A+ A A-

Local Internet Co Helps Bring the Internet to Rural Africa

 
 
PolkaSpots Limited a small Wi-Fi Hotspot company based in West London, has just succeeded in helping LinkNet, a rural African Co-operative Internet Service Provider in Africa to bring the Internet to two remote villages in their rural region. Until now, these communities, whose daily lives have remained unchanged for centuries had never experienced any of the advantages of the Net that the West take for granted. They also lacked the basic support services which enable life to run smoothly - telephone lines, libraries, newspapers and roads in good condition. By contrast to Europe where 1 in 2 people have access to the Internet, in Sub-Saharan Africa only 1 in 250-400 people do.
 
By providing a sophisticated billing system PolkaSpots has enabled LinkNet to realise their dream of rolling out telecommunications, technical support and training throughout the villages of Macha and Mukinge and bringing the 21st century to villagers.
 
With the introduction of the Internet, the potential for changing people’s lives in that part of the world is enormous – the quality of education can be extended to more students and communication between parents and pupils while at boarding school has been revolutionised. It will also prevent needless journeys being made by teachers to collect salaries, not yet in the bank, from the nearest town 70km away and allow Chiefs to make better use of their time by assisting local people, as they can now e-mail communication between villages rather than make lengthy visits to them. The following two stories illustrate just how far-reaching these changes already are.
 
A local farmer, Fred Mweetwa, using the Internet independently has learned how to grow sunflower seeds which are used to make sunflower oil and he now has a flourishing business of 10 employees. In one season alone, his yield was 70 bags of 50 kilos each.
 
 Photograph taken in Zambia by Konstantine Kein - see his site here.
 
Every week, 8-year-old Merel van Stam sits in front of her computer and Yamaha keyboard and waits for her music teacher’s instructions. More than 8,000 miles away in Lakeville, Minnesota Kristin Shoemaker boots up her computer and webcam and plugs in her Yamaha keyboard. Ms. Shoemaker will teach Merel how to play basic piano chords and scales with the same clarity as if she were in her living room using video services such as YouTube to upload daily lessons, this then allows them to play piano together.
 
With continued funding, LinkNet and PolkaSpots aim to continue rolling out this technology across the region in order to benefit as many as possible.
Closer to home, PolkaSpots is working to broaden access to the Net across the UK and Europe. Alongside their successful pre-paid service, they have just launched a new low cost, fully managed, free WiFi package designed for small businesses.
 

About PolkaSpots

Started in 2005, PolkaSpots Limited is a small, privately owned Wireless Internet Service Provider based in West London. They provide businesses in the UK with fully managed Wi-Fi Hotspot solutions allowing customers to get online wirelessly at a very low cost. They also provide third party companies around Europe and rural Africa with a fully-hosted, white label billing and authentication system that enables them to roll out their own Hotspot Network with low capital outlay. 
 
Press Contact
Katie Brown: 0207 183 1471 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
 

Comments   

#2 More Info 2016-09-28 13:00
Ƭhanks for sharіng your thoughts. I гeally appreciate your efforts and I will bе waiting for your further post thank you once again.

Feᥱl free to surf to my web site ... More Info: http://www.flipflopsbuy.com
#1 Deana 2016-09-06 10:25
EᴠerytҺing is very open ԝith a really clear explanation of the chalⅼenges.
It was гeally informative. Your website is extгеmely helpful.
TҺanks for sharing!

my web-site - Swarovski iPhоne Cases - Deana: http://www.blingiphone7cases.com,

More News

Prev Next

Hits:12129

Two meetings, one voice

Two meeting…

You had to be there. North and south of the boro...

Read more

Hits:34322

New Site

New Site

We're back ;)   Read more: New Site...

Read more

Hits:12714

Corbyn Won Kensington Nomination

Corbyn Won …

On July 21st Jeremy Corbyn overwhelmingly won th...

Read more

Hits:13298

Hats-off to Micky P: Portobello Live 3rd/4th May

Hats-off to…

Reflecting on the Portobello Live Festival - by ...

Read more

Hits:16085

Portobello community stands up against plans to turn iconic area into bland shopping centre

Portobello

Hundreds of protestors, including children and p...

Read more

Hits:14174

Leon Löwentraut at the The Muse Gallery

Leon Löwent…

Never too early to become a full fledged artist ...

Read more

More News 2

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
Prev Next

Hits:15196

Greferendum: an anthology

Greferendum…

Thinking of Greece. ...

Read more

Hits:12713

Pink Cigar video release

Pink Cigar …

 Local down’n’dirty rock’n’roll outfit Pink Ciga...

Read more

Hits:16873

Gaz’s Rockin Blues 35th Anniversary Spectacular

Gaz’s Rocki…

Gaz’s Rockin Blues 35th Anniversary Spectacular ...

Read more

Hits:13833

Interactive Video Art at The Dissenters Gallery Catacombs

Interactive…

On Saturday 4 July, 11-5pm, a chance to see the ...

Read more

Hits:13112

"Exposed" a Solo Show by Louis-Nicholas Darbon

"Expos…

 Coming up Thursday- June 4th -  at the Graffik ...

Read more

Hits:13511

Mock The Opera Protest @ Holland Park

Mock The Op…

A protest is taking place tomorrow at the Hollan...

Read more

Hits:13980

Where next for Labour?

Where next …

 Labour’s defeat in the UK general election on M...

Read more

Hits:13313

Artists For Nepal – local benefit gig for Nepal

Artists For…

 Thursday May 21st at the Elgin with music, film...

Read more

Hits:13521

RED ALERT by Maximilian Wiedemann

RED ALERT b…

West Bank last exhibition at the current buildin...

Read more

PEOPLE & PLACES

Prev Next

Hits:17370

Ostuni Queen's Park by M. Kuehn

Ostuni Que…

Having recently savoured the delights of the ver...

Read more

Hits:13298

Hats-off to Micky P: Portobello Live 3rd/4th May

Hats-off t…

Reflecting on the Portobello Live Festival - by ...

Read more

Hits:14384

Canal Deli food review

Canal Deli…

Canal deli - lovely people - scrumptious food or...

Read more

Hits:13897

Why hipster incursions into the KPH might not be a bad thing.

Why hipste…

I visited the KPH on Ladbroke Grove last evening...

Read more

Hits:14456

Source Mag Christmas treats IV

Source Mag…

Fine Bone China Tableware Upcycled Vintage Ceram...

Read more

Hits:12920

Source Mag Christmas treats III

Source Mag…

One of the kind hats, flowers, decorative hand c...

Read more

Hits:12590

Source Mag Christmas treats II

Source Mag…

Have you ever thought of offering a family docum...

Read more

Hits:12438

Source Mag Christmas treats I

Source Mag…

Coalition Colouring Book by Tom Pride. ...

Read more

Hits:13441

Want to get involved with online radio?

Want to ge…

K2K Radio wants to hear from you! ...

Read more

Hits:14853

Reflection on breaking barricades

Reflection…

From protesting with Anonymous to connecting wit...

Read more

Local Events Calendar

<<  <  July 2019  >  >>
 Mo  Tu  We  Th  Fr  Sa  Su 
    

Upcoming Events

Fb

writers pic2

We're looking for writers! Join in! (scroll down the article)

Rants

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7

I don't do …

I don't do rants. But,

...it's a rant! ...

Read more

Last Night …

Last Night I Dreamt...

"I could see the body of Kim Kardashian..." ...

Read more

Portobello …

Portobello drinkers 'harassed' by children

  From our sports correspondent Dave 'the ...

Read more

Everyone’s …

Everyone’s a F*****g DJ

by Kensal Scream  At long last! Another salvo f...

Read more

Lap dogs …

Lap dogs & devil dogs - the final solution

By Kensal Scream Time for another rant by the K...

Read more

Trains and …

Trains and  lycra pants

 By Kensal Scream That Really Grinds my Gears i...

Read more

An e-mail f…

An e-mail from Billy Connolly?

We can not be sure that  it’s his but it co...

Read more

Your Experience

Popular

Error: No articles to display

review and preview

Login or Sign Up