What we do in this area:

“The cost of bandwidth in Africa poses a barrier to the continent’s effective participation in international trade and the knowledge economy, while limiting local markets and education. Without adequate bandwidth Africa runs the risk of being left behind in the global race. The Shuttleworth Foundation is, therefore, actively investing in a project portfolio that will contribute towards solving bandwidth limitations in the African context.”

This month’s highlights:

To democratisation the telecommunication infrastructure Steve Song have began publicising and promoting Village Telco model used by Dabba in explaining the concept and actively engaging with the African wireless networking community to build support for Village Telco concept. Discussions have also began with the CSIR, Cisco, and IT46 to lay the groundwork for a collaborative Open Source, VillageTelco initiative and much excitement is being stirred. David Rowe comments:

‘…key to large scale roll out is just 1 successful business. People are reluctant to innovate, but happy to copy.

Now that the business model side has been nailed I have nothing to do for the rest of this year ‘

Exciting times indeed – just imagine communities controlling their own communications in this way, a really inspiring way to join the knowledge economy!

To help drive ‘Connected Cities’ we have made contact with project leader for Cape Town’s Dark Fibre initiative and arrange to meet to discuss progress to date and opportunities for the Foundation

Alison Gillwald has been working with us to drive the Telecommunication Policy piece of our work. We have agreed on strategy to make interventions at ICASA hearings over the next year. Breaking into policy groups, and gaining traction from great ideas posed is proving more and more problematic as industry ’seals’ the decision making process. We are hoping to ensure they become more open and transparent.

In the process of building the networks, we have been meeting with people such as Goltz Wessman from Fastcomm and Elma Philanthropies.

Bandile Sikwane from iWeek and Jennigay Coetzer from Business Day, both did interviews and reports on Steve’s view of the industry, you can also find Steve’s commentary on this blog. On all subject from reforms happening in Kenya to the death of WiFi!