Mtoni, Zanzibar, 21st -25th March 2005

Wireless technologies offer developing countries a low cost and versatile alternative to wired infrastructure. They enable communities to extend the reach of cabled internet connectivity and to be in control of the planning, implementation and design of their own networks.

Connectivity Africa (CA) is supporting the organization of a Community Wireless workshop in collaboration with the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) and the Open Society Institute (OSI). The workshop, which will take place in Zanzibar from the 21st to the 25th of March 2005, aims to build capacity to implement wireless technologies for community networking in Africa.

More specifically the workshop will:

1) Develop the wireless networking skills of existing and aspiring network engineers and system administrators in network planning, design and management
2) Build skills and knowledge for appropriate technology choices in setting up community wireless networks
3) Provide a platform for testing, developing and localizing wireless networking training materials
4) Promote contact between users and developers of wireless technologies
improve the capacity for community wireless networking in Africa

5) Plan the future development of this training project

This workshop is one of a series to take place in Africa in 2005 and 2006. It is aimed at non-profit and public sector workers, as well as people from small businesses running community style telecentre ventures. People from Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Sudan, Nigeria, and South Africa will participate at these five days training sessions.