Project information
| Status | Finalist |
| URL | Go to website |
| Category | Public Administration Communication infrastructure |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Operational areas | Rural |
| Target groups | Children, Youth, Women, Men, Seniors |
| Wireless connection | WiFi, Satellite, GSM, CDMA , WipLL (Wireless IP Local Loop) |
| Access points | Government office, Business, Home, School, Library, Telecenter, Cafe |
| Interact | Landline Phone, Desktop Computer, Cellphone, Laptop CDMA WLL telephone, FM radio |
| Software License Types | Open Source, Proprietary |
Project location
Random images Challenge 2008
The etuktuk project: A mobile community radio station and telecentre.
- Brief description
- The etuktuk is a low-cost mobile radio station and telecentre that encourages increased participation and access to new and traditional media and information communication technologies by marginalized and rural communities in Sri Lanka.
- Vision, Objectives and Goals
- Encourage broader community participation in the activities of an existing community telecentre and radio station.
- Develop a mobile multimedia unit to increase access and awareness of ICTs.
- Provide training and support for the delivery and creation of relevant localised content and services.
- How does ICT contribute to the organisational objectives
- The etuktuk takes advantage of emergent wireless technologies that allow greater mobility and engagement by and with the community. This is achieved by extending the services of a traditional telecentre and radio station, taking the facilities outside of the studio and classroom and directly to the village. Similarly greater access to affordable high speed internet access and multimedia capable computing devices is allowing for new means of dissemination and production of content.
Changes in the availability of connectivity are rapid, at the beginning of the project internet access was sporadic and for the first 6-9 months the only internet access available was via a 14kbps GPRS mobile phone connection. Now the centre is serviced by both a VSAT 128kbps and 115kbps CDMA connection. This is currently being upgraded to a 512kbps WipLL connection that will allow full screen video conferencing and live streaming of the Radio Stations programming via the internet and interactive broadcasting from the mobile unit. Importantly this will also see a large reduction in the monthly costs of such services.
The use of loudspeakers and a multimedia projector has also enabled immediate delivery of content. Programs are recorded, produced and reviewed with, by and in the community before being broadcast providing a greater sense of ownership and authentication. - Transferability
- Future replication of the project would perhaps best be suited to collaborative projects that might see state or large NGO organisations faciliating the production of a number of mobile units allocated to local community groups, entrepreneurs or existing telecentre initiatives. Once established, entrepreneurs, local NGOs and village level organisations could effectively manage and deliver services via the vehicle that complement existing telecentre programs and information networks. Of particular relevance are other countries in the South and South East Asian region although the model could be adapted to suit a variety of different organisations, locations and purposes.
- Project summary
The etuktuk operates as an extension to an existing Community Multimedia Centre and Radio Station in the Central Hill region of Sri Lanka. The project compliments this existing community telecentre and radio station through the implementation of a mobile unit that facilitates first mile access to remote and marginalized communities.
Mobility within the target audience of the station is limited due to the high cost of public transport, irregular services and associated time involved in travel. Similarly access is further restricted due to perceptions of ownership of the community facilities due to factors such as caste, gender and ethnicity. The mobility generated by the etuktuk has allowed the Community Multimedia Centre to increase community participation, voice and awareness of the activities, opportunities and services available. Similarly reporters are able to pursue and identify issues that are locally relevant and verifiable by visiting the surrounding villages and engaging directly with the community.
The increased visibility due to these local interactions has also led to a greater level of awareness and support for the centre, leading to increased volunteerism and sustainability in its activities.
The project places an emphasis on appropriate technology that is both affordable and sustainable in a local context.
While the intervention could be seen as technology driven it has been guided by research into the local communicative ecology of the target communities, which seeks to provide a holistic understanding of the complex interconnections and functions of communication and information within the local context. Understanding gained through this research has also assisted in the development of local and localized content production. The etuktuk functions as both a radio and multimedia production studio, so programming can be produced on location with the participation of the community at all stages of the production process. This has led to a variety of new mixed-media formats and increased participation and understanding of the benefits of community media within the target communities. Similarly distribution of relevant content is provided by the etuktuks narrowcasting facilities such as the multimedia projector and public address system.
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