Wireless launched for rural Uganda

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Community wireless networks have been set up at telecentres in northern Uganda in Lira and Nabweru, areas that are considered extremely rural by the CWRC.

This intervention arose out of the need to reduce the high cost of Internet connectivity at the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) that is supporting telecentres in Uganda, to explore optimal connectivity models such as sharing the existing bandwidth with neighboring institutions via outdoor wireless networks.

According to a statement from CWRC the wireless connections are also to provide Internet access to rural partners without need for heavy initial investments in satellite hardware and subscriptions.

"It is anticipated that these networks will enhance sustainability of Internet access at these telecentres," the statement says.

In Lira, a total of three partners have been connected to the telecentre using wireless connections and can now access the internet at their premises. While in Nabweru, a total of three partners have also been connected. The CWRC team now heads to Kabale in western parts of rural Uganda to implement similar wireless networks in Kabale town and Kachwekano.

The design of these networks considers the telecentre to be the hub of the network where all other sites are connected. In cases where line of sight links to the telecentre are not possible, connection between the hub and the partner site is accomplished via a repeater.

According to the statement, "the telecentre acts as a wireless Internet access point to its partners."

Juma Okee, the IT officer at CPAR (Lira telecentre) said, "The CWRC project is a blessing for rural connectivity over distances. CWRC has really come at a time when we needed it most."

The Community Wireless Resource Centre (CWRC) was established within the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Faculty of Technology, Makerere University with support from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), a Canadian organisation.

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