Nepal wireless networking project
Encyclopedia
Nepal Wireless Networking Project (NWNP) is a social enterprise
that provides Internet access, electronic commerce, education, telemedicine and other services to a number of remote villages in Nepal
, using wireless technologies. The project was created and is led by Mahabir Pun
, who has received international recognition including the Magsaysay Award for his work in this field.
-based wireless connectivity was established between Nangi and a neighbouring village, Ramche. After five years, the team succeeded in connecting Nangi to Pokhara
, the closest city with Internet access.
Numerous institutions and technology firms provided support for the project, including the Donald Strauss Foundation, the International Center for Applied Studies in Information Technology at George Mason University
, the World Bank
, the International Telecommunication Union
(ITU), smartBridges, Pacific Wireless and others. Besides the international support, local institutions including the E-Networking Research and Development, Gandaki
College of Engineering and Sciences and Prime College also contributed to the project.
By 2008, forty-two villages in Myagdi, Kaski, Parbat, Makawanpur, Dolakha, Palpa
, Bajhang and Khumbu
region had acquired Internet access through the project. At that time, nineteen further villages in Rasuwa, Nuwakot
, Gorakha, Tanahu
, Myagdi and Baglung
districts were also anticipating Internet access.
technology, many villages within the project region have been connected to the Public-switched Telephone Network (PSTN). Previously, most of them did not have telephone access. The communications centers in these villages now provide call services, Internet access, and video conferencing facilities. These centers are also capable of providing photocopying, document processing and photography services.
The project is also working together with the Open Learning Exchange, Nepal Research and Education Network http://www.nren.net.np, a non-governmental organization
, to develop interactive educational materials based on government curricula. While live distance education
programs have been tested, due to poor video quality, the project is seeking technical assistance to make the system functional. This is required to address the problem of providing education and training in remote areas of Nepal.
In 2007, with the help of student volunteers of Gandaki College of Engineering and Sciences of Pokhara, the project launched a Web site for local electronic commerce. This Web site is used to trade supplies such as grain, poultry, and cattle. Virtual credit card
transaction was also being tested in 2008.
Social enterprise
A social enterprise is an organization that applies business strategies to achieving philanthropic goals. Social enterprises can be structured as a for-profit or non-profit....
that provides Internet access, electronic commerce, education, telemedicine and other services to a number of remote villages in Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, using wireless technologies. The project was created and is led by Mahabir Pun
Mahabir Pun
Mahabir Pun is a Nepalese teacher known for his extensive work in applying wireless technologies to develop remote areas of the Himalayas, also known as the Nepal Wireless Networking Project....
, who has received international recognition including the Magsaysay Award for his work in this field.
Development of the wireless network infrastructure
Himanchal High School, founded in 1993, is located in Nangi, a mountain village in western Nepal. In 1996, Mahabir Pun started using the school's Web site to attract volunteers and collect materials for the school. After requesting assistance from the BBC, Pun attracted volunteers and computer equipment donations from around the world. Pun used two small hydro-generators installed in nearby streams to power computers which had been donated by people in Australia, Singapore and Malaysia. In 2002, Wi-FiWi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
-based wireless connectivity was established between Nangi and a neighbouring village, Ramche. After five years, the team succeeded in connecting Nangi to Pokhara
Pokhara
Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City is the second largest city of Nepal. Pokhara is city of close to 350,000 inhabitants in central Nepal located at 28.25°N, 83.99°E, which is the centre of the country from east to west or from north to south, 198 km west of Kathmandu or 90 km west of Mugling, and...
, the closest city with Internet access.
Numerous institutions and technology firms provided support for the project, including the Donald Strauss Foundation, the International Center for Applied Studies in Information Technology at George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
, the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
, the International Telecommunication Union
International Telecommunication Union
The International Telecommunication Union is the specialized agency of the United Nations which is responsible for information and communication technologies...
(ITU), smartBridges, Pacific Wireless and others. Besides the international support, local institutions including the E-Networking Research and Development, Gandaki
Gandaki Zone
The Gandaki zone that make up the Gandaki River. Pokhara serves as its regional and zonal capital. It is also the birthplace of Bhanubhakta Acharya, first poet of Nepal.The Gandaki zone is home to multiple cultures which are unique in themselves...
College of Engineering and Sciences and Prime College also contributed to the project.
By 2008, forty-two villages in Myagdi, Kaski, Parbat, Makawanpur, Dolakha, Palpa
Palpa
Palpa may refer to:In Peru:*Palpa, Peru, near the Nazca Lines*Palpa Province, in the Ica RegionIn Nepal:*Palpa District, a district of Nepal in the Lumbini Zone*Palpa language...
, Bajhang and Khumbu
Khumbu
Khumbu is located in northeastern Nepal on the Nepalese side of Mount Everest. It is part of the Solukhumbu District, which in turn is part of the Sagarmatha Zone. Khumbu is one of three subregions of the main Khambu and Sherpa settlement of the Himalaya, the other two being Solu and Pharak...
region had acquired Internet access through the project. At that time, nineteen further villages in Rasuwa, Nuwakot
Nuwakot
Nuwakot is a village in Nuwakot district of central Nepal. It is the most central settlement in the entire country. Located just 75 km from Kathmandu, this historic town was once the capital of the Valley in the days before the unification of Nepal....
, Gorakha, Tanahu
Tanahu District
Tanahun District of 315,237. Previously the town of Bandipur was its district headquarters.-Coordinates & Location type:*Latitude: 27.91667*Longitude:84.25*Latitude :27° 55' 0 N*Longitude :84° 15' 0 E-Village Development Committees :...
, Myagdi and Baglung
Baglung
Baglung, is a town in western Nepal, 275 km west of Kathmandu. It is the administrative headquarters of Baglung District and Dhawalagiri Zone. Baglung is a major business, financial, educational, and healthcare center for the people of Kali Gandaki valley....
districts were also anticipating Internet access.
Services
NWNP provides communications, education, electronic commerce, and telemedicine services as well as job opportunities.Communications
Using Wi-FiWi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
technology, many villages within the project region have been connected to the Public-switched Telephone Network (PSTN). Previously, most of them did not have telephone access. The communications centers in these villages now provide call services, Internet access, and video conferencing facilities. These centers are also capable of providing photocopying, document processing and photography services.
Distance Education
High school students began using the Internet for educational purposes, and using e-mail to communicate with fellow students abroad.The project is also working together with the Open Learning Exchange, Nepal Research and Education Network http://www.nren.net.np, a non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
, to develop interactive educational materials based on government curricula. While live distance education
Distance education
Distance education or distance learning is a field of education that focuses on teaching methods and technology with the aim of delivering teaching, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional educational setting such as a classroom...
programs have been tested, due to poor video quality, the project is seeking technical assistance to make the system functional. This is required to address the problem of providing education and training in remote areas of Nepal.
Telemedicine
Three villages, Nangi, Ramche and Tikot, are connected to the city hospital in Pokhara. In order to treat patients, health workers in these villages use video-conferencing facilities to share information with the doctors in the city hospital. The project also helped to launch a telemedicine service between Kathmandu Model Hospital and Dolakha General Hospital, and plans to expand services in the rural areas of Makawanpur.E-Commerce
Since the inception of the wireless network, yak farmers have been using it to buy and sell livestock as well as exchange veterinary tips.In 2007, with the help of student volunteers of Gandaki College of Engineering and Sciences of Pokhara, the project launched a Web site for local electronic commerce. This Web site is used to trade supplies such as grain, poultry, and cattle. Virtual credit card
Credit card
A credit card is a small plastic card issued to users as a system of payment. It allows its holder to buy goods and services based on the holder's promise to pay for these goods and services...
transaction was also being tested in 2008.
Economic Ventures
The project also provides a plant nursery, a carpentry facility, paper-making and sewing machine workshops, a camping ground for trekkers, a fish farm and a yak farm to support the local economy and provide employment.Future and long term goals
The future and long term goals of NWNP include :- acquiring additional resources to improve and extend distance education and telemedicine programs
- running electronic commerce training programs in the villages
- improving the quality of Internet connectivity
- extending the existing network and services
- starting remittance and credit card transactions in the villages and tourist towns
- organizing training programs to help others replicate the network in other parts of the country
- developing a formal Web application dedicated to telemedicine
- adding redundancy and backup to existing network services
- developing a limited liability company with multiple stakeholders.