Setting up a mobile internet facility in Africa

March 24, 2006 1:54 AM

Where can I find a resource with information about buying and converting a truck or bus?

I'm currently based in Western Kenya, whiling away my time as my partner completes her PhD fieldwork. Due to continuing frustration at the slow speed/high cost of internet access here, I got to thinking. As a rich westerner in an Urban setting getting worked up about this sort of thing, what must it be like for a rural school kid.....

......one thing led to another, to the point where I'm now writing a proposal for a project to build a mobile internet unit (I'm currently thinking of it as a computer lab with 20 terminals on the back of an offroad truck).

I have a proposal drafted. I have an idea of cost for the network doodads, internet connectivity shennanigans, computer bobbins and peripheral flipperty gibbets. I'm looking in to lesson plans, logistics, staff costs, etc etc....

However, have NO IDEA how or how much it would cost to put all this stuff into a vehicle (and only a vague idea what a vehicle might cost).

I'm expecting this to be a 0 answer question, but on the off chance, anyone here know of some useful resources?

posted by davehat to education (4 comments total)

Maybe Bran Ferren will know. He's the guy that built the MaxiMog, a self-contained expedition vehicle with Internet connectivity. It seems like his website is down at the moment, though.

If you need the truck built for you, Europe has a plethora of expedition truck builders. Lyndi and Action Mobilof Austria and TerraCross and Unicat of Germany.

For a thorough treatment of the logistics behind expeditions, experienced British explorer Tom Sheppard has a respected book called "Vehicle-dependent Expedition Guide". An earlier treatise is available from the Royal Geographical Society. It is called "Desert Expeditions" and can be found here as a PDF file.
posted by Harald74 at 2:13 AM on March 24, 2006

Well, thats a great starting point for me. I had a feeling it might be expensive, but WOW.

This stuff is not cheap! The lowest price I could find was about GBP100,000 for an off the peg model.

I think I may have to go back to the drawing board a bit here..... Perhaps a stonking great truck to carry a cumputer lab isn't the best way to go.
posted by davehat at 4:15 AM on March 24, 2006

We've got a computer lab bus here, which tours around the various schools and stuff. Very popular and well received.

I have no idea about the details of setting up or ongoing costs, but their website is here - there's an interesting section on the conversion process, but no real juicy details like you're after... although I suspect that the cost of the 20 Apple computers and monitors wasn't insubstantial! :-)

Other related useful/interesting sites:
IoM Government
BBC report

... and lots more via Google! If you want me to do some local digging let me know, and I'll see if I can find any contact names, numbers or addresses...
posted by Chunder at 6:18 AM on March 24, 2006

You might consider checking with one of the many companies that do overland tours in Africa like Dragoman. They might even have a source for used vehicles which is definitely the way to go cost-wise.
posted by lazywhinerkid at 12:28 PM on March 24, 2006