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

Author(s):  
Malebogo Mokeresete ◽  
Bukohwo Michael Esiefarienrhe

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.

Author(s):  
Malebogo Mokeresete ◽  
Bukohwo Michael Esiefarienrhe

Amongst the 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 service disparities. The alternative, the Wi-Fi hotspot initiative by the Botswana government, falls short 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. 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 the 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.


Author(s):  
V. Sridhar ◽  
Piyush Jain

This case highlights the challenges faced by organizations in developing countries in getting reliable, high-speed Internet access to support their mission critical web enabled information systems. The case prescribes various measures to optimally use the constrained bandwidth available from service providers. The challenges in defining and monitoring appropriate service level agreements with the service providers are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Surahyo Sumarsono ◽  
Peter M.A. van Ooijen ◽  
Widyawan Widyawan

BACKGROUND The size of the Indonesian population and the shifting pattern of illness from infectious to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which leads to double disease burden, demand that Indonesia develop a variety of innovative efforts to control the numbers of NCDs. Moreover, NCDs are preventable and strongly influenced by lifestyle, therefore individual intervention to stimulate healthier lifestyle is important. One approach to support NCD programs is the use of mobile technology or mHealth. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this work is to show the process of designing and developing a mobile health system, NusaHealth, which will be implemented in rural areas of Yogyakarta province. The NusaHealth system will be our pilot project to get better understanding and knowledge how mobile health solution answers the health problems in rural areas in terms of promotion and prevention health services. METHODS Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) seeks to address the challenges of developing a technology-based health management program. The development of the NusaHealth system starts from looking at the potential of health data that can be processed and enriched to become health information. The NusaHealth project builds a digital healthcare infrastructure involving universities, healthcare providers (hospitals, community health centers, clinics, health offices and others) and communities (including health volunteers) in a mHealth approach that puts patient at the center of health care. RESULTS The NusaHealth system has been realized through the process of design and development which involved experts and partners. Technical descriptions including supported device specifications, operating systems requirements, feature needed, user interface, data storage, interoperability and security assessment produced in the paper. Moreover, the infrastructure to connect mobile devices network with the hospital information system has been developed, as well as supporting systems such as SMS gateway and servers. CONCLUSIONS This paper proves that the process of designing and developing a mobile health solution for rural areas in developing countries needs to be comprehensive and the process of field implementation should involve related partners. While the NusaHealth pilot project in rural areas of Yogyakarta province was successfully implemented, further activities need to be implemented to enhance community health through development of formal mobile health system supported by local health district offices’ policies and regulations. Wider geographical areas will be a challenging opportunity in measuring whether this system is suitable in the context of developing country. CLINICALTRIAL None


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
JK. Chemuliti ◽  
KO. Ogolla ◽  
SG. Mbogoh ◽  
KM. Mochabo ◽  
BK Kibore

AbstractNewcastle disease (ND) is the single most important infection of village chicken in smallholder farming systems in developing countries. Vaccines for ND control are available but the delivery of safe and potent vaccines in resource-poor settings remains a big challenge due to difficulties in the maintenance of cold chain. This paper reports the results of a study that was carried out in Kenya to assess the storage and handling practices of Newcastle disease vaccines by agro-veterinary shops (agro-shops) during acquisition, storage, and sale to smallholders’ farmers. Data were collected from one hundred and thirty-two agro-shops using semi-structured questionnaires, observation sheets and actual purchase of vaccines over the counter. The results showed that the majority (82 percent) of the agro-shops had a domestic refrigerator that was connected to the electricity grid but many (61 percent) did not have power backup. Sixty percent of them only stocked thermolabile vaccines. Recurrent power outages (62 percent), high cost of electricity (62 percent), and long-distance to vaccine sources (33 percent) were the most common challenges in vaccine storage and sale. Some agro-shops switched refrigerators on and off while others removed vaccines from refrigerators for overnight stay in cool boxes to minimize electricity costs. In some cases, the sale of vaccines was restricted to market days and late afternoon when ambient temperatures were lower to minimize vaccines storage time and vaccine spoilage respectively. Thermostable vaccines were not stored as recommended by the manufacturer and few agro-shops (23 percent) sold reconstituted vaccines. Most shops adequately packaged thermolabile vaccines in improvised materials during sale. Overall, most of the ND vaccine handling and storage practices in the last mile appeared to aim at safeguarding the safety and potency of vaccines, but further research could elucidate the effects of these practices on the quality and potency of ND vaccines.


Author(s):  
Kishore Kumar Thakur ◽  
Ramjee Prasad

The importance of Internet in our lives today cannot be overemphasized. So much so that access to Internet has been declared a fundamental right of citizens in several countries such as Finland, Spain, and Greece [1]. In most of the developed countries, high-speed Internet connectivity is enabled through wired communication infrastructure such as Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) and Very high bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL). Unfortunately, the situation is not particularly encouraging in developing countries due to non-availability of such a pervasive communication infrastructure. The difference in the fiber-deployed-to-population ratio across developed and developing countries further underscores this disparity; while this ratio is 1.2 in USA, it is barely 0.1 in India [2]. Owing to this inadequacy of fiber/DSL availability, cellular access technology has emerged as the primary broadband access mechanism in developing countries. However, the penetration of cellular network is limited in rural areas as its deployment becomes unviable due to challenges such as low average revenue per user, sparse population density, and intermittent availability of electricity. This situation leaves majority of the rural people unconnected thereby creating a massive rural urban digital divide. The next generation cellular system along with the use of unlicensed Wi-Fi Technology can bridge this divide if we overcome the above-mentioned challenges. However, since the Fifth Generation (5G) cellular technology has focus on requirements such as 10 Gbps data rate, 1 ms latency, and very high speed mobility, the problems of coverage and affordability are likely to persist, further widening the digital divide [3]. This article explains how Wi-Fi is being used for affordable high speed broadband in rural areas. A successfully implemented case study of Jharkhand state is also presented, and it can be adopted as reliable business model for 5G or 5G type services in rural areas [4].


Author(s):  
P.I. Tarasov

Research objective: studies of economic and transport infrastructure development in the Arctic and Northern Territories of Russia. Research methodology: analysis of transport infrastructure in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and the types of railways used in Russia. Results: economic development of any region is proportional to the development of the road transport infrastructure and logistics. When a conventional railway is operated in the Arctic conditions, it is not always possible to maintain a cargo turnover that would ensure its efficient use, and transshipment from one mode of transport to another is very problematic. A new type of railway is proposed, i.e. a light railway. Conclusions: the proposed new type of transport offers all the main advantages of narrow gauge railroads (high speed of construction, efficiency, etc.) and helps to eliminate their main disadvantage, i.e. the need for transloading when moving from a narrow gauge to the conventional one with the width of 1520 mm, along with a significant reduction in capital costs.


Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 141
Author(s):  
Marcin Surówka ◽  
Łukasz Popławski ◽  
Helena Fidlerová

The work discusses issues of the infrastructure, its instruments, and specifics of infrastructure in Polish and Slovak rural areas. The aim of this article is to analyze the level of technical infrastructure development in rural regions of the Małopolskie Voivodeship in Poland and the west part of Slovakia—Trnava self-governing region (Trnava region) as two regions with a similar position regarding regional competitiveness index. Following the topic, after identification of strengths and weaknesses of mentioned regions, the opportunities, and threats of sustainable development of infrastructure in rural areas have been analyzed using the SWOT method. The development of sustainable, reliable, and functional infrastructure does not only refer to the chosen regions of Poland and Slovakia but also other regions in the European Union. Sustainable infrastructure is a factor stimulating social and economic progress as one of the most important determinants of sustainable development and regional competitiveness. The authors notice a particular lack in the sustainable development of infrastructure in the field of water and sewerage management together with the supply of water. Therefore, this article tries to complete the gap in research focusing on the concept of a more systematic approach to technical infrastructure improvement in the context of sustainable development, and strategy of cooperation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 6517
Author(s):  
Innocent Chirisa ◽  
Trynos Gumbo ◽  
Veronica N. Gundu-Jakarasi ◽  
Washington Zhakata ◽  
Thomas Karakadzai ◽  
...  

Reducing vulnerability to climate change and enhancing the long-term coping capacities of rural or urban settlements to negative climate change impacts have become urgent issues in developing countries. Developing countries do not have the means to cope with climate hazards and their economies are highly dependent on climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, water, and coastal zones. Like most countries in Southern Africa, Zimbabwe suffers from climate-induced disasters. Therefore, this study maps critical aspects required for setting up a strong financial foundation for sustainable climate adaptation in Zimbabwe. It discusses the frameworks required for sustainable climate adaptation finance and suggests the direction for success in leveraging global climate financing towards building a low-carbon and climate-resilient Zimbabwe. The study involved a document review and analysis and stakeholder consultation methodological approach. The findings revealed that Zimbabwe has been significantly dependent on global finance mechanisms to mitigate the effects of climate change as its domestic finance mechanisms have not been fully explored. Results revealed the importance of partnership models between the state, individuals, civil society organisations, and agencies. Local financing institutions such as the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) have been set up. This operates a Climate Finance Facility (GFF), providing a domestic financial resource base. A climate change bill is also under formulation through government efforts. However, numerous barriers limit the adoption of adaptation practices, services, and technologies at the scale required. The absence of finance increases the vulnerability of local settlements (rural or urban) to extreme weather events leading to loss of life and property and compromised adaptive capacity. Therefore, the study recommends an adaptation financing framework aligned to different sectoral policies that can leverage diverse opportunities such as blended climate financing. The framework must foster synergies for improved impact and implementation of climate change adaptation initiatives for the country.


Author(s):  
Ruchika Agarwala ◽  
Vinod Vasudevan

Research shows that traffic fatality risk is generally higher in rural areas than in urban areas. In developing countries, vehicle ownership and investments in public transportation typically increase with economic growth. These two factors together increase the vehicle population, which in turn affects traffic safety. This paper presents a study focused on the relationship of various factors—including household consumption expenditure data—with traffic fatality in rural and urban areas and thereby aims to fill some of the gaps in the literature. One such gap is the impacts of personal and non-personal modes of travel on traffic safety in rural versus urban areas in developing countries which remains unexplored. An exhaustive panel data modeling approach is adopted. One important finding of this study is that evidence exists of a contrasting relationship between household expenditure and traffic fatality in rural and urban areas. The relationship between household expenditure and traffic fatality is observed to be positive in rural areas and a negative in urban areas. Increases in most expenditure variables, such as fuel, non-personal modes of travel, and two-wheeler expenditures, are found to be associated with an increase in traffic fatality in rural areas.


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