Can cloud computing work in Ethiopia?
With all the recent talk about Google Chrome OS and Microsoft office on the web, putting cloud computing back in the technology headlines, I recently read a less well publicised Microsoft story in the Seattle Times:
As U.S. companies begin exploring cloud computing this year, a school system on the other side of the globe has already leapt into the cloud. Ethiopia is rolling out 250,000 laptops to schoolteachers all over the country, all running on Microsoft’s platform called Azure.
The project, as described in the article, seems to overlook 2 huge issues, as do most of the people who have left comments on the article.
Firstly, the internet infrastructure in Ethiopia is just not robust, widespread or reliable enough for teachers to just connect up their shiny new laptops to some data centre in the US. Take for example Abi Adi, a town of around 20000 people, about 3 hours drive from where I’ve been working in Mekelle. A colleague, working in the teacher training college there, tried to get a couple of new phone lines installed to give extra (dial-up) internet access, but was told that all the lines for the town had already been allocated and no more would be available until new lines were installed, but no immediate plans were in place to increase the number of lines available.
And many Ethiopian towns and villages are far less well connected than Abi Adi.
There are obviously other options to delivering internet access through copper or fibre networks, such as through VSAT or the mobile phone network. But again to get these installed, or made reliable for the proposed project, would be a massive (and costly) undertaking in it’s own right.
Secondly, there’s no mention of the training and support that would be need to be given to teachers. The support infrastructure would need to be huge, who is going to fix the machines when they (almost inevitably) get a virus, or overheat after being choked with dust?
My experience of the One Laptop Per Child project shows that the training and support given to teachers and students is absolutely crucial to the success of the project – in much the same way it will be to this new project.
So, do I think cloud computing could work for Ethiopian teachers? Certainly not currently.
It’s not that I don’t like the idea of what they’re trying to do here, but just very wary that it’s yet another white elephant project which sounds good and gets them in the headlines. The money could be far better spent working with ETC (Ethiopia’s sole telecoms company) to improve the general internet infrastructure, and training teachers to work better with the technology already available to them. Only then might Ethiopia be able to take advantage of the possibilities afforded by cloud computing.
I agree with you. Can someone give us a clue on what this is all about!
I just can’t get my head around how they are going to be able to have enough bandwidth capacity as we operating in Addis, the capital of the country don’t even have good enough access to do “basic” Internet based transactions.
As for the laptops, I really don’t think they are “shiny new”, rather refurbished one, which I am sure will serve its purpose.
Haha, cloud computing. Not yet. The cloud scares the hell out of me anyways, though. I was in Ethiopia in January 2009, and at least then I noticed Internet access is better in Ethiopia than in Kenya (minus a few days when the Mediterranean link was problematic for whatever reasons… ship?).
This sounds very suspect. Knowing the crap Internet in Ethiopia, I just don’t see cloud computing work there.
@wayan, yes, does sound quite suspect. There’s a little more info in a FullArmor press release from April (http://www.fullarmor.com/pr_04302009/news-press-release-detail.htm) – though doesn’t give any timescales for roll out.
Alex, I do agree that training and support is crucial for this project as it for any other Training and Development,\. It will certainly help in increasing the job knowledge and skills of the teaches at every level. It will help them to expand the horizons of their intellect. The project is not about owing laptops rather exposing them to technology and an ambitious first step in attempt to close the technology gap. Having said that, please take a note training and development and support is part of this visionary project. We are under taking this noble project with optimistic view. The potential and motivation of all stake holders, specifically of the teachers is there. Yes, we are confident the cloud computing in Ethiopia will work and the project will succeed. There is no always an easy to road to success. Anything is possible if you have got enough drive and motivation.
Abel
It sure sounds hip and exciting with 250K laptops flying around, but a country with very limited resources like Ethiopia should not be the frst mouse to get in to the lab to test something unknown even large corporations in the west are reluctant to embrace.
Check out the link below.
http://gigaom.com/2008/07/01/10-reasons-enterprises-arent-ready-to-trust-the-cloud/
Abel,
You may have a good intentions to work on this noble project, but remember failure to this project lies only on you shoulder. you are cheating people just to make money out of the poor. A lot of IT professionals are looking in to it.
Ethiopia
Mr or Ms. Ethiopia (response to your comment)
It is presumptive of you to make such a naïve, general and unfounded statement about finances and cheating the poor without having a clue about it. You sound like uninformed disgruntled employee. It is comforting to learn though that IT experts like yourself are monitoring its progress as the project is indeed noble and transparent. And about your comment “the failure lies on you”. I am committed and determined ethically in doing my part to enable them to bridge the technology gap and hopefully level the playing field by affording them with an opportunity and access to better resources. Yes, I will take responsibility and learn from any unanticipated challenges and celebrate its successes. I care because I am an Ethiopian and we are doing this project in Ethiopia for love of the country.
I am not sure if you had done your homework or not prior to totally offering a grim opinion of the work but the project is proactively supported financially and in technology by the best experts in the field like SQLsoft, Microsoft, Cisco, and others. Our use of technology is very focused on what will work. Also keep in mind that this program is designed to work in an off line mode. Granted, internet access would be preferable but the program does not rely on it. This program does not run on cloud technologies. Don’t believe everything you read in the media. Those press releases were not authorized or accurate. There are very specific functions that the cloud technologies will perform but they are a small but important part of this program.
It is inconceivable that in any program that you drop laptops in a third world country without supporting them. This program supports each of those laptops using various methods including cloud technologies and physical support in places where these teachers are.
It is of course easier to harshly criticize someone’s work from afar than propound positive insights. In the meantime, if you believe you have the capacity to offer a viable input, stop hiding behind the fictitious nick name and let’s hear your constructive insights and have a fruitful dialogue. After all, as it was said, “A half-baked idea is okay as long as it is in the oven”.
Abel
@Abel. You sound good. Whether Ms./Mr. Ethiopia like it or not cloud is going to be the next generation technology, hopefully any where in the world. Actually, the infrastructure in Ethiopia is a little bit scary to implement that, but, with a hope, ETC will come up with intriguing concept.
I have one question for you. What do you mean by “Don’t believe everything you read in the media. Those press releases were not authorized or accurate. There are very specific functions that the cloud technologies will perform but they are a small but important part of this program.” Can you mention some citations. I have been following about cloud since its born.
Good luck in you indavour.
what kind of laotops work in ethiopia? if you’d like to send a laptop from a country to ethiopia, what would you chose best?