A Guide to Hopebuilding Stories

Categorizing these stories (362 as of Oct. 10, 2008) is often challenging, because many of them talk about people's or community activities that addressed a number of issues at once, or grew from one small project into something much larger. Reflecting this, some stories appear in several categories. Clicking on the links highlighted in blue will take you to that page. Please do read my GuidelinesForSharing before you post.

More stories are added regularly. You are welcome to send or share stories of similar achievements. See Great Links for links to websites that provide many other stories of achievement.

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Mobile Phone Powers an Internet Cafe in Bangladesh

Abu Sufian's small room in Fultola, Bangladesh looks like a standard Internet cafe. There are four workstations -- each with a mouse, keyboard, and monitor -- where customers can check email or browse the Internet. But this isn't just any Internet cafe -- the center is all made possible by one mobile phone.

Unlike a typical Internet café, this Community Information Centre has only one PC, which functions as a server: each of the other workstations is powered by a small device, not much bigger than a cigarette packet. And, while there's no wired connection between the server and the outside world, the Centre is clearly hooked up to the Net. The customers are browsing the web and sending email.

The clue to how it's done is provided by a Motorola clamshell mobile phone connected by a USB cable to the server. The Centre is getting its Internet connection via an Edge-enabled (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) mobile phone! Or, looking at it another way, a mobile phone is giving four people simultaneous access to the Net!

The project is sponsored by the Ndiyo Project, Grameen Phone, and Grameen Telecom. A Cambridge based company called Newnham Research (now called DisplayLink) developed the thin-client networking technology. The computers use Linux open source software to cut down on costs.

This project has great potential for the developing world because it's economically sustainable and significantly cuts down on costs. Only one computer is needed to provide Internet access to multiple workstations, providing people with information about jobs, health, market prices, and a link to the international community.

From a story by Corinne Ramey, dated October 8, 2007, and additional comments added to the story at the blog

For other stories about innovative programs to bring telecommunications to rural areas, see:

Technological innovation brings low-cost phone calls to poor South African townships

Village Phone creates businesses, affordable telecommunications

Haiti's rural communities get vital communications link