From Africa to Dumfries and Galloway: connectivity in a rural community

This article shows how a small regional housing association is bridging the digital divide for its customers and their communities by bringing low cost internet connectivity solutions proven in Africa to Dumfries & Galloway through collaboration with a university. The key learning is that small and medium sized third sector organizations should actively engage with universities to work jointly on developing and implementing solutions to address both sector and local needs. The joint working gives the third sector organizations access to the global academic networks and funding to bring overseas learning to help create innovative and proven local solutions that can help transform service delivery for customers and communities. Dumfries & Galloway's Loreburn Housing Association (Loreburn) is working with Strathclyde University to pilot a social tariff broadband service for its customers using TV White Space/Dynamic Spectrum technology proven by Mawingu Networks in Africa.