Tools and technologies – infrastructure
From ApcAccess
Session 2: Infrastructure
Speakers:
- Julian Casabuenas – introducing the topic
- Marek Tuszynski – mobile phones
- Ugo Vallauri – energy
- Sylvia Cadena – community wireless
Presentation notes and discussion
Marek Tuszynski – mobile phones Key challenges:
- Openness of mobile operating systems
- Legal framework
- Security issues
- Human rights issues
- Pricing structure
- Environmental and health issues
- Cultural, language and content issues
Comments and questions - Growth in Africa’s GDP does not correlate with growth in cellphone usage? Is not a possibility - Cost connected to the base antenna – the cost associated with it – for instance fuel costs. Does this create opportunity for associated business? - Also – about the debt of mobile phone operators - How long do regulators say you have to keep data
I cant find any information about mobile operators building something around the antennas On debt – I don’t know what’s true, information is contradictory. Julina asked about the new open source announcement about on open platform for mobiles. Marek points out that there is an open source alternative from the UK that is an option – currently a bad once, but will improve. Interoperability is enabled
Ugo Vallauri, Computer Aid, Energy
Issues: Some companies are being forced to reduce power usage, because suppliers of power of capping on access to power – there simply isn’t enough. This forced them to go back into their own code to make their products power efficient
If you look at open office, there still needs some work in this regard, because it takes longer to start, which makes it less energy efficient (more processing power to start up)
Google was asked to produce ‘black google’ so that it used less energy (white screen uses more energy) this is why first computers had black screens and green text – its more energy efficient.
The 188dollar laptop – clearly in term of power consumption, this is having an impact on new designs because it shows they way. It uses between 2 and 6 watts. A company in the US has designed a power cord that can be used to power up cell phones and computers. You charge it by pulling it (the cord).
Community Wireless: Weaving wireless networks for the region (LAC, Svlvia Cadena
Discussion: The wireless summit in Belgrade planning meeting– we were discussing this the other day and we thought it would be a good idea to bring rural and other projects together to discuss issues… Yes, there is a divide in a way, urban and rural wireless - urban actors are punks and hackers, and rural actors are ‘good’ – the one is fun and the other is development! It would be useful for them to talk about each other to learn and exchange – new energy and perspectives.
Sometimes rural projects that are seen as ‘development’ aim to solve problems, but fail to have a political agenda to challenge root causes of poverty. Anarchy is missing – social resistance is lacking.
No movement around satellite – there is a difference beteeen community interest, models, motivation etc in these arenas. Are there people developing open source models for satellite? There are a few, but there is very little information, motivation to do this. IN Venezuela they will be doing satellite with open source – so we will see. It’s a bottle neck, wireless comes when other link fail, or when an intranet is needed. Wireless is more useful and more fun if you have internet access.
How do you work on all these things at the same time – getting energy, and internet into my small town if they don’t exist? Getting together on matching issues – power (solar) internet (satellite) and wireless network. Bringing the connectivity in is through a DSL line through a provider (commercial) or through a government project that provides you with dish, or through an aid agency. Cell phone usage depends on whether the communications legislation allows.
Ugo Villauri, Computeraid – pricing policy approaches differ vastly. Connectivity usually in Africa comes from satellite, so who owns the satellite is an essential issue. It’s a pricing issue – essentially connectivity in Africa for instance, the same satellite is used in Europe and in Africa, but the price for African users is much much higher.
When talking about infrastructure – internet over electricity lines as a connectivity model. This cal also provide a source for a wireless network for people who live where electricity stops.
Ip is the killer application because the population that you target illiteracy is an issue –and needs are different. Cell phones are not affordable and in some cases calls are not affordable either. In respect of wi-max and other things in the future, there is a promise that it will solve a lot of things, we have been conducting research on seeing what we can do with what we have
