The School of Information Studies (iSchool) at Syracuse University, Imcon International, and the Republic of Liberia will collaborate on the 40 in 2021 Project, a far-reaching initiative that will digitally transform the country of Liberia by increasing the nation’s current Internet penetration of about 7% to 40% by 2021. The announcement was made today by Elizabeth D. Liddy, Dean of the iSchool, and Rob Loud, CEO of Imcon International, Inc.
Imcon is the developer of the Internet Backpack, a remote connectivity solution that allows users to communicate from almost any location on the planet. The device can be used to create internal wireless networks with large coverage areas utilizing various radio frequencies.
A delegation from Imcon traveled to Liberia’s capital, Monrovia, last week to meet with high ranking government officials, including the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Nathaniel McGill; the Minister of Education, Professor Ansu D. Sonii; and the Minister of Health, Dr. Wilhemina Jallah.
Minister McGill expressed his support for the 40 in 2021 Project, acknowledging “the potential significant value to the country, especially the benefits to be gained by Liberia’s ailing education and health sectors.” Dr. Jallah and Professor Sonii also demonstrated their support for the project by executing a Memorandum of Understanding, for their respective agencies, to formally launch the partnership.
The iSchool will lead research, education, cyber-physical network design, and implementation for the Liberia project. Associate Professor Lee McKnight will serve as the faculty project manager.
As part of an estimated $150 million project, Imcon International will provide 6,000 Internet Backpacks, as well as edgeware, through its partner VMware, to the Republic of Liberia for education, healthcare, rural community and government use, connecting the Internet to all schools and hospitals throughout the country.
“We are pleased to take part in this project with Imcon and lend our technical and research expertise to this important endeavor to increase Internet connectivity across Liberia and other locations around the globe,” said Dean Liddy. “The iSchool is deeply committed to leveraging our academic and scholarly resources to improve the world around us.”
The initiative includes a project-based learning curriculum through Imcon’s education partner One Planet Education Network. In addition, through its partnerships with Hu-manity.co and OrbHealth, Imcon will also implement a nationwide broadband network dedicated to Liberia’s education and healthcare systems and deploy and maintain the country’s first electronic medical record system.
“The Internet Backpack is a revolutionary technology and a groundbreaking solution with multiple applications for use across the planet,” said Loud. “This alliance will dramatically jumpstart our ability to extend our proprietary technology and effectuate positive change for underserved people as well as for those in remote areas without access to standard connectivity. The Liberia project is the first of many projects we envision rolling out on a global scale over the coming months and years.”