W4C
Wireless for Communities is an initiative of Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) and the Internet Society (ISOC) that has been supported by various partners over the years. Launched in 2010, Wireless for Communities or W4C aims to connect rural and remote locations of India, where mainstream Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are not willing to provide internet connectivity as they feel their operations would not be commercially viable.
W4C involves line-of-sight and low-cost Wi-Fi equipment, which utilise the unlicensed spectrum bands — 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz — to create community-owned and community-operated wireless networks in rural and remote locations of India to democratise access and make it available to all.
SUCCESS STORIES
COMMUNTIY NETWORKS
Four women make low-cost sanitary napkins
Women in Tilonia have found a new love
Internet brings in a new era of fundraising
Conserving drinking water, offline and online
Evolution of communication on campus
A young girls has big aspirations
Supporting radio listeners, on air & on ground
Supporting radio listeners, on air & on ground
VIDEO STORIES
W4C Impact Story Barefoot College
Visit to Barefoot College Tilonia
I Love to Study & Play
Chanderi Film
Chanderi
Baank-e-Loom
Last Mile Connectivity
Baran “residents of jungle go WIFI”
TRAINING COURSES
WIRELESS TRAINING MANUAL
This chapter aims to provide brief knowledge to the reader about wireless networks. This unit discusses not only the commonly used IEEE802.11 standards but also the new broadband standard IEEE802.16 (WiMAX).
REFRESHER COURSE ON USING INTERNET
This short course on internet literacy is for anyone who knows the basics of the internet, has used a browser before for searching online content and has an active email account.
CERTIFICATE COURSE ON FUNDAMENTAL OF INTERNET
The training manual comprises of detailed introduction to internet web browsing, search engine understanding, websites, on-line communication media like email, chatting, web conferencing and social media.