TV White Spaces: solution for wireless broadband

access in Rwanda

Alejandra Penilla Juan Roldan

Tyler Samuelson

Technology and International DevelopmentFall 2013

What is TVWS?

TVWS and wireless broadband

Current Deployments of TVWS

South Africa

http://www.tenet.ac.za/tvws/recommendations-and-learnings-from-the-cape-town-tv-white-spaces-trial

4Afrika Initiative

The 4Afrika Initiative focuses on three critical areas of development for the continent:

- World-class skills

- Access

- Innovation

Source: http://www.microsoft.com/africa/4afrika December, 2013

Mawingu - TVWS Pilot Project in Kenya

• Support: Kenya Ministry of Information and Communications and Indigo Telecom Ltd

• Objective: Deliver low-cost, high-speed wireless broadband to rural areas

• Benefits: Create new opportunities for commerce, education, health care, and delivery of government services across Kenya.

• Technology: Solar-powered based stations together with TV white spaces technology

Source: http://www.microsoft.com/africa/4afrika December, 2013

Proposed deployment for Rwanda

Kigali

Byumba

Gitarama SEACOM

Rwanda: ICT Services and Applications

http://one.laptop.org/stories/rwanda-transforming-society-through-education

One Laptop Per Child

ICT and Education

● Over 100,000 OLPC XO Laptops have been distributed

● Almost 40% of primary schools have some level of computer infrastructure

● Only 6.17% of primary schools have internet access

- Spectrum licensed or unlicensed- Primary secondary sharing with TV services

- Exclusive spectrum rights for TVWS- What about neighbor countries?- Deployment considerations?

Policy and regulation… final coments

Q & A...

Thank you!