MIT Solve

Solution Overview

Solution Name:

LAST MILE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY

One-line solution summary:

Provide Internet access points to communities through local schools,churches and hospitals.To create and support local community hubs.

Pitch your solution.

Poor or lack of Internet access, Unreliable connectivity and lack of community infrastructures has jeopardized adoption of internet usage within our communities. The proposed solution is to convert nearest community common infrastructures l into Internet access point to provide point to multi point connection and community hotspot technology services where we shall provide unlimited,GB and Mbps bundles to communities cheaply, reliably and affordably.The solution will address ;-Provision of internet connectivity to communities which will significantly improve service delivery and support the youth to develop gainful ventures through participation in Innovation hub activities and the national programmes. To support community internet network because broadband has not reached most parts of rural Kenya while Last mile connectivity is still a challenge. Our solution is the panacea to internet access solutions and conversion of schools into hotspots and establishments of community technology hubs on a 5G platform operating on IPV6 addressing smart village.

Film your elevator pitch.

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What specific problem are you solving?

Kenya has made tremendous strides in promoting the uptake of ICT services. Nevertheless, the digital divide must be addressed if all Kenyans are to participate actively in the knowledge economy. In some parts of the country, people still have to walk more than 2 kilometers to access internet services which is still a mirage in many parts of Kenya. The access gaps research (2016) indicates that there are more than 580 sub-locations with less than 50% Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) population coverage of which 164 had no mobile signal at all. On the other hand, there were 2,221 sublocations with less than 50% 3G-population coverage of which 1,221 have no access to 3G services at all. There is low geographical coverage of broadband services; for example, 50% of locations have no 3G services; further, 83% of the land mass lacks broadband services coverage.In addition, fiber optic cables only cover 60,000 km (17% land coverage).Clearly, the challenge of bridging the digital divide is huge and requires concerted effort by all stakeholders so that the dream to provide internet connectivity to communities as last mile solutions can be realized.

What is your solution?

Provide last mile internet connectivity and community hotspot of which we will convert our local schools, churches and social amenities into hotspots and internet access points. Thereafter use them as a launching pad to reach individual household with unlimited bandwidth connectivity for household and commercial use at their convenient. The Innovation is based on Hotspot technology operating on KA application on 5G platform embedded in IPV6 Compliant.

Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?

Target population include Individual Internet users, Learning Institutions,Pupils,Youth,less priviledged,women, ovff shore companies,government,communities,NGOs,companies,corporate entities and any Internet users.Currently some of the users may not operate felly due to lack of Internet access more so in remote areas where there is no felt presence of the mainstream service providers or where landscape topology maybe a challenge.

To understand their felt needs, I usually refer to the reports regarding the same from ICT Authority of Kenya where a lot is shared. So far, I have approached some and I have equipment for test while giving access to my already established infrastructure to test.The solution will provide several products to users including services currently not being offered by the service providers like unlimited/dedicated Internet connection and GB bundles packages. There will be no cabling since the technology is wireless and it will be the cheapest compared to the current service providers.

Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?

Provide low-income, remote, and refugee communities access to digital infrastructure and safe, affordable internet.

Explain how the problem you are addressing, the solution you have designed, and the population you are serving align with the Challenge.

Lack of internet access point and minimal broadband uptake within communities has widened the gap of digital divide in Kenya and other African Countries. The solution we offer is to provide cheap and affordable satellite enabled infrastructures through common facilities within the societies so that users can directly tap from the resource and use at their convenient on unlimited and dedicated platforms.It will equip everyone, regardless of age, gender, education, location, or ability, with culturally relevant digital literacy skills to enable participation in the digital economy.Scale safe and private digital identity and financial tools to allow people and small businesses to thrive in the digital economy.Provide low-income, remote, and refugee communities access to digital infrastructure and safe, affordable internet.

In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?

Nairobi, Kenya

What is your solution’s stage of development?

Growth: An organization with an established product, service, or business model rolled out in one or, ideally, several communities, which is poised for further growth.

Explain why you selected this stage of development for your solution.

So far,I have activated four access points one in South Sudan,two within JKUAT and the latest at Ngong town in Kenya.I have developed ready products for the market like Unlimited bandwidth,GB Capped and Mbps services for both home use and business usage.I have mage arrangements with county governments and soon I will roll more access points through their infrustructures.

Who is the Team Lead for your solution?

(Dr) HAROLD OMONDI OMOLLO/CEO AND THE FOUNDER