Difference between revisions of "IMAGINE Africa"

Revision as of 16:43, 28 April 2008

IMAGINE Africa is a project of the University of Michigan Dept. of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences

Introduction

History has shown that access to the internet advances many facets of life including education, economic growth, and health care. Currently, only approximately 20 percent of the world population has access to the internet, which is mainly focused in North America, Australia, and Europe. More specifically, Africa being the most unconnected continent in the world has only 5 percent of its population utilizing the internet, whereas 70 percent of the population uses the internet in North America. It is predicted that these unconnected areas of the world will soon be serviced via land lines in the coming decades. However, no short term solution to this problem currently exists.

Students from the Space Systems Engineering program at the University of Michigan have worked on designing a low-cost system for internet connectivity in developing countries. The project is their proposed solution to delivering such capabilities to the rural populations of Africa. In addition, upcoming technologies are discussed that will impact similar missions in the future.

Participants

• Prof. Thomas Zurbuchen
• Joan Ervin
• Kelly Moran
• Drew Heckathorn

Video

• Google Tech Talk presentation - April 22 2008

Summary

• The project involves three phases:

1. lease access from INTELSAT - design and test stations and system
2. launch a dedicated satellite - a simplified version of IPSTAR would take 2 years
3. launch a 2nd satellite to complete coverage

• A total of 41,600 base stations envisaged - 256k/512k connections - mostly solar powered

• Backbone connectivity would be via relay stations in mainland Europe

• Total cost ~$550m

• It's estimated that each base station would serve 150 individuals.

• System as a whole would serve about 6m people when complete at cost of under $100 per person.

• Set up of base stations would not require technical expertise.

Mailing list

A mailing list has been formed expressly as a forum for ISOC members and the project's participants. Please feel free to join and ask any questions, share any experience or other information. http://lists.isoc-ny.org/listinfo.cgi/imagine_africa-isoc-ny.org