Ever since the invention of the internet, several factors have made the internet a bit inaccessible, due to high connection fees, poor connection speeds, security, and several other hardware malfunctions. It is refreshing to note that solutions to these problems are being provided by well-meaning individuals, organizations, and start-ups that have come together to provide a solution to these challenges through the invention of “Wireless Community Networks”.

Wireless Community Network is achieved by providing internet access through the use of radio waves rather than by land lines. This technology uses two — way radios that take advantage of an unregulated portion of the telecommunications spectrum. Wireless community networks are organized on a geographic basis to serve a specific neighborhood or community and to improve the quality of life within that community

An example of when this aim was achieved, was in the summer of 2008 when the Metropolitan City of Rome decided to start a free-of-charge and public Wi-Fi network which was to cover over 5352 SQ KM territory including Rome and 120 other cities, housing about 4.5 million inhabitants. This project was named ProvinciaWiFi (later renamed WiFi Metropolitano ). OpenWISP played a vital role by providing the OpenWISP Network Management system with different NETJSON implementations.

Within this article which was inspired by the 2018 Google — Code — In contest, i would be narrating the timeline of Wireless Community Networks in Nigeria, my country.

· Fantsuam Foundation

Small Zittnet office with solar panels mounted above to generate power

In the year 2001, a foundation which had the mission of improving the quality of life of people mostly in the Northern region of the country through developmental programs, launched a new department named ZittNet. Zittnet located in Bayan Loco, Kafanchan had the huge task of providing quality I.C.T training and also internet service to students in rural areas so as to access study materials. In it’s early stage, this service operated using VSat connections, this is however being replaced with Fiber Optic cables. Zittnet took advantage of the immense Renewable Energy by running most of it’s operations on solar panels

This great project was spearheaded by Bidi Bala who worked tirelessly to make sure this project was actualized. Over time, Zittnet has won several awards but most remarkably, it has been recognized as Nigeria’s first rural Internet Service Provider (ISP).

· Ibadan Wireless User Group

In a bid to empower and introduce those in the south-eastern part of Nigeria to Information Communication Technology, Mr Michael Adeyeye worked tirelessly to setup the Ibadan Wireless User Group. He hoped to accomplish this huge task through his own company, Asmicom and together with his colleagues in Ibadan. Although Mr Adeyeye faced many set — backs, he never gave up on his dream — project.

Satellite images showing the node connection and the signal strength

Inorder to test — run this project, Mr Adeyeye launched his first project which was to deploy a Mesh Potato network at a housing estate in Ibadan. The estate was home to a number of hostels for postgraduate students (studying at nearby institutions), offices and business centres. There were single family houses . The students, like the families , wanted a reliable way of communicating with one another. In addition, the organizations (which were mostly non-profit organizations) wanted an affordable communication service that could be used as an alternative to the costly GSM mobileservice.

Just like Zittnet, WUG’s mesh potatoes are also powered by mostly on solar energy. He also recieved some help from a UK solar startup called BBOXX.

Several other startups have made efforts to increase the coverage of cheaper and more accessible internet in Nigeria. One of such is Tizeti, which was started in Nigeria by Nigerians and has focused on providing cheaper and faster internet connection for individuals .

Today also, the need for more public WI-FI networks are on the high increase as lots of people carry out their lot of activities online. Hence, Universities, Companies, Parks, Hubs and recreational centers owe the people reliable WI-FI hotspot as part of their humanitarian service.

The aforementioned service providers can also adopt OpenWisp as a Network Management system, as this has been done in many other parts of the world with a huge success. Starting from Città Metropolitana di Roma to Provincia di Grosseto to Comune di Ercolano, many organizations and institutions having given OpenWISP a try and this has worked out well.

I believe Oragnizations and Institutions in my country can also take that leap and increase the amount of people who have access to a cheaper and safer internet.

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