Kyrgyzstan Could Become the First Country in the Region with Free Satellite Internet
35 schools in Kyrgyzstan located in hard-to-reach mountainous areas are awaiting the OneWeb social project
Kyrgyzstan will be one of six countries where schools from remote areas will be provided with free internet through OneWeb technology.
“The geographical location of schools directly affects how children receive information in hard-to-reach regions of Kyrgyzstan. The internet access map has helped to provide a real assessment of the situation in this area and mobilize the necessary resources to ensure that technology is used to provide quality education to all children, regardless of their location and status,” said UNICEF head in Kyrgyzstan, Yukie Mokuo.
What is OneWeb
OneWeb is a British satellite group that will provide internet access to the entire global population. The project's investors include major companies and corporations such as Coca-Cola, Airbus Group, Intelsat, and others.
OneWeb was founded in 2012. Its founder is billionaire Greg Wyler. As a result of a partnership with Airbus Defense and Space, a unique modular satellite is being developed on a mass production assembly line.
This will reduce the overall cost of satellite manufacturing and increase productivity — up to 3 satellites per day. Since 2018, the company has planned to launch 700 satellites into orbit to provide broadband internet.
The proximity of satellites, their high bandwidth, and global coverage should ensure internet connectivity for those who are currently underserved or not served at all.
The first satellites were launched on February 27, 2019, from French Guiana.
How many schools in Kyrgyzstan have internet access?
According to the Ministry of Education of Kyrgyzstan, today 86% of schools have internet access.
However, 35 schools in Kyrgyzstan are located in hard-to-reach mountainous areas where laying fiber-optic and wireless communication lines is difficult. It is in these schools that internet access will be provided through the OneWeb social project.
It is expected that with the assistance of the Ministry of Education and Science of Kyrgyzstan and UNICEF, in 2020 one of the OneWeb satellites will connect the "Kyzyl Oktyabr" school in the village of Katur-Suu in the Naryn region to free satellite internet.
According to the Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for Information Technology and Communication, Eshmambet Amatov, accessible and quality internet means access to education, healthcare, business opportunities, and consequently, economic growth, the emergence of new economic clusters, and the creation of new jobs through joining the global marketplace.
