The Meraka Institute of the CSIR recently had a visit by a team of Hungarian researchers from the Institute of Informatics at the University of Szeged.
The visit has given strong impetus to collaboration between Hungary and South Africa on a research project in the domain of wireless mesh networks (WMN) for rural areas.
The interest to collaborate first arose after the presentations made by researchers from the Meraka Institute and the University of Szeged at an IST-Africa conference in Mozambique. This interest was formalised into a collaboration project supported by a bilateral science/research agreement between the governments of Hungary and South Africa.
Dr Ntsibane Ntatlapa of the Meraka Institute is the project leader on the South African side. He explains, “Similar problems regarding rural network connectivity exist throughout the world. The demand for extra bandwidth is universal. A crucial challenge in South Africa is the gap in reliable energy supply, which researchers must reckon with when designing wireless mesh networks.”
During this visit, a five-day workshop was held, where parties presented the latest research and development results, and also discussed the common topics of research.
Constructive outcomes were obtained even sooner than expected. In a collaborative effort between Hungarian student Robert Béládi and Meraka Institute researcher David Johnson, a software tool developed by the Hungarian colleagues for monitoring of their wireless mesh networks, was adapted to serve several trial mesh networks run by the Meraka Institute.
As the prime outcome of the workshop, several collaboration topics, a preliminary schedule and responsible leaders were identified, covering issues of saturation, modelling, power control, smart antennas and business models in/for wireless mesh networks.
One of the Meraka Institute’s outputs has been the establishment of a living laboratory in Peebles Valley. The local HIV/Aids clinic and surrounding schools have been provided connectivity through a wireless mesh network. The Meraka Institute has successfully run this project for over three years. The visitors, researchers from the Meraka Institute and students undertook a field trip to Peebles Valley in a knowledge-building exercise, during which the visiting Hungarian team – researcher Vilmos Bilicki and student Robert Béládi – participated actively in this project.
Ntlatlapa sees this cooperation with Hungary as mutually beneficial, “The Meraka Institute finds itself in the singular position of doing directed research, while also being able to tap into and benefit from the free-standing, in-depth research which takes place at tertiary education institutions, such as the University of Szeged.”
Earlier this year, Ntlatlapa had the opportunity to visit the University of Szeged with one of his students, and will send two of his students to visit Hungary before the end of this year.
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