[wsfii-discuss] Economic Sustainability of Community Wireless

Tue Apr 10 13:23:29 UTC 2007

Matthew Asham - BCWNS wrote:
> We must all be mindful that solutions to local problems must come from within the communities, and that perhaps, our roles within
> our respective organizations when dealing with cross-cultural or cross socio-economic co-operation are really gatekeepers; but ultimately the answers to Socio-Economic development have to come from the local community, or regional districts.

i totally agree with general scepticism about development aid and euro-
or us-centric minds planning the life of the underpreviledged. i am
quiet aware of development aid being a part of the "game" keeping "the
wretched" in their position. anyway, i want this discussion to become a
little more pragmatic, so ill describe a little further what i have in mind:

the idea is about a trading and manufacturing cooperative for WIFI
hardware. at the wsfii, people, in the majority locals, sit together and
prepare for a (future) demand in WIFI hardware in Ghana. development aid
is not nessecarily involved. we sit together and set up a business PLAN,
according to the possible demand for the next 12 month. this demand
certainly is a matter of research.
then with some voluntary support from US and Europe we look for some
(ethical or direct) investment and for cheap hardware to buy. thats
business, a social enterprise, which will benefit the employees and the
communities, because it will share any price reduction amongst the
customers, instead of making someONE rich.

the local context is more or less expanding wireless networks, pushed by
local NGOs and local or national authorities, however it will look like.
we shouldnt forget, there is already something going in Ghana and with
some efforts in promoting the wsfii and the experiences which people
made all over the world with this technology, much more interest will
arise, and as i know the Ghanaians - more will happen.

this idea doesnt answer the question of how to expand the wireless
networks, because i agree, that this is question to be answered locally.
its about reliable and fair hardware supply, about democratisation of
economy - including the creations of jobs in the high tech sector.

grts, marco, berlin