Community Networks for Addressing Affordability of ICT Access in African Rural Areas

Mobile ICTs have addressed the digital divides between the global south and the global north. While a phenomenal mobile penetration in developing countries has enabled ICT4D innovations by connecting previously unconnected people, several communities suffer adverse inclusion or lack access altogether. Such digital divides within countries have been attributed to technical, social, and economic issues. As a result, many approaches to bridging the digital divides have been used by both academics and practitioners. This chapter, therefore, discusses the potential use of community networks for providing sustainable and affordable access to rural communities in developing countries. In addition to the advantages of community networks, the chapter presents the challenges thereof, and it contributes to the vexed question about how to harness ICTs to empower the disadvantaged communities in developing countries. A case study of Zenzeleni Makhosi community network in South Africa's Eastern Cape province is presented and analysed using Sen's capability approach.

ICT Affordability and Coping With Disaster

This chapter explores the impact of a disaster on communities from a development perspective and the corresponding importance of access to ICT. Poorer communities are often most vulnerable to disasters, a situation that can affect the economic development of such communities for decades. The chapter uses the UN's Sendai framework to emphasize the role of ICT in supporting communities throughout the different stages of disaster situations, towards long-term recovery and development. Some key themes emerge in the chapter, notably access to technology is a key support mechanism; a longer-term temporal perspective of such disasters indicates there are likely to be different waves of “disaster” refugees; the initial ones being classed as humanitarian migrants with all the humanitarian supports that they attract; whereas longer term any resulting “refugees” would more likely be classed as economic migrants. The chapter also explores longer term support mechanisms such as the role of remittances.

Missed Call or an Opportunity

The mobile phone has come to be recognized as one of the key instruments of ICT. Its easy acceptance as a communication device enhances its usage. India is one of the fastest growing markets for the government has been keenly promoting a digital India programme with a vision to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. There has been much focus on mobile phones and their applications in the light of delegalisation of notes in India. It has gained attention in the scenario of moving to a cashless economy. It has brought into focus more sharply the need for mobile phone literacy. This chapter discusses the use of mobile phones among street vendors in Chennai, a capital city and the fourth largest urban agglomeration in India. The study found that most owned a basic mobile phone. The vending business continued to be practiced in old ways with no new management skills. The business was run and was highly dependent on cash payments. The respondents did not consider the mobile phone as an important tool for daily business.

Affordable Access to Internet and ICT

Telecentres were conceived and designed in order to provide internet access to designated disadvantaged groups that could not otherwise afford this access. In this chapter, the concept of telecentres, with its goal of affordable internet access for the community, is introduced. A few of the common challenges faced by telecentres and their evolving business models are discussed. The problem of monitoring, with its related aspect of affordability is discussed. In order to provide uniform data on usage and user profiles, a common set of data attributes for telecentre operational monitoring is obtained through a literature review of telecentre data collection projects and through interviews with local telecentre managers. Traditional monitoring methods for telecentres, such as through questionnaires, are evaluated as to the timeliness of their data and their associated cost which impact telecentre affordability. The common set of attributes form the basis of an electronic monitoring system with its advantages of continuous data collection and lower costs.

A Model for Economic Development With Telecentres and the Social Media

In 2000 the General Assembly of the United Nations accepted their Millennium Declaration. Two of their main foci are the eradication of poverty and the economic upliftment of disadvantaged societies. In Thailand, three initiatives contributed to the eradication of poverty. The “One Tambon, One Product” (OTOP) that was launched in 2001 has as its mission to stimulate the economy by creating small economic hubs in each subdistrict (Tambon). The OTOP initiative grew exponentially and a total of 85,173 products have been registered by 2010. The growing network of telecentres helped to close the digital divide. It also anchored many of the OTOP projects. In the third instance, the social networks redefined the business environment and created new communication platforms to promote entrepreneurial hubs. The researcher combined field studies with content analysis of the social media in order to establish to what extent these drivers of poverty eradication have been integrated.

Exploring the Possibility of Using TV White Spaces in Africa

The people living in remote parts of the underdeveloped world usually do not have access to affordable internet, either because it is too expensive to lay fibre to these areas or mobile data is just too expensive to use every day. There has always been a need to find a way to bring fast, cheap, and reliable internet access to these people. This is where the TV white spaces (TVWS) or unused TV band spectrum comes in. TVWS refers to the gaps found between TV channels. It can be used to provide cheaper and reliable broadband to remote areas. Wi-Fi typically covers short distances and has trouble passing through obstacles. TVWS, on the other hand, can travel long distances and can penetrate obstacles. This makes TVWS suitable for long distance internet provision in remote areas. This chapter explores the possibilities and advantages of delivering broadband to remote areas of underdeveloped nations using TVWS with the intention of poverty reduction. The concept of TV channels digitalization also frees the whole analogue TV spectrum and allows it to be used in TVWS technology.

Scaling Mobile Technologies to Maximize Reach and Impact

This chapter explores three existing financial approaches to scaling mobile technologies in low- and middle-income countries: user-paid services, reverse billing, and zero-rated platforms. As affordability is an impediment to internet access, key strategies focusing around the involvement of mobile network operators and governments are investigated in relation to sustainability, scale, reach, and impact for mobile technology projects in the world. Various examples under each type are explored as a starting point for understanding the risks and benefits of each approach. The chapter also discusses the importance of mobile initiatives in tackling social issues today.

Fostering Affordability of ICT Access in Developing Countries Through Infrastructure Sharing

Infrastructure sharing has been viewed as a plausible route to affordable ICT access in the wake of duplication of ICT infrastructure in developing countries. In spite of this belief in its effectiveness, getting ICT operators to share infrastructure can be inhibited by several challenges relating to regulatory approach, competition between players, and lack of consensus between regulators and business. This chapter uses evidence from Zimbabwe to assess how infrastructure sharing can be implemented in developing countries where coverage competition is yet to give way to service provision-based competition in the wake of disproportionate investment by network operators. It suggests that instead of push factors alone, infrastructure can best be shared when business' commercial interests and regulators' quest for affordable universal services coincide to form a win-win situation built on both push and pull factors.

Key Challenges for Sustainable E-Services in Unstable Societies

Refugees and displaced people who have been affected by disaster or political instability (uprooted from their homes in search of safety) are an interesting group of citizens when we consider e-government services since they face extra challenges of access to such government services. The chapter explores challenges faced by e-service delivery to refugee and displaced people which are often characteristic of unstable societies. This chapter reports on a study of Syrian refugees and displaced people using a survey exploring the use of e-services for citizens inside and outside of Syria. The authors apply institutional theory as a theoretical lens using the dimensions of economic, political, technical, and social to understand the context and issues of providing e-government services within this very challenging domain. The results indicate six themes influencing sustainable and effective support for e-services for such groups of people, namely importance of e-services, connectivity, awareness, e-service availability, financial constraints, and digital literacy.

“Everyone Will Be Connected”

Information and communication for development thinkers has come up with many plausible interventions that promise to improve the lives of underprivileged people in developing countries. The people that these interventions are meant for have not always benefited from these initiatives because they have limited ICT access due to its cost. There is therefore a need to improve universal access by enabling affordable access by the poor. This chapter, therefore, discusses free basics and how they can be used to improve affordable ICT access in order to facilitate ICT4D interventions in African countries. Since the use of free basics is not without controversy, a balanced analysis and an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of this initiative are provided. Social capital is used as the theoretical lens for evaluating the use of free basics for improving ICT access for those who cannot afford it. The chapter makes a case for the viability of using free basics through a discussion of case studies on how free basics have been used to empower underprivileged people, especially girls in Africa.