This document outlines plans for the BarAcc Project, which aims to establish internet access points in remote barangays in Oriental Negros, Philippines. Key points: - The project is a collaboration between 1stBuglas Foundation, a telecommunications company, and Silliman University/NORSU to set up sustainable internet kiosks in barangays. - A pilot project will demonstrate the viability of using WiFi technology to connect Barangay Access Points to centralized Access Centers over long distances. - The project team from SU/NORSU will develop a 5-year plan and 1-year implementation budget, with the goal of launching 3 pilot sites within the first year. - The document

1. BarAcc Project* Barangay Access to Communications and Online Services Meetings with SU/NORSU 30 April/04 May 2010 Dumaguete City

2. 1stBuglas Foundation* The BarAcc Project is part of several initiatives (in Tourism, Agriculture, Education/Training and ICT) towards helping speed up the social and economic development of Oriental Negros. The project ‘s main beneficiaries will be the residents of remote barangays. SMEs and other organizations engaged in providing products and services in the province may also stand to benefit.

4. Oriental Negros* Cities 6 Municipalities 19 Barangays 557 Population 1.23M

5. Oriental Negros*

6. Central Idea of the BarAcc Project* ... the establishment of a profitable and sustainable business enterprise in a barangay that will: enable the full use of mobile phones anywhere in the barangay operate an Internet kiosk

7. Project Organization * The BarAcc Project will be a collaboration among the 1stBuglas Foundation, a telco (Globe) and Silliman University and/or Negros Oriental State University (SU/NORSU). We believe that SU/NORSU should play a key role in the propagation of our initiatives among key leaders in the cities and municipalities in Oriental Negros and in mobilizing technical support for our various projects. We’re in continuing discussions and/or negotiations with these organizations.

8. Projecct Team* A provincial project team from SU/NORSU will be formed. The first major activity is to come up with a project plan – a five-year development plan including a detailed implementation plan and budget for first year. This team will be involved in coordinating outsourced entities that will provide setup and regular support services to the BarAcc Project.

9. The BarAcc Entrepreneur* The role of thebarangay entrepreneur is a very important one. It must be emphasized that he/she is expected to profit from this venture. The mobile phone business will bring in immediate revenues upon implementation; revenues from the Internet kiosk follow soon after. In due course the entrepreneur can expect a share of the revenues from on-line services delivered thru his/her enterprise.

10. Technology Framework* The Barangay Access Point (BAP) will be connected to the telco’sAccess Center (AC) via a long distance wireless link. This distance is in the range of tens or even hundreds of kilometers. Several BAPs can be connected to a single AC. For this purpose we’re looking at Wi-Fi technology for Long Distance, which has been only recently available commercially. We’re looking at Intel’s Rural Connectivity Platform for this. We’re also looking at a Nokia-Siemens hardware/software solution, called Village Connection for the BAP and AC. This solution has been tried in several countries only during the last few years. (By the way, there are other alternatives, one of which comes from Huawei – an ICT company based in China.)

11. Wi-Fi for Long Distance* WiLDNet: Use standard 802.11 radios for both Point-to-Point Point-to-Multipoint Can get longer range up to 150km Directional antennas (24dBi) Line of Sight (LOS) Why choose WiFi: Low cost of $500/node No spectrum /licensing costs Open-source drivers Good data rates: 11Mbps (11b) 54Mbps (11g)

12. Intel Rural Connectivity Platform*

13. The above shows a typical cell site. It’s a very expensive setup that can only be justified in urban areas.

15. Pictures of a setup for Internet in the Philippines -- a pole tower with guy wires and antennas at the top of the pole.

19. Which of the above services are appropriate for OrNegbarangays? Are there others we can propose?

20. Pilot Project* We will start with a pilot project for the purpose of demonstrating sustainability and profitability. Moreover, the pilot project will enable us to learn a lot from its operations such as the pricing of the various services, set up and operating costs, alternative power sources, support services providers, etc.

21. Pilot Project* The pilot project should start with a fully operational BAP Identification of the pilot project site/s At least 3 BAPs established w/in the 1st year – 1 per district of Oriental Negros Funding for the first year The main costs are for ACs, the Nokia-Siemens Village Connection hardware and software for each BAP and the BAP set up and project team technical support costs. Time table We should get the pilot project going within three months or by the 3rd quarter of 2010.

22. Next step/s* Organize SU/NORSU project team Gather/analyze necessary data/information Prepare 5-year development plan Based on sound data/information Prepare 1-year implementation plan and budget Arrange for importing equipment Think of public announcement/launch

23. What now?* Let’s start the work now!

24. Contact me* William T Torres, Ph.D. wttorres@gmail.com +63 917 899 0998