Wireless Networks
ITU – Nokia Siemens Networks announce Village Connection partnership
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ITU and Nokia Siemens Networks have formed a partnership to provide expertise and equipment at no charge to expand rural and remote connectivity. The agreement, announced at ITU Telecom World 2009 in Geneva, is targeted at the almost three billion people living in rural areas with little or no current access to communications infrastructure. As a first step villages in island countries of the Pacific region will be connected...
ITU and Nokia Siemens Networks have formed a partnership to provide expertise and equipment at no charge to expand rural and remote connectivity. The agreement, announced at ITU Telecom World 2009 in Geneva, is targeted at the almost three billion people living in rural areas with little or no current access to communications infrastructure. As a first step villages in island countries of the Pacific region will be connected.
Under the agreement Nokia Siemens Networks Village Connection platform and associated expertise will be provided free of charge to some of the world’s most remote rural communities. The partnership forms part of the ITU’s Connecting Villages initiative which aims to bring affordable connectivity to the world’s rural and remote areas. An initial shipment of thirty Village Connection platforms are now ready for deployment at trial sites.
Nokia Siemens Networks Village Connection platform consists of specially built, compact GSM access points that local communities can use to provide individuals or families with a mobile connection for as little as USD 2 per month. The systems are to be built at one of Nokia Siemens Networks plants in India to keep costs down.
Infrastructure costs are kept low by eliminating the need for towers and reducing the complexity of the electronics so that the system runs on a PC. Base station antennas are normally located on an existing structure such as a high building.
Village connection networks work independently of mobile network operators, providing a closed system to service the needs of a remote community. According to Lauri Kivinen, Head of Corporate Affairs at Nokia Siemens Networks, each access point typically services between 200-300 users. Village access points can be owned and managed by a local entrepreneur providing opportunities for rural employment. This local point of presence can subsequently be used to promote basic services such as healthcare and to market microfinance and agricultural services, creating a cascade of rural economic activity.
The ITU will lead the project, working with the governments of participating countries to ensure a supportive policy, regulatory environment and administrative support, in addition to seeking financial support from heads of state and other potential donors or partners.
Although there is no pre-defined upgrade path, once business and network traffic has developed village connection networks can be upgraded to link in to other GSM networks and provide wider connectivity for remote communities. Under the partnership the ITU will work to secure support from local mobile operators to make supporting infrastructure and facilities such as electricity and network connections available, as well as supporting the development of local services.
Lauri Kivinen believes the potential for the Village Connection partnership is huge. “India in particular offers a massive opportunity. India has over 600,000 remote villages which do not currently have any connectivity or plans for it” he remarked. “Other areas we have identified where we expect demand to be high and are planning installations include Tanzania and a number of Latin American countries.”
Commenting on the partnership Sami Al-Basheer, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau said “We look forward to working with Nokia Siemens Networks for the benefit of rural and remote communities. This project is a great example of how partners can leverage the potential of information and communication technologies to improve people’s daily lives.”More info:
