Aaron Sundsmo's call for low-cost, low-bandwidth email technology is exactly what VITA pushed for many years through the low orbiting satellite store-and-forward email system designed for remote areas. We had wonderful demos using this technology, but, sadly, the technology could not be commercialized on a for-profit basis. Efforts continue, however, on a "humanitarian" basis. For probably $100K or less, replicable ground segment (ground-based terminals) could be tweaked and field tested (major development has already occurred). For the space segment (satellites) we would either have to go "piggy-back" on someone else's satellites (using the UK-based Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd proven platform) or, if an underwriter could be found for about $3 million, launch a dedicated satellite.
If anybody would like more info on this or would like to offer suggestions, please write me offline (and I will be happy to collate/share responses with the network). Gary Gary Garriott ICT for Development Advisor Panama SURF - UNDP PO Box 6314, Zone 5 Panama City, Panama Tel. 507 265 8168/8153 Fax 507 265 8445 Aaron Sundsmo wrote: > I completely agree that there always needs to be a feedback loop built > into any project. What we are currently doing is using a hub and spokes > model where one site has a connection to the Internet (usually dial-up) > and can email feedback, but this has generally been very expensive and > unreliable. Where this is not available, First Voice is also using > telephone, snail mail or face-to-face communications as appropriate. > However, we are always looking for a low-cost low-bandwidth connection > primarily for email use that can be used in remote areas throughout > Africa and Asia and will not require excessive government licensing. If > anyone has any suggestions of these technologies I would greatly > appreciate it. ------------ This DOT-COM Discussion is funded by the dot-ORG USAID Cooperative Agreement, and hosted by GKD. http://www.dot-com-alliance.org provides more information. To post a message, send it to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd For the GKD database, with past messages: http://www.GKDknowledge.org
