[wsfii-discuss] Economic Sustainability of Community Wireless

Tue Apr 10 15:23:30 UTC 2007

I Have read this exchange and find it very exciting different views
different sensibility in approach...
I really think that a cooperative for buying WIFI hardware is a good idea, I
think about it as a big cooperative where Wifi communities will seat and
plan their needs and negotiate the better price to manufacturer...

If we push that logic further, one can also think that the WIFI community
must appropriate all the chain of services it needs, why not to build a
cooperative VSAT ISP, which could provide Internet connectivity among its
member at negotiated cost?.

I have talked about the idea with a lot of people and I see it very
feasible. In Africa there are multiples in projects , in installation or
already existing WIFI communities. And I think that it would be great that
all of them meet or initiate contact and see how they can share resources
for solving common problems in coordinated way.
I have an example: In Africa the only way to have Internet signal is via
VSAT(in some countries you can get it via Fiber, but I dont have clear ideas
of realities of those countries), some VSAT provider have offer for
societies having multiples locations for their VSAT (the only limitation is
the coverage of their satellite) and proposes the option of linking them
into a lone network. If all WIFI communities of Africa (or the world) using
VSAT for Internet unite and appear in front of the  VSAT ISP as a block
(what seems a little utopia...) they can negotiate better price, have all
their site interconnected into a virtual network (free VOIP communication,
free IM,...).
I know that currently everyone has his own provider but each situation
evolves and concert could be good.

Beside I see a lot of contribution in the English speaking world but I see
very few from French speaking countries of Africa (or maybe it's because the
forum is in English...).
We are based in DRC and would really want to have contact with others French
WIFI communities from Africa. What does not mean that we are bounded into a
language segregation shema (the proof I write in english).

>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.

On 4/10/07, marco <marco.pompe at web.de> wrote:
>
> 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
>
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