Internet for the next billion

[photo Sirpa Lehmus]
Date posted
22-08-08
Posted by
Sirpa Lehmus

With more than 15 years of experience in the communications industry, Sirpa focuses on solutions for emerging markets to support Nokia Siemens Networks’ vision of Internet for the next billion.

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Helping rural villagers capture the power of the Internet

Now, for the first time in history, worldwide access to the Internet is within our reach.

This may come as quite a surprise to you, but the key challenge for rural connectivity is not access, it’s affordability. And typically consumers with low income in rural areas can spend only very little on communications.

Since 2007, Nokia Siemens Networks Village Connection has addressed these challenges by combining technology with business model innovation to create a voice-communication solution that is self sustaining, easy to implement and benefits everyone involved.

To celebrate this achievement, Village Connection was honored with the Excellence in Innovation award at the 2nd annual National Telecom Awards ceremony held by the Telecom Equipment Manufacturers Association (TEMA) in May.

And now, operators and local entrepreneurs who have supplied mobile services to villagers with Village Connection can easily upgrade to provide Internet services as well.

Village Connection empowers local entrepreneurs

Nokia Siemens Networks Village Connection with Internet Kiosk is easy to operate via a shared computer in a village.

Entrepreneurs play a valuable role in the process, as they help villagers understand how to use the Internet for accessing relevant information and services.

The system provides villages with autonomous local access points, which include all the technology needed to establish a village-level communications network.

These local networks can be run by village entrepreneurs as franchises, reducing costs for network operators. In turn, local networks support full connectivity to the operator’s main network.

The biggest benefit to operators is that Village Connection with Internet Kiosk enables them to provide the Internet access easily and cost-effectively for rural villages benefiting from the existing IP backhaul of the Village Connection solution.

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comments

bernard.tyers said [16-09-08 19:42:13]
Micropayments can be used.

Ideas like micropayments can also be used in projects like this.

Instead of having to pay the "full" price of a contract, mobile micropayments, small amount payments, can be made from the mobile device. This can be used for actual access itself, or for accessing mobile content. Already there are companies, (Zong, M-Pesa) and "industry standards" (like PayForIt in the UK).

anand said [14-12-08 00:47:46]
franchiser risks?

Indeed the previous commenter mentioned the aspect of a cash barrier for the consumer where micropayemnts could be a solution.

What about the financial risk the the local entrepreneur is taking? Is there a way he/she get it financed via a (micro) finance institution or from the operator? Furthermore, what is the repay time of the initial investment for the local entrepreneur? T

It seems to me a mixture of Village Phone and telecenter concepts.

Will there be cost differences if someone calls via a telephone using Village Connection or a VOIP-handset hooked up at the PC of the Internet kiosk?

Last, content is important (regional and national content) might be fuelling the information need.