BY EMEKA AGINAM, who  was in Malaga, Spain

Although there were  many innovative solutions showcased at the just concluded 2014 Samsung Forum held in in Malaga, Spain, the most creative innovation that caught the attention of majority of delegates was the new “Digital Village” by Samsung designed specifically to bridge digital divide in Africa.

The solution for Africa, born for Africa was designed to deliver better education opportunities, greater medical access and improved economic life for people across Africa, the capacity building project which adopts the use of the solar energy to provide improved solutions across various sectors to rural settlements, has five major integrations including internet school, health centre, lantern, tele-medical centre and generator, all of which are solar-powered.

For Samsung, creating personal opportunities in this modern  wired world is impossible unless people can cross the digital divide without having to leave their traditional areas for the hustle and bustle of Africa’s major cities.

Accordingly, Samsung believes that by working with governments or appropriate government departments across Africa, the promise of digital village will better be achieved.

Using sunshine to change lives

This has involved looking to the sunshine that Africa has in abundance and developing solar powered applications that can literally improve  lives.

The concept:

For one thing, the concept of digital village harnesses technology in a way that breaks through traditional ,social and economic barriers and takes real support and opportunity to people where they live.

Addresses Africa’s challenges:

The Samsung Digital Village model addresses one of Africa’s largest economic challenges which is electrification. On average, less than 25 per cent of rural areas on the continent benefit from electricity, resulting in isolated communities with limited access to education, healthcare and connectivity, all of which are key to socio-economic upliftment of the continent.

Bridging digital divide:

For many industry watchers, one thing is clear. If the Samsung digital village initiative is   fully implemented, it would bridge digital divide in the continent.

Elements:

Solar Power Internet Schools:

This is exclusively solar-powered, transportable and completely independent classroom  geared at increasing accessibility to education and connectivity across Africa.

Solar Power Generator:

Traditional diesel generators utilise non-renewable resources and pollute the environment with fumes and noise.  The generator is also an ideal solution for homeowners, small businesses, remote border posts and schools.

Solar Power Health Centre:

This provides professional, mobile qualified medical care, thereby eliminating economic and geographic barriers.

Telemedical Centre:

It provides remote medical assistance through a centralized pool of medical expertise and experience. This will reduce the need for qualified doctors in rural areas and reduce the distances that patients need to travel for diagnosis.

LED lighting:

The solar-powered lantern uses light emitting diodes (LEDs), which are more energy efficient and last much longer than conventional light bulbs. Charged from a central charging kiosk that is equipped with a solar rooftop, the lanterns are expected to provide lighting for more than 10 years while producing no greenhouse gases.

Digital village offers:

With some of the elements of the initiative already in Nigeria like Samsung Engineering Academy, the digital village offers complete educational infrastructure, power generation capabilities to enable the growth of small businesses, ability to harness the energy of the sun to minimize running cost, among others to remote villages in Africa.

Countries already deployed:

Already kicked off in many African countries including South Africa, Gabon, Ethopia, among others,showcasing the project that is expected to improve the lives of Africa’s inhabitants, the the Director, B2B and IT Solutions, Samsung Africa, Thierry Boulanger in a world press conference during the forum that attracted no fewer than 50 Samsung dealers from Nigeria, explained that using solar power to promote health care and education was the concept behind Samsung’s Digital Village.

With Nigeria a key beneficially, he further explained that the project was also designed to help local traders develop their business with a sustainable and low-cost alternative to fossil fuels.

Throwing more lights on the digital village initiative, he assured that every African country will benefit from the project.

When fully implemented, he said with optimism that the initiative would bridge digital divide in Africa.

He said that solar powered tele-medical center will reduce the need for qualified doctors in rural arrears, adding that it will also educate communities about health issues.

Solar powered tele-medical center , according to him educate communities about health issues and also reduce the need for qualified doctors in rural arrears.

“Education is also part of the project with the Internet School. Teachers have e-boards and a notebook at their disposal, which is powered by the solar panels installed on the roof. Students have access to Galaxy Tabs which are also powered by the panels on the roof for their interactive multimedia class in rural Africa. It will benefit arrears with no school infrastructure” he further explained.