WOULD THIS SOLVE THE CONNECTION PROBLEM?

The computers and Internet have been the best and probably the cheapest means of communication tool to link the world together. People learn what is in the next world Just by mere computer and Internet! There has been reading, writing, seeing and even hearing because of this Internet and computer technology, this every body needs it but it is expensive to own, though it is the best way to communicate.

Among the activities at WE Center Kampala, members are to be trained how to use the computers and the internet which has been contacted but not fully perhaps few members were interested and computers are not enough and at the same time poor connection! The few people who took interest much as there are few computers and Poor connections, have managed to gain some skills and have ploughed back to the community through online loan applications to ”Kiva” and other correspondences.

With the growing interests of members in the computers and Internet, there is need for Our community to acquire more computers and get good connection so that we can run our programs smoothly. What we shall emphasize on is community Internet for change training and setting up a web café that shall supplement community’s income. And at one point may breed customers for the community’s art and craft activities.

The idea of web café has been sleeping in my mind for over two years and indeed at one point we started but there was no proper arrangement and was limited to only members. But much as we could publish to the public, the connection has never been good and computers have never been enough, this would mean disappointing the customers. What if we had good connection and enough computers? Our location was not so strategic for the web café users and other activities like crafts.

At the new location in Acholi quarters – Kireka – Kampala, if we put up a web café and a secretarial bureau, we shall have customers for these activities including crafts because two secondary schools, three primary schools, a university and hostels surround us!

What do we have to make this happen? There is enough space in our office, five computers, tables, chairs and a standby generator. This leaves us with needs of more ten computers, a printer, photocopier and good Internet connection. Views, comments, questions, additions, subtractions are the only way to make this a reality.

Summary

• What are you going to do? (in one sentence if possible)

We are going to buy more computers and get a good internet service provider.

Do you want to say high-speed internet connection?

Background

• What have people done with regard to this issue already?

People have welcomed the idea because this is their major problem

Here you want to tell us if anyone has set up an internet cafe with a high-speed line. Tell us about the normal internet cafe: how many computers? speed of connection? amenities?

A normal internet cafe has 15 to 20 computers with speed of 65 and above.

• If anyone is pursuing a similar strategy, have they been successful?

Yes there has been success that is why I have developed interest in the similar strategy.

• Quantify past success or failure of similar plans

Past failure of similar plans was due to a slow internet connection and lesser number of computers.

• Why are existing methods not solving the problem?

The existing method is very slow (it is what most people use) and it is good for maybe only one to two computers.

• Who is the “customer” for the technology you are providing?

The general public is the customer for this technology.

• Does your market think this project is a good idea?

Yes my market thinks this a good idea because what we we want to do as a community - without computers or internet, we can not do it.

• Go ask them and provide evidence that they think so.

Since we have already tried with the insufficient one, there has been a advice to get a better one.

• What are the risks of failure, in broad terms?

I don't see any risk of failure in broad terms if every thing is set well.

Here you have to look at what happens if you fail. You are going to be investing in a lot of hardware. If the cafe doesn't work because it has to be too expensive or because you can't get a good high-speed connection, what do you lose?

Here we may loose only the installation fee because after installation there is a monthly fee that you can stop to pay if business is not paying back.

• What are the potential pitfalls of your plan?

One of the pitfalls of this plan is failure to meet the necessary requirements to set up the technology.

Be more specific.

• What are the potential consequences if something doesn't go as expected?

The potential consequences might remain the usual problems of slow connectivity and so difficulty in doing the community work and members still will not learn what they expect if the technology is set up.

If you have borrowed money to get your equipment, how do you pay it back in the case of failure?

Economics

• Is your project sustainable?

  • What are you selling, and to whom?

• How big is your expected market?

We are going to sell internet services and also train our members and the expectation is high.

• If you controlled all of the customers, how much could you make?

Around 180,000/= to 200,000/= per day

• Who makes money in this market right now?

It can be the cafe users, cafe owner but the internet provider makes it right.

• How will you compete against prior business X?

• Who is your economic “customer”?

The economic customer here is the cafe users and computer learners.

• Where could you get start-up money?

Maybe loan or fund raising.

• How could you find this source?

By the help of other wellwishers.

• What are your costs associated with doing business?

Power, labor,

If you are operating a cafe, you have ongoing expenses for the food and drinks too. Ink. what else?

• What are the financial risks of failure?

Financial risk of failure here could be low income and improper financial management.

Improper management is not a risk of failure...it is a cause.

Technology

• Is the technology feasible?

Well the technology is feasible and I will provide letter from the expert

• (provide citations/evidence/letters-from-experts if there is any question)

• What are the risks of failure associated with the technology?

Could be the location if not permanent because may not require distablizing.

I don't understand what you are saying here, Peter.

Resource Requirements

• What resources do you need?

  • (startup capital, contacts, information, technological inventions, anything that you don’t have right now.)

The resources needed is: startup capital

How much? Make a list with prices. Be specific: What kind of computer? How much memory? Printer? Paper, ink. Desks or tables? Coffee pot? Refrigerator?

• How long will these resources last?

  • Especially in the case of money, how long until you run out of startup funds and need to be making money?

Objections / Questions

• (List each objection with a possible answer) Objections could be technological, economic, social or anything raising controversy.

  There will be objections ... I will guarantee it. Most of them will be social.