community-owned networks

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Community-Owned Networks

Edith Ofwona Adera

Senior Program Specialist, IDRC

ICT4Dev Southern Sudan 2010

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What we wanted to know

Financial Viability?

Technical Feasibility?

Management?

Content ?

Ownership?

How do development outcomes change?

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Building Community-Owned Networks Bottom-Up!

The Case of Rural Nigeria (ZittNet)

Similar implementations in Angola, Mozambique, South Africa, Uganda and

Zimbabwe

Similar implementations in Angola, Mozambique, South Africa, Uganda and

Zimbabwe

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Background Kafanchan - rural railway junction town 200 km northeast of

Abuja.

No Fixed Lines, GSM in 2005 – expensive connectivity in the area.

Unreliable national power grid.

High rates of unemployment and HIV/AIDS among youths.

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Background Contd. Fantsuam Foundation (FF)

– rural Nigerian NGO - fights poverty and builds capacity of communities for self-reliance.

Access to ICT infrastructure for sustainable livelihoods program. Only Internet Connection in Kafanchan area via Satellite

However, the cost was very high at US$ 1800 per month (128/64 kbps)!

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Purpose Use local skills to build and maintain the wireless network.

Share bandwidth cost-effectively and run network using a back-up solar power system.

Develop a sustainable social and cost-effective business model.

Undertake socio-economic impact assessment of the wireless network, document and share the lessons & experiences.

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The Process and Achievements

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Building Local Capacity - Training

Extensive training on how to deploy, run and maintain a Wireless Community Network - Theory, Practice & Site Surveys

Gender Balanced Team!

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Wireless Network Design – Star Network

(network topology & estimation of equipment)

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Procurement of Equipment Local procurement of bulky and heavy items

Import radio equipment Radio equipment with built-in antenna, Ethernet cable

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Implementation by Local Team

PAYG Satellite Link Old Network Operating Centre PoE Cable connected to

tower

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Implementation by Local Team

150 foot tower installed Installation of radio Testing connectivity equipment (award winner) for client – 20 clients

Client Equipment: radio equipment with built-in antenna, cable, UPS/ surge protection, web-enabled computer.

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Construction of new Network Operations Centre

Based on local materials and training local skills

Built with compressed earth bricks; manufactured locally by groups of out-of-school youths with income generation opportunities created.

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Solar Power Back-Up System!

Powers: core network; Equipments and Lighting

Services: VOIP, web & mail services; and CMS

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Application of the Wireless Network in Health!

Fantsuam Clinic - connected to - Kafanchan General Hospital

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Business Development!

Isaiah Cyber Café connected!

• Microfinance• 10 youth• 15,000 beneficiaries

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Business Development!

Zenith Bank Connected!•Zenith Bank Connected!

OTHERS:-•Hotel with a hot spot•Individual homes

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Other Outcomes Achieved! Nigeria's first rural community wireless network offering

innovative low-cost services (1/3 internet costs):-VOIP calls; interactive radio with return voice channel via radio hooked to the network; Intranet with free messaging services.

A reliable solar back-up system for the network.

A fully-fledged Rural ISP status (with tested social enterprise model supported by microfinance) – recognized by Nigerian regulator and a new class license established as a result of the project (to be connected IXP).

Technically competent ZittNet wireless team - scaling up in Kaduna State and other states within Nigeria.

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Centre of Excellence – Makerere University

Community Wireless Resource Centre

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Challenges Technical damage to some equipments due to high

incidences of thunder and lightening in Nigeria!

Retention of trained IT experts – within rural Nigeria (local CISCO academy producing critical mass of expertise)

Affordable and reliable Internet connectivity (migrated to pay-as-you-go Internet access to reduce costs)

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Conclusion – “Africa Can”

Communities can build their own networks with low-cost wireless solutions using local skills;

Africans need to develop local applications & services (Intranets) that meet their development needs;

Community-owned networks – with “VOIP-Wireless Internet-Solar driven--Bandwidth Management-Business” model is the next innovation for Africa;

Open Fibre Model is the ultimate solution (Tanzania)

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Resources – Open Access

Project Websites

Fantsuam Foundation - www.fantsuam.org

Community Wireless Resource Center - www.tech.mak.ac.ug/cwrc

Documentation of the Work

Fantsuam Foundation - www.fantsuam.it46.se

Community Wireless Resource Center - www.cwrc.it46.se

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Thank You!

Edith Aderaeadera@idrc.or.ke