Telecommunication networks and services for rural application in Africa

This paper investigates the telecommunication networks and services which countries in Africa can assimilate in order to disseminate information to the rural population. The most efficient and cost effective networks are those using flexible radio links and in this paper they are given more emphasis. In this survey terrestrial radio systems including point-to-point, point-to-multipoint and multiaccess technologies are investigated. The use of mobile communication techniques and equipment for fixed services is considered and the network options offered by satellite links are also presented. Such networks can provide the traditional services of telephony, telegraphy, telex and data dissemination but due to the unique educational needs of the rural population audio-visual services, using the same networks are recommended for spreading news and information for tele-education, entertainment and advertising.