Community Wireless Resource Centre (CWRC) Being installed in Uganda
In July 2007, community wireless networks were implemented at telecentres in Lira and Nabweru by the Community Wireless Resource Centre (CWRC).
The CWRC team included CWRC staff and four electrical engineering students who are doing industrial training under CWRC. This intervention arose out of :
- the need to reduce the high cost of internet connectivity at IDRC-supported telecentres in Uganda,
- to explore optimal connectivity models such as sharing the existing bandwidth with neighboring institutions via outdoor wireless networks
- to provide internet access to these partners without need for heavy initial investments in satellite hardware and subscriptions.
It is anticipated that these networks will enhance sustainability of internet access at these telecentres.
In Lira, a total of three partners have been connected to the telecentre wirelessly and can now access the internet at their premises.
In Nabweru, a total of three partners have also been connected.
The CWRC team now heads to Kabale to implement similar wireless networks in Kabale town and Kachwekano (which is located approximately 8 km from Kabale town).
The design of these networks considers the telecentre to be the hub of the network where all other sites are connected. In cases where line of sight links to the telecentre are not possible, connection between the hub and the partner site is accomplished via a repeater. Therefore, in this arrangement, the telecentre acts as a wireless internet access point to its partners.
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