Dear GKD Members, Welcome to the GKD-DOTCOM Discussion on "Connectivity in Low Resource Environments." We look forward to examining this important topic for the next 4 weeks. The DOT-COM Alliance will develop a white paper on the topic, drawing on the valuable input and recommendations of GKD members, and the paper will be widely circulated in the development and developing country communities. Cases described by GKD members will be cited in the paper.
Agenda * Week 1: What activities are bringing connectivity to under-served communities? (10/27 - 10/31) * Week 2: How much bandwidth is necessary to have a real impact on development... and why? (11/3 - 11/7) * Week 3: What models can and should be brought to scale? (11/10 - 11/14) * Week 4: What's on the horizon...and where do we want to go over the next 3 years? (11/17 - 11/21) ***Background: DOT-COM/InterAction Speaker Series*** This discussion is sponsored by the USAID-funded DOT-COM Alliance, and InterAction, and hosted by GKD. It builds on a session of the DOT-COM/InterAction ICT Speaker Series (Washington, D.C. 24 September 2003). Session speakers included: * Dr. Michael L. Best, Research Scientist, MIT Media Laboratory & Visiting Assistant Professor, Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and the College of Computing at Georgia Tech. Dr Best described the three keys to connectivity: low-cost technologies (including terrestrial wireless), micro and small enterprises, and a supportive public policy. He outlined the current wireless technology available for local connectivity, described his experience in India using small and medium enterprises to deliver telephony and Internet access to local communities, and addressed the need for supportive public policy to allow these types of interventions to succeed. * Dipak Basu, Executive Director, NetHope & Senior Manager, Customer Program Management Office, Cisco Systems. Mr. Basu described NetHope, the IT solutions consortium of international NGOs who work in the poorest regions of the world, and its experience in finding connectivity solutions for development professionals in such areas as Iraq and Afghanistan. * Robert Bortner, Project Co-ordinator, Greenstar South Africa, Greenstar Brasil. Mr. Bortner described the Greenstar model of using solar powered community centers in the most rural of areas to promote cultural and economic development. Through a combination of solar panels, VSATs, spread-spectrum digital radio, or conventional cellular connection, these centers provide their communities with electricity, water purification, communications, education, and support for telemedicine and local employment. * George Scharffenberger, Vice President, International, Voxiva. Mr. Scharffenberger described a number of best practices in approaching connectivity and ICT issues in developing countries. He reviewed the integrated technology model that Voxiva uses, including a combination of telephones and the Internet for data transmission of disease surveillance information. More information on the session, and copies of the speakers' presentations, can be found at the DOT-COM Alliance website: http://www.dot-com-alliance.org/SS2_connectivity.htm The DOT-COM Archives of this discussion (as of October 27) are available on: http://www.dot-com-alliance.org/archive.html and in the GKD database: http://www.GKDknowledge.org We look forward to an exciting and valuable exchange of experience and lessons learned on this important topic. ------------ 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
