April 17, 2014
Expedite Women Education with Free Internet in Dhola Dhading, Nepal
Expedite Women
Education with Free Internet in Dhola Dhading, Nepal
Backgrounds:
This project will bring Internet connectivity to the village of Dhola, Dhading, Nepal, by connecting multiple schools and an after-school computer-learning-center in the town. Our team will work for boosting outreach programs. This program, as well as teachers, children, and families will benefit from Internet connectivity, to take full advantage of the technology and increase the amount of information available to them.
Our ultimate goal is to improve the
quality of education in Nepal.
Up until recently, an Internet
connection did not appear to be possible without the use of an expensive
satellite link, which is beyond the budgetary capabilities of the partnered
team or of the OLPC Nepal program. However, an opportunity has recently
presented itself to extend Internet Connectivity to Dhola, Dhading, through [a
program], which is being spearheaded us
and through which local Nepalese are being trained and certified to be
able to install and maintain the network. Even so, the program has been formed to provide Internet connectivity to NGOs
only, and not yet to cities outside of its current purview nor to educational
institutions. [Our partner] is interested in joining the existing local
partnership involving OLPC Nepal, to connect our pilot city of Dhola, Dhading
and its schools to the Internet through a WiFi link from the larger city of Dhadingbesi,
which is part of the our
initative, into Dhola, Dhading. Specifically, we propose to connect an
after-school computer learning center in Dhola, Dhading with a long distance
(5ghz point-to-point) WiFi link from Dhadingbesi. From this computer-center, we
will provide access to two schools initially (through a 2.4 ghz
point-to-multipoint WiFi link) and to seven additional schools in Dhading the
future.
This project proposes to bring
Internet connectivity to the village of Dhola, Dhading, Nepal, by connecting
multiple schools and an after- school computer-learning-center.
The schools in the village of Dhola,
Dhading are part of a One Laptop per Child (OLPC) project in Nepal. At present,
the schools lack two key conditions for realizing project success: electricity
and Internet connectivity. We have
been working together with the OLPC Nepal team, and under the mentorship of
[another partner], to design and implement a solar powering solution so that
the laptops may be charged at the schools.
The purpose of this grant
application is to bring Internet connectivity to Dhola, Dhading through a new
partnership described herein. The goal of this Internet connectivity project is
to connect an after-school computer learning center in Dhola, Dhading with a
long distance WiFi link and from this center, provide access to two schools
initially and to seven additional schools in the future.
In March 2013, we began holding technician-training
programs in Nepal, as the starting point for, which is being deployed by us in partnership with local Internet
Service Providers (ISPs) and Nepalese entrepreneurs. The purpose of the
training sessions are to prepare a cadre of trained and certified Nepalese
technicians who are capable of deploying, operating, and supporting a
wireless-backbone of Internet connectivity for connecting NGOs and other small
businesses across Nepal. In order to promote local capacity building and
sustainability, [our partner] recruits, trains, and certifies local ICT
professionals. In turn, after hands-on guidance with their first project, these
trained entrepreneurs subsequently themselves perform the installation,
maintenance, and support for ongoing and future endeavors.
We launched the initial training session in Dhadingbesi,
Nepal, which is located just 15 km (by road) from Dhola, Dhading. This is to say
that the largest neighboring city to Dhola, Dhading—Dhadingbesi—will be
connected to the broadband wireless backbone, and there will be a cadre of
local trained and certified technicians capable of deploying, operating, and
supporting a broadband Internet network, but at present, Dhola, Dhading lies
outside the scope of the preview. This grant application proposes the
formation of a new partnership, between us
and the local entrepreneurs trained as part of the project, to extend the
network already being deployed to NGOs in Dhadingbesi, to educational
institutions in Dhola, Dhading. Specifically, we propose to connect an
after-school computer learning center in Dhola, Dhading with a long distance
(5ghz point-to-point) WiFi link from Dhadingbesi. From this computer-center, we
will provide access to two schools initially (through a 2.4 ghz
point-to-multipoint WiFi link) and to seven additional schools in Dhola,
Dhading the future.
The long distance WiFi link will
originate in Dhadingbesi, which is 5 KM aerial distance from Dhading besi. The
two schools to be connected are Kalika
Secondary School and Varaha
Kalika Higher Secondary School each of which has about 500 OLPC XO
laptops. The after-school computer center is run by the Nepal OLPC office and
provides additional computer access time to the village students. This center
has been built, stocked with OLPC laptops, and provided with electrical power,
however it still lacks Internet connectivity. The key aspects of this Internet
connectivity project will cover network planning, installations, management,
network security, and training for users, the Nepal OLPC project office and
project partners.
WiFi radios proposed for use are
5ghz point-to-point, and 2.4ghz point-to-multipoint WLAN in the village, which
includes Power-Over- Ethernet injector, pole-mounting kit, and patch, 24dbi
dish, and omni antennas. The WiFi systems operate at 12 and/or 24 VDC powered
with a solar pv system setup. All equipment is installed in rugged, NEMA 4
style waterproof enclosures.
The solar powered WiFi used in this
project will be approached and documented as a repeatable model for the other
+40 schools in Nepal that will receive the 14,000 OLPC XO the Nepal OLPC office
is rolling out.
We made a site visit to the schools of Dhola, Dhading in
January, 2011 with the personnel from OLPC Nepal. The solar powering deployment
these partners plan is scheduled for late May-June, 2011. With this
application, we propose that the Internet connectivity deployment project take
place at the beginning of June, 2011, at which time the computer-center and the
two pilot schools will be connected to the Internet. In addition, the OLPC Nepal
project team will receive training from the train-the-trainer recipients in how to maintain and support the
local WiFi network. After the initial deployment, and in collaboration with the
project partners, the project leader will be able to carry out the interim
project report. The project will continue, however, for the next seven months,
as our team will return to Dhola,
Dhading in December 2011 to assist our local partners with the carrying out of
an impact evaluation of the project in the community. During the interim
months, it is expected that the OLPC Nepal team will troubleshoot and
problem-solve connectivity issues, as well as set up guidelines and rules for
the use of the Internet in the computer- center and in the schools making use
of the Internet. We look forward to reporting on the progress of the OLPC team,
the support of the local technicians/entrepreneurs, and on the impact and
effects realized within the community.
We have been working together to bring a replicable solar
powering solution to the OLPC-participating schools in Dhola, Dhading for over
a year. We are focused on local capacity building, and the proposed
Internet-connectivity project both complements and expands upon the foundation
that has already been laid. We are incorporating a new partner into the
Internet Connectivity project, and they
has been working in Nepal for over a year, and has been partnered with and
working with OLPC for over four
years. As stated above, our
business model promotes local capacity building and sustainability, by
training, and certifying local ICT professionals. In turn, after hands-on guidance
with their first project, these trained entrepreneurs subsequently themselves
perform the installation, maintenance, and support for ongoing and future
endeavors.
Our approach is to design replicable
solutions for the OLPC program in Nepal, while simultaneously building local
capacities so that the projects may be scaled and maintained.
In summary, the reasons our team is
the best qualified to both carry out and sustain this project include our
commitment to long-term support and success of the OLPC program in Nepal, which
has included local capacity-building from the outset, and is focused on
assisting in the areas of solar power and Internet connectivity.
Our project aims to bring Internet
connectivity to the underserved schools of Dhola, Dhading, Nepal. By connecting
the computer-learning- center and two schools in Dhola, Dhading, 1,000
teachers, children (and their families) will have the possibility of Internet
access to support their educational endeavors and opportunities.
Step 1: WiFi Network Design
The first step in building this
long-distance wireless network is to make sure each node is visible to each
other. We will achieve this by conducting a site visit – we will physically
visit each site in Dhadingbesi and Dhola, Dhading that will host a node and
capture its GPS coordinates and at the same time do a site survey on each roof
for structural location of the antenna mounting and solar PV equipment. The Dhadingbesi
site network and equipment will link into the existing Nepal [broadband network
program].Once we have the site GPS locations, we will use Radio Mobile and
Google Earth to design the network. We will also use terrain data from NASA to
model the surface of the earth. With these tools, we are able to compute the
correct angles; both azimuth (side to side) and elevation (up and down) that
each antenna will need to achieve the highest gain (signal strength) between
nodes.
Step 2: Location Capacity Survey
Once we know where to place each
node location, we will make sure the site can support the required equipment:
we confirm the site is physically secure, the building structurally sound, that
there is a physical location for the equipment, location for the solar panel
power, and that we have roof access.
Step 3: WiFi node Antenna Alignment
From the network design plan created
of the node locations, we will set up the antennas from our live network
pointing in the direction of the new node location. In Nepal, we will use
a Garmin GPSMAP 76CSx as our location notepad - giving a good indication of
direction, automatically compensating for magnetic declination (9.5 degrees in Nepal),
and producing a compass bearing for use in the actual azimuth aiming of the
dish. First, the Dhadingbesi WiFi antenna will be beaming WiFi signal toward Dhola,
Dhading at this point, without a receiving antenna set up in Dhola, Dhading,
yet. So the next step is to install the Dhola, Dhading WiFi antenna at the
other end of the link to establish connectivity.
Step 4: Installation Trip
Preparation
Detailed preparation makes all the
difference in a developing region deployment. So the day before we visit each
node location to install the WiFi antennas and other equipment, we make a
complete packing list for each day's load out. This includes the number of
antennas, radios, switches, solar PV gear, etc. All the required
equipment and gear will be packed in extremely durable hard sided cases. We
will take a second large case that will contain a toolkit, large first aid kit,
and consumable supply stock of electrical tape, duct tape, cable ties, and RJ45
connectors.
Step 5: Node Antenna Setup
Once on site, antenna setup requires
at least two people - one person handles the antenna alignment on the roof, the
other serves as networking expert, patching into the existing network.
For the Dhadingbesi to Dhola, Dhading link, both of these antennas are
point-to-point, transmitting 802.11n in the 5 GHz band, which is less busy than
the 2.4 GHz band. Then, using alignment tools (GPS, compass, and level), the
antennas can be aligned before we even need to use the radio software to
complete the exact alignment. When finished, we strive to gain at least a -65
dbm signal level with each link.
Step 6: Disseminating Internet
Access
While one WiFi technical person is
on the roof, the second runs the CAT5e Ethernet cable to the solar PV system
and connects it to the PoE injectors. PoE injectors send power over the 4
unused wires in the Ethernet cables, so we can power the Ubiquiti Network WiFi
equipment without running a second set of wiring.
Step 7: Network Management
Managing the network once it is up
is a longer-term challenge. Each computer at every location requires its own
unique IP address, and every computer wants to communicate with remote servers
outside of Nepal at the same time. Yet there is only so much bandwidth at any
one node and at the uplink point. The network will be managed by [our
newest partner] with OpenNMS, the first open source enterprise grade network
management platform, Using OpenNMS, [they] will be able to monitor network
usage and then use other tools for traffic shaping, making sure that each user,
at each node, has equal amount of bandwidth for his or her communication needs.
The beneficiaries of this project
are the children of Dhola, Dhading, Nepal, and primarily the 1,000 teachers,
students and their families.
This partnership commits to
connecting Dhola, Dhading to the Internet, and subsequently ensuring the
maintenance of the project through the training of the OLPC Nepal team on WiFi
and Internet connectivity. Once additional OLPC schools are provided with solar
powering solutions, additional funds by this team, or eventually by the OLPC Nepal
team/Ministry of Education will be raised to purchase the equipment necessary
to bring the Internet to these schools. We will enlist the assistance and
expertise of the locally trained and certified technicians (who are part of the
national broadband initiative) to install the equipment and connect the schools
to the Internet. Maintenance will be the responsibility of the OLPC Nepal team.
- June 2014: WiFi Network Design Location Capacity Survey, Ordering of Equipment
- July 2014: WiFi Node Antenna Alignment. Installation Trip Preparation, Node Antenna Setup
- Aug 2014: Disseminating Internet Access, Network Management
- Dec 2014: Project Monitoring and Evaluation
This project will deliver Internet
connectivity to a computer learning center and two schools in the underserved
community of Dhola, Dhading, Nepal. The project also provides the opportunity
for local skills development in terms of installation and maintenance of
Internet-connectivity equipment.
Dissemination:
We will submit to Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs International Exchange Alumni
a detailed project report, which we will also
post on the partners’ websites. In addition, there will be press releases
issued & OLPC Nepal, a submission to the OLPC News website, numerous blog
reports, and a detailed project summary that will be added to empowering Nepal
website. Case studies and
white papers will be written and presented at conferences by us.
Our first measure of success is that
Internet connectivity is established and maintained in Dhola, Dhading, Nepal.
The second measure is that capacity building will have taken place for the Nepalese
OLPC team, so that they can maintain the network/connectivity. In addition, our
goal is that connectivity be attained before the start of the 2014-2015 school
year, which starts in September. In December 2014, we will carry out an
assessment survey to gauge connectivity quality, level of Internet use (demand
for and type of use), and support and maintenance performed by the OLPC Nepal
team, and make recommendations for improvements as the project continues and
scales.
Item
Description
|
Amount
in US$
|
5GHz 100MBps Wireless Bridge
|
$1000
|
Ubiquiti NanoStation
|
$5000
|
19dBi Triband Panel
|
$5000
|
Solar PowerSetup
|
$5000
|
WiFi network design
|
$1000
|
Location capacity site survey
|
$1000
|
Travel to Nepal
|
$2000
|
WiFi Network set up and testing
|
$4000
|
TOTAL $24000
|
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