Africa
Summary
The MyDigitalBridge foundation partnered with Microsoft to bridge digital divide in rural Namibia using TVWS network covering the largest geographic area to date
Requirements
A broadband solution that could affordably span the large geographic area of northern Namibia
Solution
MDB deployed Adaptrum’s ACRS2 system in both a last-mile and relay network configuration
Benefits
Results
MDB connected 28 rural schools with internet service and piloted voice, video, and data services to enhance educational.
Namibia is a large country with a small population, known for its
magnificent scenery and its vibrant diversity of peoples. While the
country has a good healthcare system, as well as a sound primary and
secondary education system, both of these social sectors are hampered
by the vast distances that need to be covered by health care and
education providers. Technologically the country has access to modern
telecoms infrastructure. However, an innovative approach to affordably
extending broadband to rural communities and citizens was needed.
The MyDigitalBridge (MDB) Foundation in partnership with Microsoft
successfully piloted a Namibian TV White Spaces (TVWS) pilot project
to bring broadband connectivity to schools in Northern Namibia. Called
‘Citizen Connect’, the pilot consists of a network deployed over a 62km
x 152km (9,424 km²) area covering three regional councils: Oshana,
Ohangwena, and Omusati, and connecting 28 schools in northern
Namibia. This makes it the biggest TVWS project of its kind in terms of
area coverage. The intention of the pilot was to provide a blueprint for
broadband internet connectivity countrywide.
MDB engaged with relevant stakeholders, such as the Communications
Regulator, Telecom Namibia, and the ministries of education and ICT to
procure, deploy, and commission the broadband network.
Although the north is Namibia’s most densely populated region, it is still
characterized by a dispersed population. The low population density
made TVWS wireless broadband the ideal fit for connecting schools
across vast distances. Adaptrum ACRS2.0 radios were selected to
provide the TVWS wireless links. Using ACRS2 radios, the network was
deployed with links covering distances of 8 to 12 km. In addition to long
range non-line-of-sight links, the network employed a relay topology to
extend connectivity across multiple links.
With links providing up to 10Mbps connectivity, the completed system
provided schools with voice, video, and data communications
including high-resolution, 3-way Skype
video conference to provide
remote learning. The reliable
delivery of these services over
the large area of the network
demonstrate that the new
rural network can be used
to deliver many different
broadband-enabled offerings
to the remotest areas of the
country. As this is the first time
that high-speed data will be
available in these areas, the impact of these services is
likely to be transformative in many respects.
In selecting its equipment supplier, MDB engaged
several leading vendors evaluating their product
suitability and their capacity to provide pre- and postinstallation
support. Adaptrum came out as a clear
leader and was subsequently chosen by MDB. From
the onset Adaptrum committed its self to the success
of our project, assisting with the network design,
providing 24-hour technical support throughout the
project.
With the large geographic scale of the network, the
construction demonstrated many of the beneficial
characteristics of TVWS technology that are salient for
a nationwide rural TVWS network for Namibia. First,
the network was built very quickly. All the endpoints
were connected over a period of weeks by a local
team newly installing this technology. In addition,
the network was built at a low cost, proving the cost
benefit of the TVWS equipment approach.
Namibia is one of a first countries in the world where
a network of this scale was designed and successfully
built and operated. The experience of the Citizen
Connect project provides a fascinating glimpse of
the practicalities and outcomes of the proposed new
network. In the next phase of building out
the network, rural communities
and citizens that previously had no hope of joining their urban peers
in the benefits of internet availability, can now hope
to access not just digital education, but digital
health, government, parliament, enviornmental,
and financial services. These services along with
public Internet access could be delivered first via
community knowledge centres, planned for larger
rural settlements, and second via Wi-Fi hotspots
set-up at community knowledge centres in smaller
settlements that cannot feasibly support a hub, and
at other rural locations where people congregate.