How do we make community owned information networks work for the poor?
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2009
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Abstract
The paper highlights innovative ways of identifying and implementing pro-poor products and services and how to create business models for the ongoing sustainability of ICTs in low-income communities. A case study from Angola (AngoNet) provides lessons in developing shared cost models in telecentres in the face of exorbitantly high connectivity costs. The challenge faced by such projects is to build enough demand to make such a network financially sustainable. A new business model is emerging that can harness the expanding power of wireless networks and entrepreneurship to create community-owned networks over which a range of pro-poor services can be provided.
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Keywords
ICT FOR DEVELOPMENT, WIRELESS NETWORKS, COMMUNITY-OWNED NETWORKS, VOICE-OVER-INTERNET-PROTOCOL (VOIP), SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, BUSINESS MODELS, ENTREPRENEURS, WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY