Background
Rural villages separated from large cities by distance and geography have poor access to the Internet. According to McNally (2021), 1 out of 4 houses in the US does not have internet, and 250,000 more use dial-up. Web connection is required for business purposes, convenience, and studying (Furuholt & Sæbø, 2018). This is especially true for schools located in rural areas. In order to provide a solution to this problem, the project evaluates satellite, mobile, and fiber-cable communications as means of providing Internet to rural communities.
Current Plan
The proposed solution is to provide Internet to rural communities and homes using 3G/4G modems. This type of Internet can use communication towers built for mobile phones and can utilize the coverage already provided through these means. The plan for the project is to provide a list of areas currently in need of 3G/4G Internet and the general requirements for equipment necessary to succeed in connection. Approximate prices, times, and logistics will be provided as well.
Current State of Project
As it stands, we have selected the method we thought was most appropriate for the project. It is currently following the timeline we initially set for it. There is still much to do, however. At this stage, the only trouble we encountered was analysis paralysis – choosing between 3G/4G versus satellite was difficult. We decided on the former because villages and rural locations are typically poor, meaning that the financial barrier is a significant problem for the locals.
Work to Be Completed
We require to research the communities that require an Internet connection and lay that map over the map with 3G/4G connection towers. We need to research the processes of connecting communities to modems, as well as prices for doing so. I anticipate we will have problems finding and disseminating information on this. To overcome this issue, I will request assistance from peers and the professor in charge.
Timeline for Completion
The data collection process will take about 2 weeks. Two weeks more will be spent on disseminating it and utilizing it to create appropriate maps, calculations, and recommendations based on the research. I estimate that the approximate time necessary for the project completion would be 1 month.
References
Furuholt, B., & Sæbø, Ø. (2018). The role telecentres play in providing e‐government services in rural areas: A longitudinal study of Internet access and e‐government services in Tanzania. The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries, 84(1), e12006.
McNally, C. (2021). Nearly 1 in 4 households don’t have Internet – and a quarter million still use dial-up. Web.