Still reading saved posts in my Bloglines Saved Items folder :P
It’s been quite three years since I was in San Pedro Sula (Honduras) taking part in a ICT4D workshop and was told about the project Aldeas Solares, run by the Honduras Government.
Put it simple: solar energy and satellite communications to bring electricity and internet to rural areas. The rough part: cost. Satellite communications are quite expensive. The roughest part: it only served a telecenter, no more.
Now (via Multiplicity) I’ve run through this article at Muniwireless: “Mesh networks help developing areas Archives”.
Quotes:
“Mesh networking’s main advantage is that it is affordable and easy to deploy. No need for expensive telecoms engineers, truck rolls, month-long surveys or high-priced hardware. Finally, areas neglected by DSL and cable operators can get high-speed broadband access.”
[…]
“What is so cool about mesh networking is that it can be deployed today quickly and inexpensively (and maintained) by people with a minimal technical background. This makes mesh a compelling choice for many rural communities especially in developing countries.”
Well, this sounds cool and I’m really optimistic in wireless to help bring connectivity around.