Practical Insights on Connectivity for ICT4D Projects

Internet Access freedom

How Internet Connectivity Improves People’s Lives in Developing Countries

Internet connectivity can help to improve access to information, opportunities, and services, and can contribute to the overall well-being and development of communities in developing countries, including:

  • Education: Internet connectivity can provide access to a wealth of educational resources, including online courses, educational videos, and other materials. This can help to improve the quality of education and expand opportunities for learning, especially for people in remote or underserved areas.
  • Employment: Internet connectivity can help people in developing countries to find and apply for jobs, as well as connect with potential employers and clients. It can also enable people to start and run their own businesses, providing a source of income and economic opportunities.
  • Health: Internet connectivity can provide access to health information and resources, including telemedicine services, which can improve access to healthcare and lead to better health outcomes.
  • Communication: Internet connectivity can help people to stay connected with friends and family, and to access news and information from around the world. It can also facilitate the exchange of ideas and facilitate collaboration with others.
  • Political participation: Internet connectivity can provide a platform for people to engage in political discourse and participate in the democratic process, helping to promote transparency and accountability in governance.
Obtaining ASTER GDEM Data and Converting to SRTM1 for Use With RadioMobile

Obtaining ASTER GDEM Data and Converting to SRTM1 for Use With RadioMobile

Published on: Dec 09 2009 by Andris Bjornson - 2 Comments
Why to Use ASTER Data There are two main reasons to think about going through this process to use ASTER data instead of SRTM3 for RadioMobile wireless link planning:...
TEDxKampala – Celebrating Africa’s ICT Arrival

TEDxKampala – Celebrating Africa’s ICT Arrival

Published on: Dec 01 2009 by Wayan Vota - 1 Comment
Had I told you in 2000 that Kampala, Uganda would host a TED-type event sponsored by UNICEF and a growing IT incubation center, with notables like New York Times...
How Can We Increase Access to ICT, Today?

How Can We Increase Access to ICT, Today?

Published on: Nov 18 2009 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on How Can We Increase Access to ICT, Today?
1. Keep an Open Mind on What is “ICT” All too often, we get so caught up in what is shiny, flashy, and new, we come to think of just computers, Internet...
Cloud Computing in Africa? All Weather is Local

Cloud Computing in Africa? All Weather is Local

Published on: Nov 05 2009 by Wayan Vota - 5 Comments
Recently there’s been a good discussion about cloud computing in Africa, where Ken Banks asks if its “Inappropriate” appropriate technology? Ken...
Best Low Bandwidth Web Design: Emailed RSS

Best Low Bandwidth Web Design: Emailed RSS

Published on: Oct 21 2009 by Wayan Vota - 4 Comments
When you design websites for the low-bandwidth environment common in Africa, you come across constraints not considered by your average web developer. Paramount...
Broadband Beats Mobile Phones in Boosting GDP

Broadband Beats Mobile Phones in Boosting GDP

Published on: Oct 06 2009 by Wayan Vota - 2 Comments
Mobile phones are a ticket out of poverty for millions. No argument there. But check out this global ICT study by Christine Zhen-Wei Qiang, an economist at the World...
ICTWorks Wired Networking Technical Manual

ICTWorks Wired Networking Technical Manual

Published on: Sep 22 2009 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on ICTWorks Wired Networking Technical Manual
ICTWorks Wireless Networking Technical Manual

ICTWorks Wireless Networking Technical Manual

Published on: Sep 22 2009 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on ICTWorks Wireless Networking Technical Manual
Africa’s Mobile Phone Future: IP Based, Not SMS

Africa’s Mobile Phone Future: IP Based, Not SMS

Published on: Sep 15 2009 by Wayan Vota - 16 Comments
tweetmeme_source = 'ICT_works'; With all the hype around the use of text messaging on mobile phones, like Google Trader or FrontlineSMS, it seems that the future...
The Silent Arrival of Glo 1 Bandwidth in West Africa

The Silent Arrival of Glo 1 Bandwidth in West Africa

Published on: Sep 09 2009 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on The Silent Arrival of Glo 1 Bandwidth in West Africa
This week, the Glo 1 fiber optic submarine cable landed in Nigeria to a fraction of the Seacom hype in East Africa. And yet it could be just as transforming. Glo...