Everest Community Network Blog
In
order to develop and provide Khumjung Secondary School and Club with
Internet access, as well as to promote ecotourism, which is the best new
development to preserve an area's physical and cultural environment, Nepal
Internet Foundation established the Everest Community Network in Khunde and
Khumjung village. Our country and Nepal's alpine regions have grown in
prominence as tourist destinations since Sir Edmund Hillary completed the first
ascent of Mount Everest on May 29, 1953, and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa is crucial
for drawing visitors to Nepal.
Despite
the area's widespread popularity, places like Kunde and Khumjung are obscure
and less well known. During our visit, we discovered that Khunde and Khumjung
do not currently have access to the Internet. Even while there are computer
labs, they are useless because students, who will make up tomorrow's workforce,
do not have access to Internet services. The Nepal Internet Foundation's
mission is to provide speedy Internet connection for health and education
services while also sharing the history and experiences of the Sherpa people
and community.
Khumjung Secondary School:
The
school and the method education is given have been significantly impacted by
the internet. It has made it possible for schools to connect with a worldwide
community of learners and has supplied a variety of information and
technologies that can be used to improve teaching and learning. Access to a
wide range of educational resources is one of the primary ways that the
internet has benefited educational institutions. Educational websites like
Wikipedia and Encyclopedia Britannica offer access to trustworthy and current
material on a variety of topics, and online platforms like Khan Academy and
Courser offer thousands of free courses and classes on a wide range of
disciplines.
The
internet has also enabled schools to connect with a large community of learners
worldwide in addition to these resources. Students can interact with classmates
from around the globe using online networks and platforms to work on projects
together, share ideas, and gain from one another. Students in remote locations
like Khumjung, who might not have access to the same degree of resources as
their peers in more urban or wealthier places, may find this to be of particular
value. Looking ahead, it seems obvious that the internet will keep playing a
significant role in education. Schools will be able to benefit from fresh and
inventive approaches to teaching and learning as technology develops and more
resources become accessible online. The use of educational software and apps
will probably continue to increase, and online learning platforms and virtual
classrooms will probably become more commonplace. In conclusion, the internet
already has a significant impact on education, and this impact will only
increase in the future.
Khunde Community Network
and Podcast:
One
of the most significant ways that the internet has changed radio is by making
it easier for people and organizations to create and distribute their own
content. It used to be necessary to have a broadcast license and access to
expensive equipment in order to start a podcast. An online radio broadcast or
podcast can now be produced and shared by anybody with a computer and an
internet connection. The growth of independent podcasts has made it possible to
hear a wider range of voices and perspectives. The Khunde Community Club
launched a podcast program in addition to the Community Network. Even though it
is still in its early phases, the podcast will significantly improve the lives
of locals by creating a valuable network for businesses, the government, and
citizens. Local podcasts with a focus on the area could provide residents with
news and information they can use. For instance, a podcast about Sherpa People (Voice
of Sherpa) and their struggles can help listeners stay informed about issues
affecting their community, and a podcast about local news can help listeners
stay up to date on local events.
Technical Information:
Through
a wireless point-to-point link, the network up to Khumjung School and Khunde
Community club has been constructed. A wireless point-to-point connection is a
technique for creating a direct line of communication between two devices. When
a physical connection is impractical or not practicable, such as in rural areas
or when connecting devices over great distances, this form of connection is
frequently employed. A wireless point-to-point connection can be created in a number
of different methods. Utilizing radio frequency (RF) technologies, such as
microwaves or infrared, is one such technique.
The
two devices can communicate with one another utilizing these technologies by
sending radio waves, which can travel short distances.
The network at Khumjung School and Khunde Community Club was principally developed using wireless Point-To-Point Connection connecting up to our towers at
Syangboche, as you can see
Challenges:
In
the remote mountainous terrain, this project mainly confronted three different
difficulties. both the weather and the lack of trained labor. Wireless tower
performance and the effectiveness of wireless communication systems can be
significantly impacted by weather conditions. Storms, winds, and lightning are
examples of extreme weather that can harm towers and interrupt service. Towers
can sway or even fall due to strong winds, while lightning can harm electronics
and interrupt power supplies. Additionally, bad weather can make it risky or
difficult for technicians to climb towers and make repairs, which can delay the
process of restoring service. Additionally, snow and ice buildup on towers and
antennae can impair their functionality and perhaps result in disruptions.
Because of the monsoon season's power outages, which are necessary to protect
our towers and other equipment in the Khumbu Region from the region's terrible
weather, the internet may be interrupted.
The
lack of qualified experts is one of the difficulties in providing technical
support and maintenance in rural locations. There is a dearth of skilled and
knowledgeable technicians that can diagnose and fix equipment in many rural
locations. This can be because there aren't enough educational and training
possibilities available there, and there aren't enough incentives for
technicians to work in rural areas.
The techniques for community
network sustainability developed by the Nepal Internet Foundation include:
•
Local government support and involvement.
• Training for local
communities on how to utilize, maintain, and manage the community network.
• Participation of the
neighborhood community in choosing the community network's governance
structure.
Key is local government
support
Nepal
Internet Foundation engaged the local community, the president of the KhundaClub,
a representative of the local government, the principal of Khumjung Secondary
School, and the instructors throughout the course of the program. They were
informed about the project and given input in setting up, running, and
maintaining the community network. They made the decision to endorse the
campaign after holding numerous meetings with local government representatives
and residents. They also provided the hamlet with a free, centrally situated
structure to house the network hardware and serve as a center for the
community, complete with three connected PCs, a printer, and a scanner. Nepal
Internet Foundation decided to pay Khumbu Bijuli Company Pvt. Ltd. an
additional electricity bill in order to address the issue of inconsistent
electricity availability in the area.
Building Local Capacity
for Community Network Construction, Use, and Maintenance
Villagers
were trained by the Nepal Internet Foundation to construct, maintain, and run
the community network using Wi-Fi. Because there were no legal restrictions on
using the 2.4GHz and 5GHz spectrum frequencies, Wi-Fi was the technology of
choice. The Nepal Internet Foundation put instructional materials in Nepali on
student laptops to encourage the use of the Internet. We were also able to
start a podcast on Khunde Club to raise the profile of Sherpas and promote
local home stays.
Community Ownership and
Participation Are Essential for Maintaining Community Networks
The
plan also included funding for a year's worth of payments to the Internet
service provider for a broadband Internet connection, in addition to giving a
Podcast system, computer, and network equipment.
Conclusion:
The
community has given a lot of support to the Community Network Project at
Khumjung School and Khunde Community Club. The majority of the services offered
in the Khumbu Region, a famous destination for western tourists visiting Nepal
each year, have been commercialized. Additionally, the creation of a
community-owned network project in the heart of the Khumbu Valley has given all
those who want to see regional development change hope and expectations.
Finally, the Khunde Community Club and Khumjung School Community Network Project have received a lot of support from the locals. Most of the services provided in the Khumbu Region, a well-known tourist attraction for westerners traveling to Nepal every year, have been monetized. Additionally, the establishment of a community-owned network project in the center of the Khumbu Valley has raised hopes and aspirations for everyone who wants to see regional development improve. We learned via this study that the Khumbu Region has many locations without Internet access. We intend to connect the Khumbu Region to the internet in the upcoming days so that its residents can use the internet much like Khunde and Khumjung.
We
are very grateful to the Internet Society for launching the Community Network
Project. Thanks to our work, communities that might not have otherwise had the
chance to connect now have much-needed internet access. The lives of persons
residing in these places are being improved by this CN project, which
highlights the various benefits of having internet connection. We admire
dedication to bridging the digital gap and work to increase everyone's access
to the internet.
