Communications Infrastructure and Renewable Energies for Remote Areas

1
Communications Infrastructure and Renewable
Energies for Remote Areas

• Networking Africa's Future
• IDRC Acacia Conference
• Kwa Maritane, Pilanesberg, South Africa
• 13-16 April 2003
• Mike Jensen

2
Communications Infrastructure

• Narrowband systems
• -HF 2.4Kbps, range 100s to 1000s of kms
• -UHF/VHF 9.6-19.2Kbps, range 20-100kms
• - Medium bandwidth
• -GSM 9.6Kbps-gtHSCD/GPRS to 115Kbps range 35kms
  (high cost usage)
• -CorDect 70Kbps, range up to 25kms
• 'Broadband'
• WiFi/spread spectrum - 128Kbps-54Mbps, range -
  70kms line of site, more through repeaters/mesh
  networking

3

• Satellite
• Up to 155Mbps, range hemispheric or footprint
  (high equipment usage cost)

4
Mixed technologies hybrid systems

• - Satellite download (64-400kbps) with telephone
  or narrowband wireless upload (4.8-56kbps), e.g
  Sentech Worldspace
• - GSM/SMS lt-gt Email/Web
• - Mobile / roving models access on a cyber bus,
  4WD wireless drop-off
• - Radio, TV, their carrier signals

5
Renewable Energy for ICTs

• - Photovoltaic/Solar cells

6
Solar / photovoltaic details

• 6000 setup will power 8 PCs plus neon lights
• Expected 12 Year Life
• Even on-grid can make sense 3-4yr payback
  period
• User involvement in maintenance necessary
• Independent Power Producer policy assists
  sustainability - excess power sold to grid
• Support from PV cell manufacturers is limited
• Batteries and Solar cell costs could be reduced -
  cells cost 0.70/watt, sell for 3/watt
• Import duties in many countries, recently exempt
  in SACU

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Other Options

• PDA solar rechargers
• Small scale hydro pioneered in Vietnam
• Windmills
• Village biomass generators
• Diesel/petrol generators
• Human energy bicycle powered WiFi laptops,
  wind-up radio/cellphone charger
• Fuel Cells

8
Initiatives

• UNEP ICT-RESD (ICT applications of Renewable
  Energy for Sustainable Development) Task Force
• Namibia Schoolnet solar schools project
  (schoolnet.na)
• Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF.org)
• Winrock International manual (winrock.org)
• UNIDO GEF renewable energy for ICT project in
  Zambia

9

• Thank YouMike Jensenmikej_at_sn.apc.org27-83-
  541-6185
• Port St Johns
• East Cape