Internet without wires

African communities without access to the internet are being trained to build their own wireless networks, thanks to a project launched by the South-Africa-based NGO, the Association for Progressive Communications (APC). To date, four regional African workshops run by the The APC s Community Wireless Connectivity project have trained about 100 people and produced training materials in English and French. In most cases, internet access relies on the availability of reliable, fixed telephone lines, which can be hard to find in many parts of rural Africa. Wireless technology, which is based on using radio waves to carry data, can by-pass the fixed-line problem. It is hoped that wireless networking can provide some of the benefits to internet access that mobile phone technology gave to telephone access in Africa. Participants in the workshops learned how to configure access points, climb towers safely, calculate radio links, survey their sites, source appropriate equipment, budget for projects and secure their networks. At the first workshop, held in Mtoni, Zanzibar, trainees were able to build antennas out of recycled tin cans, and later use them to make a wireless connection to Grave island an atoll 2 km across the sea from the workshop venue. Ann Tothill PO Box 29755 Melville 2109 South Africa Fax: +27 (0)11 726 16 92 Email: aatothill@apc.org Website: www.apc.org/wirelessAfrican communities without access to the internet are being trained to build their own wireless networks, thanks to a project launched by the South-Africa-based NGO, the Association for Progressive Communications (APC)..