Viability of using Broadband over Power Lines to provide Broadband Internet to rural schools

Abstract

The Uganda Vision 2040 identifies Information and Communications Technology (ICT) as a tool to spur Uganda’s transformation into a modern and prosperous country. According to NDP III, ICT services across the country are still low due to limited ICT infrastructure footprint and high cost of services. The limited infrastructure footprint is mainly in the last mile section in rural areas. ICT services need to penetrate both urban and rural communities to a level where every citizen anywhere in the country can access them reliably. The last mile section is the most expensive part of an ICT network, therefore having a cheap last mile solution makes roll-out of infrastructure easier and cost of services to end users cheaper. Last mile connectivity through use of Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) technology to every home, takes the ICT transformation to every family, urban or rural. Although electricity has not yet reached every home in Uganda it still has penetrated communities more than fixed Internet infrastructure. This research proposes the use of BPL to provide cheap last mile connectivity to rural areas with special emphasis on rural schools. The low Internet penetration level in Uganda’s rural schools denies many learners access to digital educational opportunities and educational resources. This low Internet penetration means that learners and teachers in most of these schools will not be able to access and use the available online digital educational resources to enhance teaching and learning processes. This has led to digital exclusion in the rural learning environment. BPL is a method of power line communication that allows high-speed data transmission over the public electric power distribution wiring without addition of new cables. BPL can deliver voice, data and video services to many areas that conventional ICT infrastructure cannot reach due to both physical and economic constraints. The advantages of using BPL are wide coverage and cost. However, despite the benefits of using BPL, there are certain challenges like signal attenuation, bit errors due to impulsive noise and interference caused by BPL to wireless users in the 2 MHz to 30 MHz bands. This research was done in Nakaseke District. It characterized impulsive noise in indoor BPL circuits in selected rural schools, developed an attenuation profile of BPL circuits on low voltage grids connecting selected rural schools and came up with a model to guide on deployment of last mile technologies in rural areas. The research concluded that BPL is a viable option for last mile Internet connectivity to schools under certain conditions.