Access to high-speed broadband remains limited in rural areas

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
High Speed

scholarly journals Prenatal Telehealth During the Pandemic: Sociodemographic and Clinical Associations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng Gao ◽  
Sarah Osmundson ◽  
Bradley Malin ◽  
You Chen
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Prenatal Care ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
State Level ◽  
Chronic Hypertension ◽  
Access Barriers ◽  
Hispanic Patients

Objectives: Like other areas of care affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth (both audio and video) was rapidly adopted in the obstetric setting. We performed a retrospective analysis of electronic health record (EHR) data to characterize the sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with telehealth utilization among patients who received prenatal care. Materials and Methods: The study period covered March 23rd, 2020 to July 2nd, 2020, during which time 2,521 patients received prenatal care at a large academic medical center. We applied a generalized logistic regression to measure the relationship between the patients’ sociodemographic factors (in terms of age, race, ethnicity, urbanization level, and insurance type), pregnancy complications (namely, type 2 diabetes, chronic hypertension, and fetal growth restriction), and telehealth usage, as documented in the EHR. Results: During the study period, 2,521 patients had 16,516 prenatal care visits. 938 (37.2%) of the patients participated in at least one of 1,934 virtual prenatal care visits. Prenatal visits were more likely to be conducted through telehealth for patients who were older than 25 years old and lived in rural areas. In addition, patients who were with type 2 diabetes were more likely to use telehealth in their prenatal care (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) 7.247 [95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) 4.244 – 12.933]). By contrast, patients from racial and ethnic minority groups were less likely to have a telehealth encounter compared to white or non-Hispanic patients (aOR 0.603 [95% CI 0.465 – 0.778] and aOR 0.663 [95% CI 0.471 – 0.927], respectively). Additionally, patients who were on state-level Medicaid were less likely to use telehealth (aOR 0.495 [95% CI 0.402 – 0.608]). Discussion: Disparities in telehealth use for prenatal care suggest further investigations into access barriers. Hispanic patients who had low English language proficiency may not willing to see doctors via virtual care. Availability of high-speed internet and/or hardware may hold these patients who were insured through state-level Medicaid back due to poverty. Future work is advised to minimize access barriers to telehealth in its implementation. Conclusions: While telehealth expanded prenatal care access for childbearing women during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study suggested that there were non-trivial differences in the demographics of patients who utilized such settings.

High Speed Packet Access Broadband Mobile Communications

2009 ◽  
pp. 595-604
Author(s):  
Athanassios C. Iossifides ◽  
Spiros Louvros
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Communications ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Data Transfer ◽  
Mobile Wimax ◽  
Major Step ◽  
Transfer Rates ◽  
Mobile Broadband ◽  
History Of ◽  
Broadband Market

Mobile broadband communications systems have already become a fact during the last few years. The evolution of 3G Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems (UMTS) towards HSDPA/HSUPA systems have already posed a forceful solution for mobile broadband and multimedia services in the market, making a major step ahead of the main competitive technology, that is, WiMax systems based on IEEE 802.16 standard. According to the latest analyses (GSM Association, 2007; Little, 2007), while WiMax has gained considerable attention the last few years, HSPA is expected to dominate the mobile broadband market. The main reasons behind this forecast are: • HSPA is already active in a significant number of operators and is going to be established for the majority of mobile broadband networks worldwide over the next five years, while commercial WiMax systems are only making their first steps. • Mobile WiMax is a competitive technology for selection by operators in only a limited number of circumstances where conditions are favourable. Future mobile WiMax systems may potentially achieve higher data transfer rates than HSPA, though cell coverage for these rates is expected to be substantially smaller. In addition, WiMax technology is less capable in terms of voice traffic capacity, thus limiting market size and corresponding revenues. • In order to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages, WiMax commercial launches are expected to introduce a relative CAPEX disadvantage of at least 20–50% comparing to HSPA, in favorable cases, while there are indications of an increase by up to 5–10 times when accounting for rural areas deployments. The short commercial history of HSDPA (based on Rel.5 specifications of 3GPP) started in December of 2005 (first wide scale launch by Cingular Wireless, closely followed by Manx Telecom and Telekom Austria). Bite Lietuva (Lithuania) was the first operator that launched 3.6 Mbps. HSUPA was first demonstrated by Mobilkom Austria in November 2006 and soon launched commercially in Italia by 3 in December 2006. Mobilkom Austria launched the combination of HSDPA at 7.2 Mbps and HSUPA in February 2007. By September of 2007, less than two years after the first commercial launch, 141 operators in 65 countries (24 out of 27 in EU) have already gone commercial with HSDPA with 38 operators among them supporting a 3.6 Mbps downlink. In addition, devices supporting HSDPA/HSUPA services are rapidly enriched. 311 devices from 79 suppliers have already been available by September 2007, including handsets, data cards, USB modems, notebooks, wireless routers, and embedded modules (http://hspa.gsmworld.com).

Refuting objections to a Global Rural Network (GRNet) for developing nations (originally published in August 2004)

First Monday ◽  
2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larry Press
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Developing Nations ◽  
Appropriate Technology ◽  
Grand Challenge ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Internet Service ◽  
Developing Nation ◽  
Internet Connectivity

In a previous article, we suggested that it is now time to undertake a Grand Challenge project: providing Internet connectivity for every village in every developing nation. Doing so would require perhaps a decade and billions of dollars for design and planning, procurement, installation and operation. Critics object that such a project would not be worth the effort and investment. This article considers nine objections to such an undertaking. 1. Internet connectivity would be nice, but it is not a high priority. 2. Internet service has been offered in rural areas of developing nations, and there is little demand for it. 3. There are no applications of interest or value to illiterate rural people who do not speak English. 4. There is no sustainable business model. 5. Developing nations lack the people and resources to do research. 6. Even if the world community can justify sponsoring the research leading to a concrete backbone plan, developing nations cannot afford to implement it. 7. Villagers cannot afford to use the network even if the backbone transport and connection are free. 8. Developing nations cannot afford high–speed connectivity — low–cost store–and–forward technology is more appropriate technology for a poor, developing nation. 9. We should focus on cities where there is already demand, not rural areas. We discuss each of these, and conclude with a brief outline of next steps.

scholarly journals The Relative Influence of Proximity to Fast Road Infrastructure, Accessibility, and Deprivation on Crime

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Margaret O’Mahony
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Census Data ◽  
Relative Influence ◽  
Area Deprivation ◽  
Crime Statistics ◽  
Road Infrastructure

Irish rural areas saw an increase in the number of burglaries in the period following the completion of a network of high speed motorway interurban routes. To test the hypothesis that the new fast infrastructure was providing quick exits by urban based criminal gangs, Irish crime statistics along with census data were combined in a logistic regression analysis to assess the relative influence of accessibility, deprivation, population, and proximity to fast road infrastructure on the number of burglaries in areas. It was found that accessibility had a higher influence on crime than area deprivation and that proximity to fast road infrastructure was not significant.

scholarly journals Resolving Last-Mile Connectivity Issues in Botswana Using WiMAX IEEE802

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malebogo Mokeresete ◽  
Bukohwo Michael Esiefarienrhe
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Simulation Method ◽  
Line Of Sight ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Ieee 802.16E ◽  
Access Technology ◽  
Regulatory Standards ◽  
Last Mile

Amongst advantages of using Worldwide Interoperability Microwave Access (WiMAX) technology at the last-mile level as access technology include an extensive range of 50 km Line of Sight (LOS), 5 to 15 km Non-Line of Sight and few infrastructure installations compared to other wireless broadband access technologies. Despite positive investments in ICT fibre infrastructure by developing countries, including Botswana, servicing end-users is subjected to high prices and marginalised. The alternative, the Wi-Fi hotspot initiative by the Botswana government, falls far as a solution for last-mile connectivity and access. This study used OPNET simulation modeller 14,5 to investigate whether Botswana’s national broadband project could adopt WiMAX IEEE 802.16e as an access technology. Several developing countries in Africa and the world use WiMAX technology at access level and gain impressive results. The rampant lack of infrastructure development and the need to provide high-speed technology has necessitated such investigation. Therefore, using the simulation method, this paper evaluates the WiMAX IEEE 802.16e/m over three subscriber locations in Botswana. The results obtained indicate that the deployment of the WiMAX IEEE 802.16e standard can solve most of the deployment issues and access at the last-mile level. Although the findings suggest that WiMAX IEEE 802.16e is more suitable for high-density areas, it could also solve rural areas’ infrastructure development challenges and provide required high-speed connectivity access. However, unlike the Wi-Fi initiative, which requires more infrastructure deployment and less on institutional and regulatory frameworks, the deployment of WiMAX IEEE802.16e requires institutional and regulatory standards.

scholarly journals Rancang Bangun Tracker Surya Sumbu Ganda Berbasis Raspberry Pi

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 82
Author(s):  
M Permadi Yosa Nugraha ◽  
Abdul Rakhman ◽  
Irma Salamah
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Tracking System ◽  
Energy Resources ◽  
Raspberry Pi ◽  
Solar Panels ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Initial Cost ◽  
Important Means

Solar energy is now a very important means of renewable energy resources. With sun tracking, it is more effective to produce more energy because solar panels can maintain a profile perpendicular to sunlight. Although the initial cost of setting up a tracking system is quite high, there are cheaper options that have been proposed from time to time. Light Dependent Resistors (LDRs) are used to detect sunlight. The solar panel is positioned where it can receive maximum light. Compared to other motors, servo motors are able to maintain torque at high speed. The tracker is in the form of a double or single axis. Dual trackers are more efficient because they track sunlight from both axes. This project is designed for low power and portable applications. Therefore, it is suitable for use in rural areas. In addition, the effectiveness of the output power collected by sunlight increases.

EU innovation disparities will be hard to overcome

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Data Protection ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
Regional Innovation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Digital Services ◽  
Internet Connections ◽  
Productivity And Competitiveness ◽  
The Eu

Subject Innovation performance across regions. Significance The gap between the least and most innovative regions in the EU is widening, the European Commission’s Regional Innovation Scoreboard published in June shows. As innovation is one of the most important drivers of productivity and competitiveness, this divergence creates challenges for European policymakers. Impacts Progress in creating an EU-wide digital single market would boost the growth potential of the digital economy and spur innovation. Germany’s lack of high-speed internet connections, especially in rural areas, could hold up innovation. Concerns about data protection and privacy could limit opportunities for new digital services.

Performance of Undershot Waterwheel Curved Blade of the Laboratory Scale

2019 ◽  
Vol 967 ◽  
pp. 250-255
Author(s):  
Irwan Lie Keng Wong ◽  
Atus Buku ◽  
Josefine Ernestine Latupeirissa ◽  
Herby Calvin Pascal Tiwouy
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Large Diameter ◽  
Small Diameter ◽  
Water Source ◽  
High Flow ◽  
The People ◽  
Flow Speeds ◽  
Curved Blade ◽  
High Torque

Undershot waterwheels have been used by the people in rural areas to lift and distribute the water to the bottom which is higher than the water source. Waterwheels has a relatively simple design, large diameter, high speed and high torque. But applying it as a microhydro with high speed and small diameter still has to be explored. Waterwheels can operate efficiently in locations with high flow speeds. The Waterwheel functions from a waterwheel blade as a place to ride water so that the wheel can spin. From the results of the study, it can be concluded that the higher the flow of water with a large number of buckets, the speed of rotation of the wheel will be slower. Conversely, the lower the flow of water with the number of buckets a little then the spinning wheel is faster.

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