SG2 Focus Group 7 Final Report Presentation Geneva, 21 September 2000

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New Technologies for Rural Accessibility

• Introduction to ITU-D Focus Group 7s Final
  Report
• INFOETHICS2000
• Yasuhiko KAWASUMI
• November 13, 2000, Paris
• ltwww7.itu.int/itudfg7gt

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Focus Group 7 Background
Focus Group 7 Background

• Topic of study formulated at WTDC98 (Valleta,
  Malta)
• Study various mechanism by which to promote the
  development of new telecommunication technologies
  for rural applications
• Funded by a Voluntary Contribution from the
  Government of Japan

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FG7 Activities 1999 - 2000

• Case Library 57 project reports collected and
  available on-line
• FG7 Web Site Over 1000 visitors from more than
  60 countries
• Number of FG7 registered members 81
• Discussion groups via email, archived on-line

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Collection of Case Reports on

• a) ongoing projects using technologies specially
  designed for rural areas of developing countries
  including Multipurpose Community Tele-center,
  Telemedicine and Tele-education
• b) planned projects that make new combinations
  linked with WLL networks
• c)  examples of how equipment has been adapted
  for use in particular, harsh climatic or other
  conditions of remote and rural areas, such as
  solar powered telephone

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Focus Group aimed

• a)to select those types of project or system that
  have social or economic importance but limited
  commercial profitability, so that the ITU can
  focus special support upon such projects in
  helping to develop technology for rural
  applications
• b)to list new measures to be taken by ITU-D to
  encourage manufacturers and relevant
  organizations to create technology tailored to
  developing countries
• c)among those measure, to recommend priorities
  that ITU-D should follow to help achieve the
  development of technology for rural applications.

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Characteristics of Rural Areas

• - scarcity of absence of public facilities such
  as reliable electricity supply, water, access
  roads and regular transport
• -    scarcity of technical personnel
• -  difficult topographical conditions, e.g.
  lakes, rivers, hills, mountains or desserts which
  render the construction of telecommunications
  networks very costly
• -  severe climatic conditions that make critical
  demands on the equipment
• - low level of economic activity mainly based on
  agriculture, fishing, handicrafts, etc.
• -   low per capita income
• - underdeveloped social infrastructure(health,
  education, etc)
• -   low population density

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• FG7 Findings Applications

Women in Mozambique listening to broadcasts on a
clockwork-powered radio
Source Freeplay Foundation
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Disadvantage of Rural Areas

• a)      Low educational level, high illiteracy
  rate
• b)      Hardly any job opportunities
• c)       Low income per capita and per family
• d)      Increasing migration of the young to
  urban
• centers
• e)   Unreliable and badly functioning public
• transport
• f)       Irregular, if any, power supply
• g)      Poor health care and medical services
• h)     Lack of other government services
• i)       Little participation in national affairs

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Community and Business Development Applications
Multipurpose Community Telecenters (MCTs)
Telephone-based Interactive Voice Response (IVR)
Three access options for delivering relevant
information to rural communities over the PSTN
(Source RiSTi - Telkom Indonesia)
Equipment layout at the Valle de Angeles MCT
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Telemedicine
Electrocardiogram monitor that transmits patient
data over a regular telephone line
Videophone Telemedicine in Indonesia
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Tele-education
New Skies Satellite
African Virtual University
Uplink Facility (Washington D.C., Europe, Canada
Content Provider (university or studio)
Partner Institutions (Africa)
Classroom
Classroom
AVU classroom at the Ethiopian Civil Service
College (left)
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Trends in rural applications

• Specialized expertise used to design applications
  in education, health care, administration, etc.
• Widespread adoption of Internet platform and
  multimedia content
• Presence of multiple actors PTOs, Governments,
  NGOs, UN Agencies
• Lack of telecom connectivity still 1 barrier in
  rural areas

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• FG7 Findings Technologies

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Wireless Access Technologies
EMERGING
EXISTING

• GSM 400
• IMT-2000
• Wireless routers
• Two-way satellite Internet access

• VHF radio
• PMP/Cordless WLL
• VSAT
• Digital satellite radio

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New Wireless Combinations
Example Point-to-Multipoint / PHS - Wireless
Local Loop
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Wireless IP-Based Networks at PSTN Edge
WAN link over rough terrain
Wireless IP Phone Network
Gateway to PSTN
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Powering rural and remote telecom installations
Wind Energy
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Meeting small-scale rural power requirements
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Taking advantage of low-cost multimedia devices
Price Range for Low-End Multimedia
Devices,September 2000
PC monitor
1000
HandheldComputer
800
Cellular Phone
DigitalSatelliteRadio
600
Retail Prices, US
400
EmailAppliance
200
0
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Providing rural access to information through
client/server computing

• The client/server model is the design paradigm
  of the World Wide Web.

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Lowering the technical skills barrier using
information appliances

• To install a pre-configured email appliance

To install PC-based email

• connect hard disk drive, monitor, keyboard and
  mouse
• plug computer monitor into 110/220 AC outlet
• boot up the hard drive
• navigate the file management system
• install email software
• configure dial-up access number, modem rate, SMTP
  server, etc.

• insert batteries
• plug in telephone line
• turn on machine

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Shifting hardware and software maintenance to
urban areas using thin client networks
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Guidelines for Rural ICTs

• Modularity and scalability
• Use of wireless technologies
• Low frequency bands
• Remote network management
• Simple configuration operation

16. Guidelines for rural ICT designers I
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Guidelines for Rural ICTs (cont.)

• Accessible user interface
• Long life cycle
• Multi-user terminals
• Standards compliance
• Low power requirements

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Barriers in Question

• Coordination of Frequencies under 1GHz with
  regional and national authorities
• Concern about the high license fee for frequency
  spectrum
• International Charging Arrangements for Internet
  Services(ICAIS)

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• 4. Focus Group Recommendations

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Focus Group 7 Recommendations

• 1. Promote the development of low-cost
  information appliances for rural use.
• 2. Create a renewable energy handbook on
  small-scale power systems for rural ICTs.
• 3. Increase collaboration with microfinance
  organizations to develop communication-based
  rural businesses and applications.
• 4. Conduct pilot projects of packet-based
  wireless access infrastructure for multimedia
  applications.
• 5. Maintain and expand FG7 Web site.
• 6. Hold a symposium on new technologies for rural
  applications.

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Conclusions

• The goal of Missing Link report in 1985 To
  bring telephone service within the easy reach of
  all humankind
• As the gap of haves and have-nots are
  closing, new gaps are widening
• The new goal of the ITU Secretary General
• To bring internet services to all humankind
  within a decade in the new millennium

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Conclusions-contd

• 1)Choice of technology for rural access is
  one of the key issues.
• 2)Linking suppliers and implementers on the web.
  By providing the comprehensive catalogue with
  contact information is useful
• 3) Shared use concept is useful for making ICT
  terminals and facilities at community centers
  available at affordable cost.
• 4)Wireless access system such as FWA, VSATs are
  effective means of establishing infrastructure in
  rural areas less cost and easy installation over
  the wired system.

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Conclusions-contd

• 5)IP based network is more economical and
  flexible than circuit switched network. Emerging
  packet based wireless access technologies such as
  IMT-2000 and wireless routers, are being designed
  to deliver wide range of traffic types more
  efficiently than traditional wired and cellular
  telephony network.

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Conclusions-contd

• 6)Collaboration for promotion of rural projects
  among multi-actors such as PTOs, Governments, UN
  Agencies, and NGOs etc. should be encouraged.
• 7) Participation of women and the youth for
  promotion of information access for rural
  community should be encouraged.
• 8) Visit to ltwww7.itu.int/itudfg7gt