Providing connectivity to around half of the world population living in rural or underprivileged areas is a tremendous challenge, but, at the same time, a unique opportunity. Access to the Internet would provide the population living in these areas a possibility to progress on the educational, health, environment, and business levels. In this article, a survey of technologies for providing connectivity to rural areas, which can help address this challenge, is provided. Although access/fronthaul and backhaul techniques are discussed in this article, it is noted that the major limitation for providing connectivity to rural and underprivileged areas is the cost of backhaul deployment. In addition, energy requirements and cost-efficiency of the studied technologies are analyzed. In fact, the challenges faced for deploying an electricity network, as a prerequisite for deploying communication networks, are huge in these areas, and they are granted an important share of the discussions in this article. Furthermore, typical application scenarios in rural areas are discussed, and several country-specific use cases are surveyed. The main initiatives by key international players aiming to provide rural connectivity are also described. Moreover, directions for the future evolution of rural connectivity are outlined in this article. Although there is no single solution that can solve all rural connectivity problems, building gradually on the current achievements in order to reach ubiquitous connectivity, while taking into account the particularities of each region and tailoring the solution accordingly, seems to be the most suitable path to follow.

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A Key 6G Challenge and Opportunity—Connecting the Base of the Pyramid: A Survey on Rural Connectivity

Providing connectivity to around half of the World population living in rural or underprivileged areas is a tremendous challenge, but also a unique opportunity. In this paper, a survey of technologies for providing connectivity to rural areas, and that can help address this challenge, is provided. Fronthaul and backhaul techniques are discussed. In addition, energy and cost efficiency of the studied technologies are analyzed. Typical application scenarios in rural areas are discussed, and several country-specific use cases are surveyed. Directions for future evolution of rural connectivity are outlined.

/pdf/a-key-6g-challenge-and-opportunity-connecting-the-remaining-4txiuvuaek.pdf

A Key 6G Challenge and Opportunity - Connecting the Remaining 4 Billions: A Survey on Rural Connectivity

Ubiquitous Multimedia and Mobile Agents: Models and Implementations

In this article we introduce a novel solution called SuperCell, which can improve the return on investment (ROI) for rural area network coverage. SuperCell offers two key technical features: it uses tall towers with high-gain antennas for wide coverage and high-order sectorization for high capacity. We show that a solution encompassing a high-elevation platform in excess of 200 meters increases coverage by 5x. Combined with dense frequency reuse by using as many as 36 azimuthal sectors from a single location, our solution can adequately serve the rural coverage and capacity demands. We validate this through propagation analysis, modeling, and experiments. The article gives a design perspective using different classes of antennas: Luneburg lens, active/passive phased array, and spatial multiplexing solutions. For each class, the corresponding analytical model of the resulting signal-to-interference plus noise ratio (SINR) based range and capacity prediction is presented. The spatial multiplexing solution is also validated through field measurements and additional 3D ray-tracing simulation. Finally, in this article we also shed light on two recent SuperCell field trials performed using a Luneburg lens antenna system. The trials took place in rural New Mexico and Mississippi. In the trials, we quantified the coverage and capacity of SuperCell in barren land and in a densely forested location, respectively. In the article, we demonstrate the results obtained in the trials and share the lessons learned regarding green-field and brown-field deployments.

SuperCell: A Wide-Area Coverage Solution Using High-Gain, High-Order Sectorized Antennas on Tall Towers.

Reducing the neurotrauma burden in India- a national mobilization.

Considerable efforts over the last decade to provide Internet connectivity in rural India have yielded poor results. However, the success of mobile telephony in rural India in recent years offers hope.

Connecting the Next Billion: Empowering Rural India

This chapter discusses some attempts over the last decade in using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to empower rural communities and those who are socially and economically left behind in India. It begins with discussing the drivers of telecommunication growth in India since the mid-nineties. Then, it addresses the role of the village Internet kiosks in bringing the Internet to remote villages and articulates on the challenges facing the kiosk model. It then touches upon the rapid growth of mobile telephony in rural India. Following this, it discusses a number of attempts that use mobile telephony to empower rural communities. The authors also use multiple case studies to explore the role of ICT in supporting agriculture, delivering healthcare, achieving financial inclusion and improving the overall livelihood of rural communities in India. The key lessons learned include that the “one-size fits all” model does not work for all communities. In addition, involving both local and federal governments is crucial for the success of community-focused initiatives. Moreover, engaging communities and educating them about the benefits of delivered services would help in sustaining such community-focused initiatives.

The Role of ICT in Empowering Rural Indians

Early diagnosis, prompt medical care and stringent treatment adherence to the recommended treatment protocol are the three pillars of effectively managing chronic health conditions of public health importance. Complete treatment adherence is necessary for better health outcomes and it is often challenged due to myriad of factors. An innovative and inexpensive mHealth solution aimed at positively influencing treatment adherence by delivering customized services in local language has been developed. Furthermore, this solution is mobile device, internet and connectivity independent. This mHealth solution has been implemented among a group of Tuberculosis (TB) patients in South India. TB, a chronic disease with India contributing to twenty percentage of the global deaths, presents a strong case to demonstrate the applicability and usability of the discussed mHealth solution. This paper describes the solution and its implementation outcomes.

Leveraging mobile phones for facilitating treatment adherence among patients with chronic health conditions: Implementation results with tuberculosis as case study

National Rural Employment Guarantee Act is a scheme formulated by the Government of India for the uplifting of the poorest of the poor in rural India. It has been implemented in all the states of India. The effectiveness of any scheme, especially one aimed at rural empowerment, can be measured only by studying the impact it has made in changing the lives of the beneficiaries. RTBI had evaluated the impact of NREGA in Tamilnadu by conducting a study. For this study, RTBI used a mobile phone based data gathering system instead of the regular paper based process. This paper will discuss how the questionnaire was developed, the data gathering method and the use of mobile phones as a reliable tool for conducting surveys.

Janani Rangarajan

Papers

Connecting the Next Billion: Empowering Rural India

The Role of ICT in Empowering Rural Indians

Leveraging mobile phones for facilitating treatment adherence among patients with chronic health conditions: Implementation results with tuberculosis as case study

Evaluating National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in India: A Dynamic Rural Survey Method Using Mobile Phones