Profitable deployment of wireless networks in sparsely populated areas
Detecon provides comprehensive market entry solutions for providers of Internet services designed for rural areas in Africa. In a number of recently started projects in several Sub-Saharan countries the ICT (Information & Communication Technology) consulting company develops workable business concepts that take into account the mistakes of rural Internet pioneers who have constantly failed to address relevant success factors in an integrative manner.
In contrast, Detecon integrates all economic, social, ethical, financial, technological and regulatory dimensions of rural Internet projects. Clients receive a business model as well as a technological concept accompanied by an appropriate vendor management plan. Supervising the implementation of a business concept Detecon pools all relevant partners, especially investors, sponsors, regulatory authorities and ICT suppliers. On account of its innovative mesh technology “WiBack” Detecon chooses Fraunhofer FOKUS (Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems) as preferred ICT partner to close the so-called digital divide in rural Africa.
Mesh networks boost profitability
Compared to traditional operator approaches, Fraunhofer´s solution provides substantially lower capital and operational expenditure. This enables rural broadband providers to bridge the prevailing gap between costs and attainable revenues.
Compared to low-cost wireless mesh technology, WiBack offers carrier-grade services including network management capabilities and interfaces to higher-ranking networks. With the integration prerequisites at hand the Detecon consultants align rural networks to respective national broadband strategies.
Fraunhofer's Wireless Backhaul Technology WiBack targets carrier grade service provisioning in medium and large wireless networks. Key features include quality-of-service (QoS)-provisioning, auto-configuration, self-management and self-healing. Customers like ISPs, standard fixed network providers or mobile network providers receive a robust wireless network for voice and data applications that is entirely based on open source technologies and powered by solar energy.
Evolutionary access options
On the local level end users can access the Internet in three different ways. Basically, providers might roll out stand-alone eKiosks with net-top PC´s offering basic services like email, chatting, browsing or telephony. Depending on local use cases potential clients may also offer applications for eHealth, eLearning or eGovernment purposes. On top of the eKiosk concept service providers will be able to extend their business by offering Wifi hotspot services next to the kiosk building for paid public access with personal computing devices. In addition there is a so-called private hotspot mesh option where different houses get connected by a meshed network giving inhabitants and neighbors Internet access. An evolution from simple to complex scenarios will be possible over time without changing the underlying backhaul network.
