Towards low-cost community networks in rural communities : the impact of context using the case study of Beitbridge, Zimbabwe

dc.contributor.authorGwaka, Leon Tinashe
dc.contributor.authorMay, Julian
dc.contributor.authorTucker, William
dc.date.accessioned2018-09-12T09:22:01Z
dc.date.available2018-09-12T09:22:01Z
dc.date.issued2018-05
dc.descriptionThis work was supported by the Makerere University School of Public Health's ResilientAfrica Network (RAN) and Partners. The primary data collection was made possible by the generous support of the American people, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)—(project ID AID‐OAA‐A‐13‐00018).en_ZA
dc.description.abstractMost rural communities in developing countries such as Zimbabwe are underserved and/or unserved with regard to telecommunication connectivity. Governments in developing countries are also under‐resourced to provide adequate digital infrastructure. Thus, community networks are increasingly seen as viable alternatives to bridge the infrastructure gap in Africa. However, new infrastructure interventions in developing countries face many challenges including complex interventions stemming from complex policies inserted into complex sociopolitical environments. The success of community networks in other African countries prompts this investigation into the potential of transferring the community network approach to Zimbabwe. The objective of this article is to frame how context impacts development of digital infrastructure. Zimbabwe's telecommunication regulatory framework is on the verge of countenancing the development of community networks, and for this reason, there is need for research to inform would‐be investors, policy makers, and other stakeholders such as academia, NGOs, and communities themselves, on how the sociopolitical and economic environment impact these efforts. This is important because successful deployment of a community network may result in improved community development, eg, in food security, health, and education.en_ZA
dc.description.departmentSchool of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH)en_ZA
dc.description.librarianam2018en_ZA
dc.description.sponsorshipUnited States Agency for International Development (USAID), Grant/Award Number: ID AID‐OAA‐A‐13‐00018en_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/isd2en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationGwaka LT, May J, Tucker W. Towards low‐cost community networks in rural communities: The impact of context using the case study of Beitbridge, Zimbabwe. E J Info Sys Dev Countries. 2018;84:e12029. https://DOI.org/10.1002/isd2.12029.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1681-4835 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1002/isd2.12029
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/66542
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherWileyen_ZA
dc.rights© 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.en_ZA
dc.subjectCommunity networksen_ZA
dc.subjectDigital infrastructureen_ZA
dc.subjectinformation and communication for development (ICT4D)en_ZA
dc.subjectZimbabween_ZA
dc.titleTowards low-cost community networks in rural communities : the impact of context using the case study of Beitbridge, Zimbabween_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA

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