A community network is highly regarded as an alternative method for extending services to marginalized communities. However, the success of community networks remains low as the host community often fails to take the ownership of such projects in a sustainable way. The literature recommends the use of baseline surveys and needs assessment to identify fundamental roles that could be played by a community network within a given society. It is argued that aligning community networks to the needs of the community could potentially contribute to their success. This study conducts a baseline survey with the aims of understanding key roles that a proposed community network could play within the context of e-Government and m-Government services provision. Community in Oniipa Town in Namibia was selected as a case study. It was found that the identified community had a poor electricity infrastructure, but an encouraging growth of mobile phone adoption, even though mobile phone credit is considered expensive. Despite these challenges, the community showed a keen interest in m-Government and e-Government services. Accordingly, the proposed community network shall engage the community through a human-centered design methodology in an effort to develop e-Government services suitable for the community. The community network shall rely on solar energy and the use of e-Government and m-Government is expected to reduce population mobility in search of government services something that could reflect positively on climate.
[1]
Dick Carrillo,et al.
Energy Management Methodology for Fusion Grid
,
2019,
2019 IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Europe (ISGT-Europe).
[2]
Marco Zennaro,et al.
Alternative Networks: Toward Global Access to the Internet for All
,
2017,
IEEE Communications Magazine.
[3]
C. Stork,et al.
Internet going mobile: internet access and use in 11 African countries
,
2013
.
[4]
Caroline Pade-Khene,et al.
Sustainable rural ICT project management practice for developing countries: investigating the Dwesa and RUMEP projects
,
2011,
Inf. Technol. Dev..
[5]
Peyman Akhavan,et al.
E-Readiness Assessment of Non-Profit ICT SMEs in a Developing Country: The Case of Iran
,
2008
.
[6]
Naska Winschiers-Goagoses,et al.
MOVING AWAY FROM ERINDI-ROUKAMBE: TRANSFERABILITY OF A RURAL COMMUNITY-BASED CO-DESIGN
,
2013
.
[7]
Tendani Mawela,et al.
Enabling Social Sustainability of E-Participation through Mobile Technology
,
2015,
Inf. Technol. Dev..
[8]
Sibukele Gumbo,et al.
A Qualitative Analysis to Determine the Readiness of Rural Communities to Adopt ICTs: A Siyakhula Living Lab Case Study
,
2012
.
[9]
Christian Fuchs,et al.
Sustainability and community networks
,
2017,
Telematics Informatics.