp CNX 2019 or by email with details of cab/taxi number and driver contact number.

Janastu to Protovillage (14th December 2019)

On 14th December 2019, we have bus service to travel from iruWay, Janastu Basecamp, Devarayanadurga, Tumkur, Karnataka to another community space ProtoVillage, Hindupur, Ananthpur, Andhra Pradesh.

Departure (15/16th December 2019)

Like the arrival, we will arrange cab/taxi service for groups to drop at the airport.

Accommodation

Accommodation: Your accommodation has been arranged at

At Janastu (11 December to 13th December 2019)

Base Camp, Yatri Nivas

Devarayanadurga

Tumkur Dist

At Protovillage (14 to 16 December 2019)

The accommodation in Protovillage is arranged at the basecamp of community space.

CNX Venues

  1. iruWay, Janastu Basecamp, Devarayanadurga, Tumkur, Karnataka &
  2. ProtoVillage, Hindupur, Ananthpur, Andhra Pradesh, India

Food arrangements and Medical concerns

Meals:  The food (breakfast, lunch, dinner) will be provided at the CNX venues.

Special Dietary Needs: If you have particular dietary requirements (halal, vegetarian, etc.) or food allergies, please inform the organizers immediately so that we can make special arrangements and meet your requirements.

Medical Concerns: If you have special medical concerns, we advise that you bring your necessary supporting documents/prescriptions if you plan to buy your medicines here. Many drugstores are easily accessible from the accommodation and conference venue. However, to avoid complications, we advise you to bring your own medication needed for the duration of your trip.

Internet Connectivity, mobile phones, electric sockets

Internet connectivity in both locations will be limited and or not available.

Mobiles: If you wish to buy a local prepaid SIM Card for your mobile phones, you may do so at the airport.

Plug Socket: During your stay, you will require power sockets of type C, D and M. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.

Currency Exchange

There are money changing booths near the customs area at the   Airport, and also some ATMs where Visa/Mastercard/Cirrus can be used. It is advisable to exchange some cash at the airport just in case you need to be using the Indian currency.

Weather

The days are hot and humid and nights are pleasant during this time of the year in Delhi with maximum temperature at around 32oC and minimum at 27oC.

 

What to expect during your stay?

  • Locally prepared dishes for breakfast, lunch, dinner and an open kitchen.
  • There are small eateries, for tourists, in the village some 300 meters away,
  • The power supply shall be made available; however, it cannot be guaranteed 24*7.
  • For participants in camping and dormitories, basic amenities like drinking water, shared toilets, tents, lights, etc. as needed.

We encourage you to bring

  • Warm clothes (jacket; shawl/stole)
  • Sheets, pillows, blankets, towels, toiletries, torch
  • Power banks since it is not always reliable in the camp setup.
  • Cash (“or the kind”) for purchasing local handicraft or items
  • Medicines and personal hygiene needs
  • A sense of conscious ecological living space, to maintain the space clean and help people carry back some litter with you. And initiate performances on eco-friendliness.