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ICT R&D and innovation for
broadband access
In brief
The Broadband for All (BB4All) initiative
is one example of how new technology
and local research, development and
innovation are used to support and
contribute to national broadband
infrastructure. At its completion, the
project aims to have connected about
450 facilities (e.g. schools, clinics
and other government facilities) and
developed at least 45 village operator
businesses.
The challenge
Broadband is a critical enabler
of economic growth. However, its
penetration is poor in most African
countries. Broadband infrastructure in
rural areas will help with access to
essential services such as health care and
education, and bring other services, such
as government services, closer to people.
CSIR research
The CSIR offers unique information
and communications technology (ICT)
capability and approaches to improve
access to broadband in an innovative
and relevant way. Research work includes
wireless mesh networks for communitybased
rural broadband as a key enabler
of the BB4All initiative.
Wireless mesh networks
Wireless mesh technologies use
unconventional methods to communicate
information. Instead of the traditional
point-to-multi-point communication, it is
based on peer-to-peer communication
between network nodes.
The CSIR’s wireless mesh technologies
make use of high performance nodes
(HPNs) to establish peer-to-peer
communication within the network.
Imagine a community with HPNs installed
at certain points (users). If a person in
one house wishes to relay a message
to another at a different house where
direct communication is not possible, the
message will go through the other nodes
until it reaches its destination.
These nodes do not necessarily use one
route; if one node goes down, the others
are able to relay the message using
another route. Since this technology
enables self-healing of the network, the
HPNs are able to find these other routes
automatically.
Broadband for All using wireless mesh
networks
BB4All aims to provide affordable
broadband connectivity to under-serviced,
rural communities. It uses low-cost
infrastructure that is owned and supported
by the local community, to create socioeconomic
and commercial opportunities.
At the heart of the BB4All initiative is
the Wireless Mesh Network (WMN)
project. It is funded by the European
Union through the Sector Budget Support
programme of the Department of Science
and Technology. The collaborative
project started in 2009, with roll out of
a broadband network in the Nkangala
district in Mpumalanga. The project will
also roll out to the Sekhukhune district in
Limpopo and the John Taolo Gaetsewe
district in the Northern Cape.
Outcomes
Developing human capital in
communities
The key success factor in this initiative
is the village operators (VOs), who
work within communities to provide and
manage the BB4All network. There are
18 VOs working in 15 communities in
the Nkangala district. VOs are young
local entrepreneurs with a keen interest in
ICTs and who want to be self-employed.
They are sourced from the targeted
communities and will service their own
communities.
Installation of wireless mesh equipment at a
school.
To date, wireless mesh equipment has
been installed in more than 200 facilities
to connect them to the Internet. These
facilities include 175 schools, school
circuit manager offices and a community
radio station.
The initiative uses established wireless
mesh research and transforms it into
an innovative approach to real-life
situations. Through this intervention,
the improvement of the quality of life of
rural or underserviced areas of South
Africa has become a possibility. This
project also provides the opportunity for
multidisciplinary research where social
and business aspects are integrated
with technological research to provide a
sustainable business model.
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