Bridging the Digital Divide
As part of our mission to increase the access of internet services in rural Zimbabwe, we set up a WiFi cafe deep in the heart of Matopo in a business centre of a village called Fumugwe. The village is in a remote area without access to the national electricity grid and poor cell reception in most areas. These factors make it hard for locals to access the internet and as a result miss out on a tonne of opportunities online.
Internet access is gained through VSAT and the whole system is powered by solar.
A VSAT, or Very Small Aperture Terminal, is a two-way satellite ground station with a dish antenna that is smaller than 3.8 meters. The major advantage is the wide coverage area; VSATs can be used to provide communication services to remote areas that are not covered by traditional wired or cellular networks.
The locals then purchase tokens which allow them to log in. This development has been met with enthusiasm by the community especially the youths who have even requested the establishment of a computer club where they can learn basic computers, programming and how to use the internet to gain skills, a challenge which we have glady taken up.
Bridging the divide, one community at a time.
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