Optimizing Wireless Connectivity for Sustainable Development: A Case Study in the Remote Amazon Community of Wasakentsa
Sebastián Velarde Córdova, Cristhian Guerrero, Roger Clotet, David Rivas-Lalaleo, Ronny Cabrera, Mónica Huerta · 2024
Telecommunications are crucial for global development, especially in bridging the digital gap in rural areas. This study focuses on Wasakentsa, a remote amazonian community in Ecuador, where inadequate connectivity hampers education and healthcare. The existing infrastructure, provided by the Salesian Mission, faces challenges like unreliable power and suboptimal WiFi coverage. The article proposes an optimal wireless network design for Wasakentsa in three stages: Planning, Execution, and Monitoring. A thorough diagnosis of the Salesian Mission’s infrastructure identifies challenges and assesses the limited access and limited power sources in Wasakentsa. The proposed solution involves strategically placing routers and antennas, prioritizing directional antennas and higher gain equipment to enhance WiFi signals. Additionally, it includes improvements to power sources. A simulation, using Ekahau software, evaluates the effectiveness of the proposed design, showing improved coverage compared to the existing setup. The results highlight a substantial enhancement in network coverage, validating the effectiveness of the proposed wireless network optimization for the Wasakentsa community.