Comments on: Theory of Change: The Village Telco http://manypossibilities.net/2008/02/village-telco/ In the beginner's mind there are... Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:41:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Mark Neville http://manypossibilities.net/2008/02/village-telco/#comment-201 Mark Neville Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:52:21 +0000 http://manypossibilities.net/2008/02/theory-of-change-the-village-telco/#comment-201 You ask about evidence that "most calls are local in Africa". I can only offer anecdotal supporting evidence from Sweden where Lars Hedberg of the Swedish Urban Network Association (www.ssnf.org) told me that when farms and rural villages are first connected to fibre networks (!) in Sweden, most of the traffic is national and international. But as the density of connections in rural area increases, then more of the traffic becomes local. Just like email is a good way to get to know your fellow cubicle workers better, so villagers do the same. And I suppose it saves going out to meet up on cold nights... In the context of village telcos, this behavior may mean that village telcos have a positive impact on social cohesion and community interaction. Were they fewer (any?) xenophobic attacks (an unfortunate South African social phenomenon) in Orange Farm where Dabba is already operating? I guess that we will find that village telcos have considerable social as well as economic benefits. You ask about evidence that “most calls are local in Africa”. I can only offer anecdotal supporting evidence from Sweden where Lars Hedberg of the Swedish Urban Network Association (www.ssnf.org) told me that when farms and rural villages are first connected to fibre networks (!) in Sweden, most of the traffic is national and international. But as the density of connections in rural area increases, then more of the traffic becomes local. Just like email is a good way to get to know your fellow cubicle workers better, so villagers do the same. And I suppose it saves going out to meet up on cold nights…

In the context of village telcos, this behavior may mean that village telcos have a positive impact on social cohesion and community interaction. Were they fewer (any?) xenophobic attacks (an unfortunate South African social phenomenon) in Orange Farm where Dabba is already operating? I guess that we will find that village telcos have considerable social as well as economic benefits.

]]> By: ip pabx http://manypossibilities.net/2008/02/village-telco/#comment-186 ip pabx Wed, 02 Jul 2008 06:04:47 +0000 http://manypossibilities.net/2008/02/theory-of-change-the-village-telco/#comment-186 You may not even need dedicated handsets if the low cost laptops are loaded with open source software. You may not even need dedicated handsets if the low cost laptops are loaded with open source software.

]]> By: Looking for Possible Village Telco Entrepreneurs in Khayalitsha at Many Possibilities http://manypossibilities.net/2008/02/village-telco/#comment-76 Looking for Possible Village Telco Entrepreneurs in Khayalitsha at Many Possibilities Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:14:04 +0000 http://manypossibilities.net/2008/02/theory-of-change-the-village-telco/#comment-76 [...] skills. However, after visiting the NGO sites, it was evident that while there was interest in the Village Telco concept, technology and entrepreneurship were not their sweet spot. They could see the value and would make [...] [...] skills. However, after visiting the NGO sites, it was evident that while there was interest in the Village Telco concept, technology and entrepreneurship were not their sweet spot. They could see the value and would make [...]

]]> By: Beer, Coffee, and a little DSP » Blog Archive » The Village Telco - VOIP over Community Wifi http://manypossibilities.net/2008/02/village-telco/#comment-68 Beer, Coffee, and a little DSP » Blog Archive » The Village Telco - VOIP over Community Wifi Sun, 06 Apr 2008 04:35:04 +0000 http://manypossibilities.net/2008/02/theory-of-change-the-village-telco/#comment-68 [...] people are planning such networks, the best description so far has been from Steve Song on his Village Telco blog post. There has also been a great ongoing discussion on the Wireless Africa group. There is even a role [...] [...] people are planning such networks, the best description so far has been from Steve Song on his Village Telco blog post. There has also been a great ongoing discussion on the Wireless Africa group. There is even a role [...]

]]> By: Village telcos | L I R N E . N E T http://manypossibilities.net/2008/02/village-telco/#comment-56 Village telcos | L I R N E . N E T Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:13:18 +0000 http://manypossibilities.net/2008/02/theory-of-change-the-village-telco/#comment-56 [...] Steve Song’s post Theory of Change: The Village Telco. See also posts on Dabba Telecom and the Dabba Open Source [...] [...] Steve Song’s post Theory of Change: The Village Telco. See also posts on Dabba Telecom and the Dabba Open Source [...]

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