Zim WiFi:Project Progress

Progress January - February 2007

Project highlights

• Funding for the project was successfully secured in the last week of December 2006 from IDRC
• The process of engaging with boundary partners has created expectations within the technology community around the potential of using the ISM 2.4 GHz for first mile and first inch data connection into schools
• The school selection process has revealed a disparate and heterogeneous approach to school networking solutions and requires that instructive policy/guidelines are issued to ensure adoption of standard best practices
• The use of the ISM band in Zimbabwe is subject to regulatory capture and the project is working through partnerships to bring debate around the use of WiFi for social good cause’s in particular low cost Internet access to schools
• The working through partnerships and networks is facilitating an accelerated project build out
• HIVOS has been approached to provide co-funding for the project to facilitate expanding the initiative to an additional school

Monitoring Report: Establish collaborative arrangements with partners

• With the confirmation of IDRC funding Connect Africa, entered into MoUs with the Zimbabwe Academic Research Network (Zarnet) an Internet Service Provider in schools and with World Links Zimbabwe the school networking service provider in Zimbabwe. Both have very strong credentials in the ICT for education sector in the country and they see this wireless First mile First Inch project as complimentary to their current work. Each has expressed a desire to understand the technology/process role out for other assignments within their portfolio and have shown commitment to working on this project
• Other boundary partners that have been engaged are the Ministry of Education Sports and Culture (MoESC) through the District Education Officer (DEO) of HighGlen District, PowerTel through the Director of Operations, Postal and Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) through the Director General and Arachnid (a private sector vendor of wireless last inch gear)

= Monitoring Report: Develop a framework for school WiFi roll out

• The location for the project was selected as the Highfields suburb of Harare because it provides close proximity to infrastructure resources (Internet points of presence, regulatory observation, minimized travel costs) to successfully show case the utility of WiFi Internet Connection for schools. • There are 9 secondary schools in the district and all of them were interviewed during the selection of participating schools. This task was carried out in partnership with World Links – Zimbabwe and a questionnaire needs assessment and selection criteria were developed (see attached appendix) and two schools Kwayedza Secondary School and Mhuriimwe Secondary School identified as potential candidate schools. At the point of writing this report the schools had not yet been notified of their successful consideration because we need to have written certainty that PowerTel can successfully provide the project with low cost broad band connectivity to the location. Site survey and link budgets need to be successfully carried out by PowerTel before the decision is shared with the schools, at the risk of raising expectations. • A physical network diagram (see attached appendix) has been prepared by the project and shared with PowerTel. They have subsequently developed a preliminary proposal by indicating the availability of an alternative tower (HighGlen tower instead of the Southerton tower) and access point but will only complete a full technical proposal and cost proposal for consideration during a scheduled meeting for March 16, 2007 meeting. • The gear for the local area networking can be secured from the local vendor and the project will engage the supplier for a quotation of the radio router, USB network cards and service costs.

Output 3: Build capacity of teachers to use the setup to access the internet for communication and accessing other knowledge resources

• This initiative will be implemented subsequent to the deployment of the internet connectivity.

Output 4: Influence policy on ICT in education

• The MoESC has been brought into the initiative as a partner and because they are custodian of the education sector. This will give the project a platform to prepare and present a policy primer on options for school networking. The current ICT in Education policy is not descriptive nor detailed enough to inform any school on how they can go about securing connectivity. • POTRAZ has indicated that the use of the ISM band can proceed for the pilot phase for the two schools but they would like a proposal on what will happen after the project is demonstrated. The project will be assisting ZARNET to make a business case for using the ISM band for school connectivity post project implementation and this is an exit strategy that will sustain itself beyond the project life. • Working with PowerTel provides the project with an opportunity of using their infrastructure and getting a discounted rate for Internet connectivity. This e-rate has not yet been fully agreed upon but a model calculator will be developed to ensure schools get Internet at a fraction of the costs compared to private or public sector connectivity costs.

4.0 Challenges faced

• The process of getting the policy environment ready for the project is a slow process and requires patience and understanding. It involves negotiations, explanations and presentations. This is particularly so with reference to using the ISM band which is a regulatory mine field in that POTRAZ banned use of the 2.4 GHz for any other use apart from ISM. However the project through ZARNET has successfully engaged POTRAZ on the matter and we will lobby to secure a much more permanent arrangement on the use of the ISM band for school Internet • The resources available for the project are limited. We have approached HIVOS to co-fund part of the policy research and training in the use of the Internet in the schools.

5.0 Plan moving forward for March 07 (See appendix Work Plan for details)

1) Work with PowerTel to conclude the WiFi solution and get cost indications for the connectivity and infrastructure build out 2) Share selection decision with schools. 3) Purchase wireless LAN radio router and cards for computers.