Björn Pehrson

Serengeti broadband

This paper presents a broadband island defined by a fibre-optic communication network between Bunda and Serengeti, two rural districts in the Mara region in northern Tanzania. The purpose of the network is to facilitate creation and sharing of information at government institutions. The network is also expected to create jobs and entrepreneurial activities in these under-served areas The network is comprised of an optical fibre backbone and wireless local area networks operating in license-free spectrum as access networks. The fibre is currently terminated at three locations. VLAN-capable Ethernet switches with long range optical transceivers provide backbone transmission as well as fibre access. To minimize costs, routers and servers in the network are all based on standard PC hardware and Free Open Source software. The infrastructure is operated under an Open Access regime, other ways of resource sharing like virtualization at the link; network and application layers are explored. Although the broadband island defined by the fibre has a narrowband VSAT connection to the Internet, the focus on the services provided in the network is local, focusing on e-government, education, healthcare and support to local entrepreneurs.

On powering communication networks in developing regions

The work behind this paper aims at demonstrating innovative solutions for the establishment of sustainable community broadband networks in areas where there is demand but no supply of broadband services. One of the major challenges turns out to be reliable power supply. To overcome this challenge, we explore how to decrease the demand for power as well as the feasibility of using alternative power sources, such as solar and wind, and alternative power storage technologies, such as batteries and ultra-capacitors. In this paper, we present data collected over 2 months from the Serengeti community network in rural Tanzania to discuss the quality of the existing power-grid and the feasibility of using solar and wind energy as alternative energy sources. The network backbone is based on 1Gbps Ethernet links over dark fibre while end-user connections are currently based on WiFi links. Our measurements regarding the quality of the power-grid show up to 21 power-outages in one single day, with an average of 2 outages per day. Some of the outages are due to planned rationing schemes caused by insufficient power generation while some outages are due to poor wiring or installations. Our measurements and analysis of the feasibility of using alternative power sources indicate wind speeds on the average 2m/s and a persistent high-level insolation, making solar energy the prime candidate as an alternative source of electricity. The relatively high cost of solar panels has to be mitigated by increased energy efficiency of the network elements. We also propose power management to be included in the network management system to maximize the availability of the network services and decrease operational costs due to damaged network elements.

On the design of inclusive ubiquitous access

The development towards ubiquitous network access requires innovative solutions to get remote areas included, especially rural areas of developing regions. The challenges include robustness of network components, poor or non-existent power supply and sustainable business models. We argue that large scale user-driven community networks are becoming technically viable to deploy in areas that are short of supply of telecommunication services due to little or no commercial interest. To support this claim, we discuss the design of key network elements and careful power management based on alternative energy sources and storage. We also provide a status report from ongoing field-tests regarding provisioning of broadband network services in Serengeti, Tanzania, and outline briefly our strategy to achieve sustainability. On the technical side, we first discuss an affordable, high-performance, low-effect router based on open source software and standard off-the-shelf hardware offering both copper and fibre links. Our design is capable of forwarding more than 700kpps at 22.3W. The power consumption is considerably less than all alternatives in our comparison. Then we discuss power management and the use of batteries and super-capacitors as backup and storage solutions.

A cross-sectional pilot study assessing needs and attitudes to implementation of Information and Communication Technology for rational use of medicines among healthcare staff in rural Tanzania

BackgroundIn resource-poor countries access to essential medicines, suboptimal prescribing and use of medicines are major problems. Health workers lack updated medical information and treatment support. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) could help tackle this. The impact of ICT on health systems in resource-poor countries is likely to be significant and transform the practice of medicine just as in high-income countries. However, research for finding the best way of doing this is needed. We aimed to assess current approaches to and use of ICT among health workers in two rural districts of Tanzania in relation to the current drug distribution practices, drug stock and continuing medical information (CME), as well as assessing the feasibility of using ICT to improve ordering and use of medicines.MethodsThis pilot study was conducted in 2010–2011, mapping the drug distribution chain in Tanzania, including problems and barriers. The study was conducted in Bunda and Serengeti districts, both part of the ICT4RD (ICT for rural development) project. Health workers involved in drug procurement and use at 13 health facilities were interviewed on use and knowledge of ICT, and their attitudes to its use in their daily work. They were also shown and interviewed about their thoughts on an android tablet application prototype for drug stock inventory and drug ordering, based on the Tanzanian Medical Stores Department (MSD) current paper forms.ResultsThe main challenge was a stable supply of essential medicines. Drug supplies were often delayed and incomplete, resulting in stock-outs. All 20 interviewed health workers used mobile phones, 8 of them Smartphones with Internet connection. The Health workers were very positive to the tablet application and saw its potential in reducing drug stock-outs. They also expressed a great need and wish for CME by distance.ConclusionThe tablet application was easily used and appreciated by health workers, and thus has the potential to save time and effort, reduce transportation costs and minimise drug stock-outs. Furthermore, the android tablet could be used to reach out with CME programs to health care workers at remote health facilities, as well as those in towns.

On the design of affordable and green high-performance routers for community networks: short paper

We argue that large scale user-driven community networks are becoming viable in areas without access to telecommunication services due to lack of commercial interest. We discuss the design of a key component supporting this claim: a high-performance, low-power-consuming and affordable router with fibre optic capable of forwarding 2 Gbps, 220kpps, powered by only 25W, which is between 7% and 17% of the alternatives in our comparison. The cost of the one-off prototype was below a third of the prices of comparable proprietary solutions and half of other open source alternatives. It can be reduced further in series production. Future work will include widening of bottlenecks without increasing cost and field tests in rural African settings.

Challenges in Sustaining Municipal Broadband Networks in the Developing World

Municipal or community networks seem to be a constructive first step in the process of establishing sustainable broadband networks in areas where the demand for broadband communication services is larger than the supply. Besides meeting the acute demand, one purpose is to stimulate the market by demonstrating connectivity feasibility, to reduce the risks involved for commercial actors. One of the keys to the sustainability and scalability of such networks is a well designed and managed institutional framework based on the local prerequisites.

Inclusive Ubiquitous Access - A Status Report

The development towards ubiquitous network access requires innovative solutions to get remote areas included, especially rural areas of developing regions. We report on recent progress in the Serengeti Broadband Network, one of the first pilots established in the Tanzania ICT for Rural Development programme with the mission to design and validate a method to establish sustainable broadband markets in under-served areas. The challenges include ownership and leadership, sustainable business models, robustness of network components and poor or non-existent supply chains, including power supply.

Towards Sustainable Broadband Communication in Rural Areas

As part of the development of a general strategy, we present a framework for the establishment of sustainable broadband communication in under-served areas of developing regions often described in terms of low population density, low purchasing power, intermittent power supply, and lack of competent human resources. Due to an increasing political awareness of the importance of ICT for development, not least due to the explosive expansion of the mobile phone networks, such regions are getting more attention also regarding broadband infrastructure. Our research includes experimental validation of a community networking approach based on affordable high-performance, low-effect technologies focusing on pilot projects in Tanzania.

The CareNet residential gateway: A conceptual overview

This paper presents a high-level overview of the CareNet Home Extension Project that aims to provide support for home-based healthcare for the elderly and outpatients. Details of a home networking environment based on a virtualized Residential Gateway (RG) are provided. The RG architecture is modular and scalable supporting the dynamic provision of third party services. This accommodates multiple independent stakeholders representing healthcare providers, Internet Services Providers (ISPs), and home automation system builders among others. Interoperability is guaranteed through adherence to open standards. Initial mechanisms facilitating the integration and consolidation of in-home systems, whilst providing a flexible framework for autonomous management, are described. This addresses issues of management and configuration of complex environments by individuals with little or no technical expertise. Finally, details of an initial implementation, in terms of architectural descriptions and enabling technological components, are outlined.

Powering devices using ultra-capacitor batteries

We explore the use of ultra-capacitors as backup storage for solar powered electronic devices. We discuss two use cases: routers in off-grid broadband networks consuming a few Watt and wireless sensor network nodes using a few mW when operating and a few μW in quiescent mode. We have been testing batteries with ultra-capacitor based cells, both EDLC and LIC, in the range from 40 to 3000F. We found them viable alternatives in some applications and started long term field tests to sort out some unclear aspects regarding maximum discharge levels. Besides the traditional function of a backup battery storage in low-power applications, the very low internal resistance of capacitors make them useful also in hybrid solutions to accommodate transient needs for high currents that traditional batteries cannot deliver. Due to the low resistance, charging/discharging can be very fast. We also show how a very simple design requiring only one LIC capacitor can power a WSN mote sending at 1 packet/minute for 6 weeks on a single charge.