challenges for sustainable rural networking in solomon islands david leeming people first network...
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Challenges for Challenges for Sustainable Rural Networking Sustainable Rural Networking
in Solomon Islandsin Solomon Islands
David LeemingDavid LeemingPeople First NetworkPeople First Network
Rural Development Volunteers AssociationRural Development Volunteers Association leeming@pipolfastaem.gov.sb leeming@pipolfastaem.gov.sb
www.peoplefirst.net.sbwww.peoplefirst.net.sb
Country FactsCountry Facts
The People The People First Network First Network (PFnet)(PFnet)
……to promote and facilitate ……to promote and facilitate equitable and sustainable equitable and sustainable rural developmentrural development and and peace buildingpeace building by enabling by enabling better information sharing and better information sharing and knowledge building among knowledge building among and across communities and across communities forming the Solomon forming the Solomon Islands……Islands……
www.peoplefirst.net.sbwww.peoplefirst.net.sb
Rural Development Volunteers Association
(RDVA)
1. Facilitate Facilitate affordable affordable
accessaccess
ObjectivesObjectives
2. Facilitate rural 2. Facilitate rural development development and peace-and peace-related related information flows information flows among all social among all social groups;groups;
3. Facilitate the 3. Facilitate the exchange of exchange of information information
between between communities and communities and
stakeholders;stakeholders;
Rural wireless networking in HF Rural wireless networking in HF bandband
Management Committees
Operators
Community intermediaries
Technical intermediaries
10 stations with another 13 scheduled by June 2004
Distance education Sustainable livelihoods
Rural credit + solar power + communications =
Rural “business incubator”Farmer’s networking
Applications
Disaster management Women’s networking
Community consultations:
i.e. Constitutional reform
Community policing
Rights awareness
ServicesServices
Email – community and private Email – community and private accountsaccounts
Searching on the Internet Searching on the Internet News reports News reports Sharing information with partnersSharing information with partners Secretarial servicesSecretarial services
Internet Centre in Honiara generates revenues to support the activities
Rural Development e-Citizen Rural Development e-Citizen PortalPortal
Challenges facing the Challenges facing the projectproject
Constraints on connectivityConstraints on connectivityIsland geography and dispersed populationIsland geography and dispersed population
++Least developed country statusLeast developed country status
++Limited infrastructureLimited infrastructure
++High Internet costs (unequal global market)High Internet costs (unequal global market)
++Telecom monopolyTelecom monopoly
++Ethnic conflictEthnic conflict
Problems and solutions : affordable Problems and solutions : affordable connectivityconnectivity
Unequal global telecom marketUnequal global telecom market Effects of monopolyEffects of monopoly 85% of country have no access to 85% of country have no access to
telecomstelecoms VHF, 802.11VHF, 802.11 HF band networkingHF band networking
ProsPros (of using HF band) (of using HF band)
Simple to install and useSimple to install and use Robust, reliableRobust, reliable Very low running costsVery low running costs
Slow, point to point only Slow, point to point only Vulnerable to d.o.s. caused by spam Vulnerable to d.o.s. caused by spam
(becoming very aggressive)(becoming very aggressive) Email only, no direct Internet accessEmail only, no direct Internet access
ConsCons
Creative management of low Creative management of low bandwidthbandwidth
Training of stakeholders in efficient useTraining of stakeholders in efficient use Filters – spam, large attachmentsFilters – spam, large attachments Web for mail systemsWeb for mail systems
– GetWeb (HealthNet)GetWeb (HealthNet)– www 4 mail (ICTP)www 4 mail (ICTP)– TEK (MIT)TEK (MIT)
Web for mail systems: PFnet’s Web for mail systems: PFnet’s experienceexperience
GetWeb returns full web pages and assumes GetWeb returns full web pages and assumes an generic email clientan generic email client
WWW4Mail very efficient – we use it to get WWW4Mail very efficient – we use it to get specific pages I.e. cyclone weather updatesspecific pages I.e. cyclone weather updates
Command line syntax, URLs, are like Command line syntax, URLs, are like hieroglyphics to our rural usershieroglyphics to our rural users
Users cannot conceptualize web architecture Users cannot conceptualize web architecture and navigation in order to search the Netand navigation in order to search the Net
These systems do not build up a local These systems do not build up a local resourceresource
Desirable user-related featuresDesirable user-related features
TEK has been the most usefulTEK has been the most useful Simple user interface for searchingSimple user interface for searching Builds up a local searchable archiveBuilds up a local searchable archive Remembers requests – avoids repetitionRemembers requests – avoids repetition Command language not neededCommand language not needed ““Intelligent” systems to aid inexperienced Intelligent” systems to aid inexperienced
users choose effective keywordsusers choose effective keywords Human intermediaries still needed in Human intermediaries still needed in
many applicationsmany applications
Other access-related issuesOther access-related issues
Interpretation of content by new usersInterpretation of content by new users– Intermediaries useful in specific Intermediaries useful in specific
applicationsapplications
Inappropriate and criminal usageInappropriate and criminal usage
Particular needs of education and Particular needs of education and academiaacademia– Case study: distance learning trialsCase study: distance learning trials
Distance education trialsDistance education trialsPeople First Network
University of South Pacific Centre, Honiara
EvaluationEvaluation
The trials proved the utility of the ICTThe trials proved the utility of the ICT Improved success rates, turnaround and Improved success rates, turnaround and
student-tutor relationshipsstudent-tutor relationships All participants needed training to use All participants needed training to use
the low-bandwidth systemthe low-bandwidth system All academic staff should be involvedAll academic staff should be involved Main problem concerned access to Main problem concerned access to
reference materialreference material
Access to online reference Access to online reference materialmaterial
Initially, by referral – did not work wellInitially, by referral – did not work well Web4mail, eJDS etc not used at that timeWeb4mail, eJDS etc not used at that time Direct searching now possible, but Direct searching now possible, but
students would need help choosing students would need help choosing keywords and interpreting resultskeywords and interpreting results
Quite often academic references were Quite often academic references were located but unobtainable electronicallylocated but unobtainable electronically
Physical libraries are still important to Physical libraries are still important to help remote studentshelp remote students
SuggestionsSuggestions PFnet will evaluate the eJDS systemPFnet will evaluate the eJDS system More standardised online libraries of More standardised online libraries of
academic publicationsacademic publications User-related featuresUser-related features Searchable CD-Rom libraries with Searchable CD-Rom libraries with
means to download updatesmeans to download updates Intelligent search engines (keywords)Intelligent search engines (keywords) More consideration of low-bandwidth More consideration of low-bandwidth
and email only accessand email only access A standard for formatting electronic A standard for formatting electronic
material for low bandwidth access?material for low bandwidth access?
SuggestionsSuggestions To succeed with WSIS action plan:To succeed with WSIS action plan:
Create more equality in the market Create more equality in the market (Internet access costs)(Internet access costs)
Otherwise accept subsidies for LDCsOtherwise accept subsidies for LDCs Humanitarian bandwidth pool?Humanitarian bandwidth pool? Take the spam war to the spammers; Take the spam war to the spammers;
Internet security is a major problem for Internet security is a major problem for LDCsLDCs
Consider the special needs of small island Consider the special needs of small island developing states (SIDS)developing states (SIDS)
Need to supportNeed to supportNational ICT Strategy National ICT Strategy
BuildingBuilding Currently no ICT Strategy in place in S.I.Currently no ICT Strategy in place in S.I. Regional ICT Policy Plan (2001)Regional ICT Policy Plan (2001)
Effects:Effects: Lack of focus Lack of focus Partners not collaborating – no synergyPartners not collaborating – no synergy Dependant on personalitiesDependant on personalities ICT not used widely in Solomon IslandsICT not used widely in Solomon Islands
ICT Strategy Building ICT Strategy Building workshopworkshop
Held to:Held to: Identify why ICT4D is not use more Identify why ICT4D is not use more
widelywidely Build a consensus on priority objectivesBuild a consensus on priority objectives Provide guiding documentation for ICT Provide guiding documentation for ICT
strategy buildingstrategy building
OutcomesOutcomes
Problem and objectives trees Problem and objectives trees constructed using OOPPconstructed using OOPP
Priority objectives clusters identifiedPriority objectives clusters identified Document published (e.J.o.I.S.D.C)Document published (e.J.o.I.S.D.C) Solomon Islands ICT Working Group Solomon Islands ICT Working Group
created as national steering councilcreated as national steering council Included in e-Pacifika (UNDP)Included in e-Pacifika (UNDP)
Problem Tree
55 problems associated with the use of ICT in development in Solomon Islands
Mapped onto a corresponding Objectives Tree
Objective clusters
identified
ICT4D strategy: ICT4D strategy: Objective clustersObjective clusters
AffordableAccess
Equipment/Access
Networking/Awareness
Education/Training
Policy
Support National ICT Strategy Building!!!
EndEnd
www.peoplefirst.net.sb/general/www.peoplefirst.net.sb/general/pfnet.htmpfnet.htm
Update and AppropriationUpdate and Appropriation
Monthly email usage (sent and received)
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Oct-01
Dec-0
1
Feb-0
2
Apr-0
2
Jun-
02
Aug-0
2
Oct-02
Dec-0
2
Feb-0
3
Apr-0
3
Jun-
03
Aug-0
3
Monthly revenue, all services (SBD)
$0.00
$200.00
$400.00
$600.00
$800.00
$1,000.00
$1,200.00
Oct-01
Dec-0
1
Feb-0
2
Apr-0
2
Jun-
02
Aug-0
2
Oct-02
Dec-0
2
Feb-0
3
Apr-0
3
Jun-
03
Aug-0
3
This shows usage by number of emails sent, for the first PFnet station at Sasamungga (est. Oct 2001)
This shows the revenue trend. Current revenues are now sufficient to account for all costs including long term equipment replacement
…Rural stations have no per minute charges. All revenues go to paying the volunteer operator an allowance, paper and ink. A small revenue stream is accumulated and reinvested for long term equipment replacement costs….
Sustainability of revenuesSustainability of revenues
Station Income Trend
$0.00
$200.00
$400.00
$600.00
$800.00
$1,000.00
$1,200.00
Dec-02Jan-03
Feb-03Mar-0
3Apr-0
3May-03
Jun-03Jul-03
Aug-03
sasamunaga
pirupiru
Kati
sigana
silolo
hutuna
pelau
….the trend for the monthly rural station revenue is upwards in most stations. 4 out of 7 are already achieving more than the target of SB$300 per month, and 3 are reaching almost twice this value…..Other stations need more attention, such as stronger linkage to specific applications, awareness and so on. Research is needed to identify the reasons….
..a F$40K research programme is starting on Oct 2003, led by the University of the South Pacific with UNDP and PFnet as co-researchers, to study the social impacts and the factors affecting appropriation. Five rural sites will be studied. The results will be published in June 2004……
Family correspondence 2038 Forestry 4Business and investment 442 Police/Law and order 2Education 409 Emergency 2Project / NGO 250Ordering Supplies / Stocks 249 SAMPLE SIZE 4547 emailsHealth / Medical 235Travel 201Church 167Finance and Banking 157Other/Unknown 49 Construction 49School fee 43Sports 30 Government Administration 18Lands and Titles 17Agriculture 9Fisheries 6Women issue 5
Reasons for communicatingReasons for communicating
These are the results from daily reports sent from PFnet community stations for 2003. The full data including user profiles is published on the PFnet web site at the address below.
www.peoplefirst.net.sb/general/pfnet_stats.htm
Funding since Oct 2000 (US$)Funding since Oct 2000 (US$) Government of Japan Government of Japan 140K140K NZAid NZAid 125K125K UNDP (direct)UNDP (direct) 66K66K UNDP (through SIDAPP)UNDP (through SIDAPP) 60K 60K Government of BritainGovernment of Britain 60K60K EU – supported 4 community stations directly EU – supported 4 community stations directly 32K32K Government of R.O.C.Government of R.O.C. 20K20K APDIPAPDIP 9K9K AusAid – supported 1 community directly AusAid – supported 1 community directly 8K8K OxfamOxfam 1K1K
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