Portuguese project connects citizens in Mocuba and Alto Molocue

During a five week long journey, AICOS’ researchers Waldir Moreira, André Pereira, Eduardo Pereira and Carlos Resende followed up on the effort to promote universal access to broadband communications and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Thanks to their work, both in Mocuba and Alto Molocue, there are now hundreds of people with access to free internet.

Within the SV4D project, the team deployed a collection of hardware and software tailored to answer the needs of these undeserved communities, by adapting existing technology to connect citizens, reducing deployment costs through flexible and interoperable integration into existing networks, and using a framework that simulates permanent connectivity, allowing the exchange of data between mobile devices until the information reaches a connected area where it can be forwarded to the desired destination.

In Mocuba, there is now internet access at the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry Engineering of the Zambeze University, the local High School, the District Hospital, the Agrarian Institute, as well as District and Municipal buildings. In Alto Molocue there were also a number of places where citizens are now connected, namely, the Pista Nova High School, the Teacher Training Institute, the local market and the Municipal Council building.

The team also took the opportunity to meet with local government, having met with the President of the Municipality of Mocuba, Beatriz Ferreira Gulamo, to present the project and its objectives.

The purpose of the SV4D project is to promote broadband Internet services and access to ICT, as well as digital inclusion. Besides allowing locals to explore the digital world, this project aims to provide sustainable access to internet users by introducing new business models that promote the improvement of new economic opportunities based on ICT.

Coordinated by Fraunhofer AICOS, this project has the support of FSAU, Fundo do Serviço de Acesso Universal from INCM, Instituto Nacional das Comunicações de Moçambique, and ARCTEL-CPLP, Associação de Reguladores de Comunicações e Telecomunicações da Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa.