Robust Networks for Rural Areas in India
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Grant Amount: US$ 25,579
Keywords: INTERNET, NETWORK DEVELOPMENT, WIRELESS, RURAL, INDIA
Geographic coverage: India
Objective
The objective of this project is to disseminate information to users in a resource-constrained environment.
Research context
This project addresses the dissemination of information to users in resource-constrained environments. To undertake its work the project created a partnership between an academic institution, a non-governmental organization (NGO) and private sector organizations. The project studied technical and service issues in kiosk projects in rural parts of Maharashtra. Based on its findings the project developed a connectivity solution using a point to point wireless link. It also created a service model for the local agricultural community, comprised of a unique online and offline question and answer service. The two solutions were deployed in a network of rural internet kiosks. The project combines technical solutions, business service models and strategic partnerships to ensure further deployment and growth.
Target beneficiaries
The beneficiaries of this project are the owners and users of 26 computer kiosks in and around Pabal, Maharashtra. A reliable Internet connection is provided to Vigyan Ashram, a rural vocational education NGO. Local youth gain experience in surveying and deploying Internet kiosk-based services. Other information and communications technology (ICT) interventions that face problems of low bandwidth and unreliable network connections can learn from the published work.
Outputs
Research results and outcomes
This project was facilitated by a partnership between Media Lab Asia, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, Vigyan Ashram, and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Baramati. The partnership has combined an inter-disciplinary approach and an action research methodology to drive its development process.
The project conducted field research on the existing network at Vigyan Ashram and found that the leased line was the weakest link in the delivery of data from the Internet. To address this, the project devised a point-to-point wireless network solution that could pick-up Internet traffic when the leased line was down. It built prototypes, deployed test versions and finalized the solution. This was largely successful although the project found that there was still some downtime between the two services. In response to this the project sought to develop applications that can function with intermittent connection to the Internet.
Service delivery was studied by MBA students at IIT Bombay. Their study involved planning objectives, a literature review, interviews, questionnaires, field visits, data collection, data interpretation and presentation of results. This inter-disciplinary research was used to analyze the local kiosk market, prioritize use of resources and develop tools that had scalability and high “pull-factor” from the community.
The key service the project developed is an online multilingual question and answer forum called Almost All Questions Answered (aAQUA) (http:// www.aaqua.org). aAQUA was deployed in a network of kiosks covering about 30 villages around the Pabal area. Kiosk operators charge farmers a low per query fee for the consultancy. Farmers use aAQUA to have questions answered on crop and animal disease, farming techniques and marketing information. Most questions are answered in the local language, Marathi. aAQUA is complemented by a Digital Library allowing users to browse the aAQUA portal offline and synchronize the content with server when connectivity is available.
The project has made the following recommendations on successful Internet service deployments in rural areas. To be a viable business:
The project has actively developed a range of strategic partnerships with relevant institutions to scale up and expand the aAQUA-related services across India. Further growth is strengthened by the business revenue models developed by the project. Content from aAQUA and the Digital Library projects have been integrated in the curriculum of KVK Baramati’s Bsc. and Msc. (Agriculture) degrees and Vigyan Ashram’s degree in Rural Technology. The knowledge and experience gained from the project is disseminated through the project website.
Awards
aAQUA was honoured with the Manthan Gold Medal Award in July 2005, for "India's best e-Content Practices" under the e-Inclusion category. This award is given for measures supporting integration of least developed states of India into the Information Society. It is also given for reducing the digital divide and content gap between technology-empowered and technology-excluded communities and groups, such as rural areas and women, and for bridging society through multimedia. See: http://www.manthanaward.com
Project Duration
Start Date: March 2004
End Date: May 2006
Total Duration: 26 Months
Contact information
Professor Krithi Ramamritham
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
KReSIT, IIT Campus, Powai, Mumbai 400076, India
Telephone: +91 22 2576 7900 / 01 / 02
Fax: +91 22 2572 0022
Email: Krithi@cse.iitb.ac.in, Krithi@it.iitb.ac.in
Website: http://www.iitb.ac.in
Reference websites
http://www.aaqua.org
http://www.it.iitb.ac.in/~it625/
http://www.manthanaward.com
Keywords: INTERNET, NETWORK DEVELOPMENT, WIRELESS, RURAL, INDIA
Geographic coverage: India
Objective
The objective of this project is to disseminate information to users in a resource-constrained environment.
Research context
This project addresses the dissemination of information to users in resource-constrained environments. To undertake its work the project created a partnership between an academic institution, a non-governmental organization (NGO) and private sector organizations. The project studied technical and service issues in kiosk projects in rural parts of Maharashtra. Based on its findings the project developed a connectivity solution using a point to point wireless link. It also created a service model for the local agricultural community, comprised of a unique online and offline question and answer service. The two solutions were deployed in a network of rural internet kiosks. The project combines technical solutions, business service models and strategic partnerships to ensure further deployment and growth.
Target beneficiaries
The beneficiaries of this project are the owners and users of 26 computer kiosks in and around Pabal, Maharashtra. A reliable Internet connection is provided to Vigyan Ashram, a rural vocational education NGO. Local youth gain experience in surveying and deploying Internet kiosk-based services. Other information and communications technology (ICT) interventions that face problems of low bandwidth and unreliable network connections can learn from the published work.
Outputs
- Report on a field study of Pabal's network;
- Operational long distance Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) link between Rajgurunagar and Pabal;
- Localized website for market price information;
- Content pages for the villages in the Pabal region;
- Multilingual Question and Answer engine; and
- A report on kiosk services before and after deployment.
Research results and outcomes
This project was facilitated by a partnership between Media Lab Asia, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, Vigyan Ashram, and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Baramati. The partnership has combined an inter-disciplinary approach and an action research methodology to drive its development process.
The project conducted field research on the existing network at Vigyan Ashram and found that the leased line was the weakest link in the delivery of data from the Internet. To address this, the project devised a point-to-point wireless network solution that could pick-up Internet traffic when the leased line was down. It built prototypes, deployed test versions and finalized the solution. This was largely successful although the project found that there was still some downtime between the two services. In response to this the project sought to develop applications that can function with intermittent connection to the Internet.
Service delivery was studied by MBA students at IIT Bombay. Their study involved planning objectives, a literature review, interviews, questionnaires, field visits, data collection, data interpretation and presentation of results. This inter-disciplinary research was used to analyze the local kiosk market, prioritize use of resources and develop tools that had scalability and high “pull-factor” from the community.
The key service the project developed is an online multilingual question and answer forum called Almost All Questions Answered (aAQUA) (http:// www.aaqua.org). aAQUA was deployed in a network of kiosks covering about 30 villages around the Pabal area. Kiosk operators charge farmers a low per query fee for the consultancy. Farmers use aAQUA to have questions answered on crop and animal disease, farming techniques and marketing information. Most questions are answered in the local language, Marathi. aAQUA is complemented by a Digital Library allowing users to browse the aAQUA portal offline and synchronize the content with server when connectivity is available.
The project has made the following recommendations on successful Internet service deployments in rural areas. To be a viable business:
- Build wide area networks to connect a larger number of potential users over sparsely populated areas;
- Address security and maintenance of equipment in remote areas;
- Ensure that vendors of equipment adhere to their maintenance contracts;
- Choose project sites based on the results of market surveys assessing demand;
- Provide relevant services by partnering with other providers and make each service independently sustainable;
- Partner with local organizations that can train operators and spread awareness of computers and the Internet; and
- In the case of e-governance services, ensure that the kiosk operator has the necessary statutory powers.
The project has actively developed a range of strategic partnerships with relevant institutions to scale up and expand the aAQUA-related services across India. Further growth is strengthened by the business revenue models developed by the project. Content from aAQUA and the Digital Library projects have been integrated in the curriculum of KVK Baramati’s Bsc. and Msc. (Agriculture) degrees and Vigyan Ashram’s degree in Rural Technology. The knowledge and experience gained from the project is disseminated through the project website.
Awards
aAQUA was honoured with the Manthan Gold Medal Award in July 2005, for "India's best e-Content Practices" under the e-Inclusion category. This award is given for measures supporting integration of least developed states of India into the Information Society. It is also given for reducing the digital divide and content gap between technology-empowered and technology-excluded communities and groups, such as rural areas and women, and for bridging society through multimedia. See: http://www.manthanaward.com
Project Duration
Start Date: March 2004
End Date: May 2006
Total Duration: 26 Months
Contact information
Professor Krithi Ramamritham
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
KReSIT, IIT Campus, Powai, Mumbai 400076, India
Telephone: +91 22 2576 7900 / 01 / 02
Fax: +91 22 2572 0022
Email: Krithi@cse.iitb.ac.in, Krithi@it.iitb.ac.in
Website: http://www.iitb.ac.in
Reference websites
http://www.aaqua.org
http://www.it.iitb.ac.in/~it625/
http://www.manthanaward.com
Last modified 2006-08-07 03:20 PM
