iSchools unfazed despite lack of Internet access

One of the major hurdles faced by the iSchools program in its first three years of implementation is the dearth of reliable Internet connections. A flagship project of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT), the program’s mandate is to provide computer laboratories and Internet connectivity to 1,000 public high schools, including those in far-flung areas with weak cellphone signals. In 2005 and 2006, 20 percent of the computer labs iSchools put up were unconnected to the Internet because these were in far-flung areas where even a decent cellphone signal was hard to come by. The rate increased as the project ventured into more inaccessible areas. Of the 320 schools equipped with laboratories in 2007, approximately half are not connected to the Internet. A major reason given for lack of connectivity is geographic location – the schools are situated in areas beyond or barely within the reach of mobile broadband providers. The difficulties experienced by iSchools in connecting their partner schools’ computer labs reflect the overall state of Internet access in the country. The Global Information Technology Report for 2009-20101 ranked the Philippines 85th out of 133 countries, in terms of bandwidth availability – estimated at 1.1 megabytes per second for every 10,000 individuals. And while the Yahoo-Nielsen Net Index 2010 declares that approximately 30 million Filipinos are online, respondents were limited to residents of 22 major cities. The study also notes that 69 percent of Internet users access the web through net cafes. Partner schools have taken the initiative of assessing alternative means of Internet connectivity. Upon noticing significant improvements in signal strength from either Globe or Smart mobile broadband, some schools have suggested shifting to the provider with a stronger signal. Others have looked into the possibility of employing fixed line DSL connections instead of wireless broadband. Another viable, albeit more expensive, solution is satellite broadband, which is similar to wireless broadband. However, instead of transmitting data via transmitters in a cellular network, satellite broadband requires locations to be within a clear line of sight of an orbiting satellite. Since satellites have a wider range — with proper conditions, signals can be delivered to virtually any point in the planet — satellite broadband makes Internet accessible even in remote areas. iSchools’ goal of connecting public high schools and transforming their computer labs into community hubs is a small step towards providing universal access of information and communications technology (ICT) and the subsequent economic benefits of a connected society. A study published by the World Bank in January 2010 shows that every ten percent increase in broadband penetration in low- and middle-income countries accelerates economic growth by 1.38 percent. — Newsbytes.ph