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. This presentation focuses on 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.

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.

Speaker: Prof. Thomas Zurbuchen
University of Michigan Dept. of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences
Associate Professor
Director, College of Engineering Center for Entrepreneurial Programs
Ph.D., M.S., University of Bern