Building community wireless connectivity in developing countries (Page 1)

An innovative approach to constructing a wireless network by the Association for Progressive Communications

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Introduction

The high cost of conventional “wired” infrastructure is an obstacle to those looking to harness the potential of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) for development and social change.

Wireless communications technologies (WiFi) offer developing countries the possibility of a low-cost, tested and dynamic complement to wired infrastructure. Open wireless standards bring new technical opportunities at very low cost and are particularly applicable in underresourced areas, with poor infrastructure, because they do not require enormous investment. WiFi is also a decentralised internet model that can work around tightly regulated telecommunications monopolies, offering cheap and fast internet access.

For the potential of WiFi to be fulfilled, interventions are required at a number of levels, ranging from policy to technical development, to capacity-building.

In 2005, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), together with the Open Society Initiative (OSI), funded a proposal to train WiFi implementers and programmers in Africa. The initiative is coordinated by APC. Organisational and individaul project partners include Bruno Roger from the Ecole Superieure Multinationale des Telecommunications (a telecommunications-focused school in Senegal,) wire.less.dk, a Danish wireless consulting company, Alberto Escudero-Pascual (Spain/Sweden), Kyle Johnston (Canada) and the Champaign-Urbana Community Wireless Network (CUWIN).

This initiative to build capacity for community wireless connectivity in Africa provides face-to-face training, disseminates tools and information resources, and facilitates the sharing of local knowledge around wireless technologies. The programme teaches African trainers how to build wireless infrastructure and how to adapt existing software, or create new software.

At the heart of the programme is a set of training materials, written by subject experts from around the world, which can be freely used and disseminated, repackaged, localised, translated and adapted according to local needs. The materials are intended for use by workshop participants, trainers, e-riders, decisionmakers and almost anyone with a practical interest in building community wireless networks and at least a basic familiarity with TCP/IP networking.

Through initiatives such as this, a solid groundwork is being laid to establish communities of wireless networking practitioners across Africa and the world.

About the Association for Progressive Communications

The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) is an international member-based network of civil society organisations dedicated to empowering and supporting groups and individuals working for peace, human rights, development and protection of the environment, through the strategic use of ICTs. APC pioneers practical and relevant uses of ICTs for civil society, especially in developing countries.

ABOUT WIRE.LESS.DK

wire.less.dk is a highly-specialised independent team of experts in wireless and internet technology, run by Tomas B. Krag and Dr Sebastian Büttrich. They work with business customers as well as non-profit projects, such as community networks and ICT initiatives for the developing world.

Consultancy and services in Denmark are handled by the company wire.less.dk, whereas international and educational activities are projects of a non-profit foundation set up for this purpose. wire.less.dk’s main project is the Wireless Roadshow, wireless networking for NGOs in the developing world.

ABOUT CHAMPAIGN-URBANA COMMUNITY WIRELESS NETWORK (CUWIN):

Over the past half-decade, the Champaign-Urbana Community Wireless Network (CUWiN) has been developing an open source, turnkey wireless networking solution that exceeds the functionality of many proprietary systems. CUWiN’s vision is ubiquitous, extremely high-speed, low-cost networking for every community and constituency.

Following in the footsteps of Linux and Firefox, CUWiN has focused on creating a low-cost, non-proprietary, user-friendly system. CUWiN’s software will share connectivity across the network, allowing users to buy bandwidth in bulk and benefit from the cost savings. CUWiN networks are self-configuring and self-healing, so adding new wireless nodes is hassle-free, and the system automatically adapts to the loss of an existing node. And, because CUWiN networks are completely ad-hoc, there’s no need for expensive central servers or specialised administration equipment.

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