1. Community Wireless Networks Diana Anius Public Sector ICT & eGovernment (St. Lucia) Caribbean Internet Forum, 29 October 2008

2. Why community wireless networks? Telecom networks not effectively reaching the poor & underserved communities Many attributable reasons…may include: ◦ High installation & administrative costs ◦ Policy & regulatory weakness ◦ Lack of investment ◦ Lack of Government funding

3. Community wireless networks New mesh networking technologies have facilitated their growth. Mesh network characteristics: ◦ Self-healing property of network ◦ Network scalability: increased population densities may increase its effectiveness ◦ Cost-effective low-powered devices: obviate the need for ‘non-aesthetic’ tall antennas ◦ Sophisticated meshing software available to discover and connect to other nodes automatically

4. Potential infrastructure NAP – hotel NAP – health centre NAP – school Backhaul to the internet NAP – school Uplink node

5. Some possible approaches to implementation ApproachSome advantages Implementation and maintenance of entire network by service provider including provision of wired or wireless broadband services to the NAP a.Personnel training costs borne by service provider b.Operating costs including maintenance, and installation costs borne by service provider Service provider installs access points at public locations such as a school or health center (reduced costs to national government). Full- time individual at the public location responsible for maintenance of internal network, and expansion of network to rest of the community a.Help achieve universal service/access goals and utilizing technologies for development in social sectors such as healthcare and education b.Potentially reduced fees for subscribers Service provider facilitates access/connectivity, however maintenance and development of the network (including installation of antennas at subscriber locations) is the responsibility of community a.Installation costs for example laying of fiber or provision of satellite services are borne by the service provider b.Reduced operating and installation costs (of CPE) to the fixed service provider

6. Some critical factors for success Physical Infrastructure ICT Policies including education/training, spectrum policies, etc. Linkages within community/social capital. Stakeholders include: ◦ Civic authorities ◦ Businesses ◦ Institutions: schools, healthcare centres, polices, etc. ◦ Respective ministries ◦ Policy-making/Regulatory agencies Human resources

7. Physical Infrastructure Mr Ajmal Nazir ◦ “Wireless Options for Community Networks” ◦ Technical Director – GreenDot Ltd. ◦ Green Dot Wireless: local service provider and innovator