Rural connectivity in Tanzania : options and challenges
Document type: report
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Abstract:
Tanzania has progressed tremendously in terms of Internet access since 1992. Growth in the economy and increase of the users and Internet services fuel the rapid advancements of connectivity in Tanzania as well, also in rural areas. However, it is clear that mere connectivity is not as simple as ‘getting Internet’ access. There are many types of connectivity and there are various applications for that connectivity. Moreover, if an organization properly evaluates all these components before deploying a connectivity project, they may find that they can save cost by selecting an appropriate bandwidth option. Therefore development of an organizational ICT policy may sound ‘heavy’, but it forces organizations to think critically about their requirements, and helps in finding the solutions to meet those requirements. More over, there are basic tools to monitor and control use of bandwidth. These can be extremely useful when discussing the quality of services of the provider. More importantly, they can help to use bandwidth better based on pre-set policies. Lastly, if there is a problem on your network, they could help in identifying the origin of the problem and help in troubleshooting. An important principle is the ‘strength from unity’ concept. In terms of rural organizations, this could mean collective bargaining power. For example, if 20 telecentres buy their internet access individually they end up paying much more than if they purchased access collectively.
Authors:
Sheriff, S.
Series Title:
Thematic Report
Country:
Tanzania, United Republic of
Category:
Policy
Keywords:
telecommunications
Language:
eng
Organization:
IICD - International Institute for Communication and Development
PAGE:
12
Place:
The Hague
Publisher:
IICD
Year:
2007
Region:
East Africa
Right:
© 2007 IICD
Subject:
Information, Knowledge and Communication
Title:
Rural connectivity in Tanzania : options and challenges