To talk about working conditions under our skies of under development is a euphemism. It's more appropriate to talk about working difficulties, because it seems that we spend an enormous amount of time solving problems, rather than developing our business. The main point today is to function with as much autonomy as possible in terms of the resources such as electricity and communications networks, which are both entirely or partially state-run. I mentioned that the appliances I used at the beginning of this adventure were quickly damaged. The same held true for the electrical appliances that I acquired throughout the duration of my stay. Why ? :
  • Power failures and the sudden return of power without warning are not good for our electrical appliances. This is even worse when the power is restored with an overly high voltage (far above 220 volts).
  • The voltage fluctuates even when the power is functioning "normally." In an enclosed area like where the center is located, you can measure voltages ranging between 160 and 180. We say there is "dropping pressure." It is impossible to use a photocopier, and at times, a printer. The computers that stay on, ready for use, are definitely ill affected, and this may explain certains malfunctions. We often need to change either the network card or the hard drive, if not the motherboard. These are daily expenses that tend to put a hole in the financial results.

Along with the unstable electricity, we often encounter unstable coomunications networks, especially for Internet connections. Initially, we offered a shared RTC Internet hook up, provided by the national operator. The theoretical data transfer was 28 kbps. The Ministry for Promotion of New Technologies in Computer Science and Communication was to lower the tarifs for internet connections after 8:00 PM. This meant that an established connection cost the same as a 3 minute telephone connection, provided that the connection wasn't cut off. In fact, disconnections made by the national ISP were quite common, and made web surfing uncertain. Each reconnection meant a new tax. Not only were there disconnections, there were also telecom service failures, since not everyone can be connected at the same time. The national ISP didn't have the technical capacity. All of this without going into discussion of the data transfer for each computer (we had 8 units sharing the theoretical 28 kbps).

The arrival of DSL in Benin about 2 or 3 years ago seemed the solution to save us from slow connections, untimely disconnections and Inter surfers yawning in front of the computer. At least that's what I understood, aiming for quality, even if the price was much higher. The cost of the initial installation (modem and set up) was approximately 1000 euros. For data transfer from 256 kbps to 128 kbps, the monthly subscription was (and for the moment remains) a little more than 150 euros. We had to wait 6 months to obtain the grouping of the telephone line and its hook up to DSL. From time to time we need to compare, without indulgence, in order to understand what needs to be done to bridge the digital divide between the northern and the southern hemispheres. Let me remind you that today in France, DSL links are on offer for up to 18 Mbps (about 18,000 kbps) for about 30 euros per month depending on the service provider.

Nevertheless, the first months were like a dream. Web surfing was fast and flowing (compared to the RTC), there were no disruptive disconnections. This lasted for 3 months. Then came the end of the dream. "The quality of the line couldn't stand the test of time." We ran back and forth from the telecom operator to the DSL-ISP, each one blamed the other for the fact that I couldn't have the connection. This went on for 6 months. Plenty of time for the web surfers to find another center, further away, but nevertheless elsewhere. The neighborhood returned to its isolation from the world.
These are some aspects among others of what we can call working conditions. The rest is just the daily routine, with a new problem to deal with every day. Unforeseen power outages called diversions, power being restored without warning, with surges upwards of 220 volts. The consequences for the electrical appliances go without saying. Computers, modems, printers, etc, regularly blown. With no recourse possible. It's all for yours truly, and that's that.
On the whole, my 4 and even 5 years of experience trying to bridge the digital divide, have revealed some important facts :
  • The real need for people to communicate with the world, as can be witnessed by the explosion of the GSM market
  • The need for computer and New Technologies in Computer Science and Communication training to integrate the workplace
  • The growing need for computer skills as digital information develops in all realms of production
  • The need for people to make themselves known via Internet
These different aspects clearly justify continuing what we have undertaken, despite the disadvantages inherent to under development. But this also implies taking into account the real conditions that exist. Working autonomously in terms of electricity and communications networks is expensive, but guarantees that we can remain focussed on our project. This is what we would like.