Community-based solar power revenue alternative to improve sustainability of a rural wireless mesh network
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Date
2013Author
Rey-Moreno, Carlos
Roro, Zukile
Tucker, William David
Siya, Masbulele Jay
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Given the needs for a clean and easy way to maintain and secure powering wireless networks in rural areas and to gen- erate revenue to guarantee the sustainability of its intended goals, an innovative approach to leverage solar power to ad- dress both needs is presented herein. Results comprise em- powered locals trained to ensure local maintenance and ap- propriation; local usage and maintenance data; and a cost- ing of the solution and its maintenance after 10 months of operation. It is shown that the solution presented can be lo- cally maintained and could provide enough revenue for the wireless network to continue providing its intended goals.