Enabling ICT development with low cost high capacity wireless networks in remote and underdeveloped locations an application to public finance management in Comoros Islands

Abstract

The 'Union of the Comoros' is a volcanic archipelago nation in the Indian Ocean, consisting of three islands. About half the population lives below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day. The interiors of the islands vary from steep mountains to low hills with mostly damaged or unconstructed roads to interconnect the several islets. This situation represents an extraordinary field test: the geographical isolation from other Countries, among the islands and within the same island, the development level of the population and the lack of infrastructures can be efficiently mitigated if a high capacity ICT infrastructure is realized, in order to provide social services (distance learning, telemedicine, financial administration) to the population, together with the possibility to access basic information on the Internet. In this context, we have put into practice a wireless network based on the use of low cost components, optimized for the transportation of large amount of bandwidths (minimum measured throughput is 65 Mb/s). The infrastructure has been made available at no cost for the people, since an extremely small percentage of them can afford regular Internet subscriptions. The network provides interconnectivity among the islets and local Hot Spot facilities at the islet level, free of cost for the end users. The local population has been recruited during the design and installation phase, in order to develop sufficient know how that allows them to maintain and even extend the infrastructure after its completion. Accessibility is guaranteed over the whole Country. To this aim, technical tests have been made in order to verify the affordability and reliability of the solution in the medium and long terms. The project is now being used to vehicle public finance management among the multitude of islets of the islands, under the endorsement of the World Bank.