Implementing ICT In Rural Telecommunications Workshop on Visibility

Implementing ICT In Rural Telecommunications Workshop on Visibility of Rural Telecommunications From 5 – 7 September 2004 Khartoum – Sudan Eng. Wilson Alsio Lado Internet & Informatics wilsonal@sudatel. net

Contents 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Introduction Characteristics of rural areas. ICT Services requirements for rural areas. Example on Merowe internet Connection. Challenges in implementation. Importance & benefits of Rural telecommunications. Conclusion & Recommendations.

Introduction Telecommunication has been one of the prime services which an economy needs for rapid growth, development and modernization of its various sectors. It has been observed that telecommunication infrastructure development and economic development of a nation often proceed together. As the economy grows, more telecommunications facilities are needed to conduct the increased number of economic transactions in the expanded economy. This leads to increased expectations to invest in the telecommunication as a function of prior increase in the level of economy.

Characteristics of rural areas • Many rural communities lack telecom infrastructure necessary to compete, prosper, or survive in new economy • Lack of access to information and telecommunications facilities. • Lack of awareness concerning the benefits and importance of telecom.

ICT services requirements for rural areas • Making applications accessible for users in the rural areas by installing appropriate telecommunication networks. • The availability of terminal equipment to attach to the networks, including computers and application software. • The information content or services that will be transported to those terminals over the networks • The availability of training and technical support services to teach users the skills needed to take advantage of the applications.

New clusters of application types in rural areas • Data networking, electronic mail and Internet access. - The use of electronic mail and access to the Internet is now growing faster than the explosive growth of facsimile transmission in the past ten years • Distance learning, telemedicine and videoconferencing. - Telemedicine can improve access to specialty care in some areas, particularly in rural areas which they lack consultants in other fields of medicine.

Distance Learning Telemedicine

The Merowe Dam Project Multi-Purpose water recourses project • Generation of Electricity Energy – 1250 MW • Flood Protection & Sediment Control • Navigation Due to the importance of this project, an internet connection has become a necessity for the staff working in the project to enable them download necessary documents and other applications.

Challenges of implementing ICT in rural areas ICT Development & Deployment will not come easy ! ! • ICT development readiness - Identifying priorities. - Creating enabling environment. - Developing flexible policy framework. • Identifying the right technology. • Developing ICT infrastructure. • Building high bandwidth communication network. • Managing technology refresh for continuity and growth.

Challenges contd. • Equipment Installation - Installation is risky, time consuming and expensive Compared to laying cable, wireless technologies can simplify installation in remote locations and specially in a country like Sudan. • Lack of funds for initial capital investment • Lack of technical support and computer repair facilities - Most of computer technicians with better skills are all centered in the major towns and that makes the growth and progress in the field of ICT is moving slowly in the rural areas. • Management of rural telecom services - To manage a scattered telecom network in rural areas is difficult specially where motorable roads are not available.

Affordable Coverage • Rural areas always lack the subscriber density to make telecom infrastructure economically feasible • The natural features of the land, like mountains and deserts in addition to rainy areas which affects the quality of the rural telecommunication. • Difficult to deploy the rural telecom equally in a large country.

Importance & Benefits of rural telecom • Economic growth - Market information for buying and selling. Transport efficiency and regional development. Coordination of international activity, business, tourism and international organization. • Improved agriculture - • Farmers obtaining market information from urban areas. Knowing scientific methods of agriculture from researches centers. Stemming out-migration to urban areas

Importance contd. • Education - Growth of interactive applications, ranging from audio videoconferencing • Health care - Consultation by giving advice to rural workers. Data collection and record keeping. Training of health care workers.

Conclusion & Recommendations In order to achieve the goals of implementing ICT in rural areas we need to consider the following factors: - The use of Microwave radio because it is cost effective in many situations where fiber is not practical, such as over rough terrain or water. - Use digital microwave with facilities useful for providing, high bandwidth and capacity for new service applications.

Recommendations Contd. - High powered digital radio systems for fixed telephone service are cost effective in rural applications compared to wireline systems. - Flexibility in network deployment strategies is the key to successful low cost investment. This means that flexible standards must be developed by both wireline and wireless network equipment manufacturers to allow efficient interconnection between networks and a high degree of connectivity between end users