Deploying and Sustaining Rural Telecommunication Infrastructure for Rural Economic Development

(Draft)

Submitted

By

Malebogo Babutsi

(24379263)

To

Department of Computer Science

Faculty of Science and Agriculture

North West University

Mafikeng Campus

South Africa

Master of Science

Supervisor: Prof. O. O. Ekabua

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Problem Statement

The telecommunication industry has in the recent years experienced phenomenal growth not only in terms of new technologies, but also liberalisation to allow competition. Thus, the tele -communication industry continues to evolve. However, the challenge remains; what broad-band network model is relevant to address rural areas economic development? This question primarily assumes the position that, although many technologies have been developed, rural areas set up differs from one to another in terms of deployment variable factors.

Although, there are many broadband network models that could provide connections to rural areas, it is mostly the rural areas characteristics that present connections challenges in terms of high connectivity costs. For example lack of skilled man power and life-long education pro-grammes in the rural areas, lack of technological gadgets market in the rural areas to match rural population’s needs as well as the sparsely located population of the rural areas (some short distance, while others are substantially distant apart).

Therefore the questions that arise are; is there a single broadband network model that could transform economic status of the rural areas? How can the rural broadband be sustained? What are the rural areas economic development potentials?

Research Questions

Although the problem statement could provide a direction for this study, it is imperative without research questions to conclude any study. Also, research questions provide a guide, thus, they are a standard research procedure. Therefore, the following questions are intended for this study.

I. How is rural broadband different from the urban broadband network?

II. How will rural broadband help rural economic development?

III. How to test and measure the rural broadband network model for efficiency(cost and

sustainability)

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Research GoalGoals helps to stay focused to the target. Getting lost to other issues is a common mistake in project study due to similarities between issues being studied and biasness due to personal in-terest. Therefore, besides the goal being one of the standard variables of any study, it provides a central point in reminding the study proponent the target of study.

Hence, the main goal of this research study is to establish an efficient rural telecommunica-tion broadband network model for rural economic development.

Research Objectives.

Although there are other procedures to follow when conducting a study, research objectives provide a specific route on how to arrive or achieve the study goal. They also provide insight on stage progress as the study grows into a full “picture”, and they are as follow.

I. Develop a telecommunication rural broadband network model.

II. Develop a matric to measure the performance of the rural broadband network model.

III. Implement the rural broadband network model.

Research Methodology

Research methods form an essential and integral part towards reaching any conclusive position about phenomena’s being studied at any time. This is due to the principle that for any scientific conclusion to be drawn, an empirical process needs to underlay the study.

Thus, to determine deployment and ways to sustain a rural telecommunication broadband network intends to review literature across spectrum of network technologies, build or construct a model to observe the behavior of the network, and also intends to develop a metric to measure the model efficiency. The research methods would also involve implementing the model and evaluating it.

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I. Literature Review.Surveyed literature needs to be reviewed to examine and asses facts. This also looks into

methods used to conclude other related studies. The other purpose for reviewing literature is to interrogate concepts and trends on researched area. This provides clarity as what has already been researched and not.

Therefore, it is intended to review closely related literature material. This should provide future research with what has been and not researched. The researched material would be acknowledged to provide easy reference for future research.

II. Model Development/ConstructionAlthough models are abstract relative to the actual phenomena being studied, I intend to

construct a model for this study to observe the behavior of the network. This part is the only available way to put to test my proposition.

III. Metric Development

Testing and measurement may provide an important part in this study, especially to test the model. Testing and measuring the efficiency of the model has bearing on the validity of the study. Thus, I intend to develop a matric to test and measure the model efficiency.

IV. Model ImplementationOnce the model has been developed, I intend to implement it. This part simulates the study

situation. Attention would at this stage placed on factors common to rural areas being studied.

V. Model EvaluationModel evaluation or model results analysis will conclude the simulation process. This stage is

important as the whole study exercise results are premised on it.

References

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[1] V. Krizanovic, D. Zagar, and K. Grgic, "Econometric analysis of demographic and socio-economic factors influencing broadband adoption in Croatian rural counties," in Telecommunications (ConTEL), 2013 12th International Conference on, 2013, pp. 283-288.

[2] T. J. Oyana, "Exploring geographic disparities in broadband access and use in rural southern

Illinois: Who's being left behind?," 2010.

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