Welcome to the ICT Infrastructure, Connectivity and Accessibility resource page

Welcome to the ICT Infrastructure, Connectivity and Accessibility resource page. Please feel free to download content and to post comments. You can also email one of our advisers with a question and we will get back to you with a response within 48 hours.

Practical Guide to Pilot projects and large scale deployments of ICTs in the Education Sector - Guidelines on deploying IT in schools at a regional or national level
(October 2008)
This document offers a series of recommendations concerning the planning and executing of pilot ICT projects in schools. It also provides guidance on how to interpret the information gathered from pilot experiences, to aid in the decision making process (whether to execute a larger-scale deployment or not) and the planning process.
Guide to Greener Electronics 2010
(January 2010)
Greenpeace wants to see electronics companies clean up their act.
ICT Hot Topics 2008
(October 2008)
There are several issues considered crucial in the deployment of technology for education upon which no definite consensus exits or on which debates are inconclusive. These issues are referred to here as “hot issues”. This paper brings these hot issues into perspective outlining what the issues are, the main arguments used (as pros and cons), best practices, and recommendations on what to do in your own particular case and explores the effect on total cost of ownership.
Low cost computing devices analysis toolkit
196Kb (May 2008)
This document is intended to serve as a reference guide for Ministries of Education (MoE) when considering the selection and purchase of low cost computing devices (hardware), as one of a number of solutions intended to meet educational (i.e. teaching and learning) and/or e-administration objectives.
Buyers’ Guide to ICT in Education
(Dec 2008) by GeSCI
A series of recommendations on how to compile and evaluate bids to acquire equipment and services for school systems
The VSAT Buyer's guide
(2004) by IDRC
The Guide discusses VSAT technologies and procurement strategies, in a non-technical and easy-to-understand manner. It describes a step by step process to assist you to obtain the most appropriate and cost effective VSAT solution
Guide to alternative power for small scale rural projects
(2004)
An excellent guide that provides and overview of existing technologies to generate electricity and recommendations applicable to rural schools
National Research and Education Networks in Africa - Report
(2007)
This paper draws from research and reviews of existing NRENs in Africa and else where in the world, discussions held with several of GeSCI’s partner countries and the authors own experiences and reflections. The paper is meant to share some of the research and review findings and conclusions, promising and emerging practices, and the author’s reflections in a bid to contribute to the current debate and inform current efforts to create NRENs elsewhere in Africa.
Wireless Networking in the Developing World
(2008)
An excellent free book about designing, implementing, and maintaining low-cost wireless networks
Connectivity in African tertiary institutions
399 Kb (2006)
Results of a survey on some African countries
School Connectivity Options Matrix
This document is intended to serve as a guide to Ministries of Education (MoEs) on the connectivity options available for schools. It compares several variables for four simplified models: e-rates, purchasing consortia, educational ISP and market de-regulation.
Access to Climate Change Technology by Developing Countries: A Practical Strategy
(September 2009) by ICTSD
The paper examines suggested approaches for achieving greater access to climate change technology by developing countries

Total cost of ownership (TCO)

GeSCI has developed Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Tools to help governments to determine the overall cost of ICT4E initiatives. TCO can be defined as the sum of all the costs of any item from “cradle to grave” i.e. from purchase of the item through the use and maintenance of the item to the disposal or end of useful life of the item. The TCO approach aims to tease out the “real cost” including the often “hidden costs” of deploying ICTs in schools.

Assessing Technology Options for Schools - A Report on Framework and Tools
Version 4.0.2 – July 2008
This document helps in identifying the range of possible ICT solutions for schools and making a selection informed by an assessment of the benefits and costs of the different options. Download here in PDF Format.
GeSCI TCO Tool: the electronic TCO tool comprises of the detailed TCO calculator information.
It should be used to calculate the total cost of ownership at the school level. (Version 4.0.21 – November 2008) Download Tool in MS Excel format Tool in OpenOffice Calc Download users manual V 4.0.21
GeSCI TCO tool for large scale deployments "Deploying 1:1 educational models in large scale: a practical budgeting tool based on TCO".
This is the regional and national large scale TCO module. It has been specifically designed with examples for 1:1 educational models, but can be used for any ICT4E deployment. (Version 1.0 – November 2008) - Download Tool in MS Excel format Tool in OpenOffice Calc Download users manual