Kuntu
Community Network.
Affordable, easy internet access for every part of the Nkusukum traditional communities — public institutions, private enterprise and households alike.
Kuntu, Saltpond
Base station mast
Residents online
Network commissioned
Sector coverage to Saltpond & Mankessim
2.4 & 5 GHz licence-exempt spectrum in use
UPS backup at the base station
Closing A Connectivity Gap That Was Holding A Whole Local Economy Back
The internet has become one of the most important tools for economic development and social inclusion. Its relevance became more profound in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, which virtually brought the world to a halt — increasingly, almost every business and social activity moved online, making access to connectivity a critical issue.
Ghana is no exception to this trend — yet extensive connectivity gaps still act as a barrier to using technology for economic and social advancement. The Central Region is noted for having several communities, including very vibrant areas like the Nkusukum traditional communities, that remain digitally unconnected. It is for this reason that this project was conceived.
Coverage across the Nkusukum area
Project brief
Serving public, private & householdsExtending Connectivity To Nkusukum And Its Environs
Provide dedicated internet service
Provide a virtual learning system
Provide digital literacy skills
Change Of Heart Foundation
Change of Heart Foundation is an NGO supporting community development through school programmes that improve daily living. Their technology programmes funded an internet hub to help educate the community of Kuntu, Saltpond, in the Central Region. The organisation was established in Ghana in 2016.
A Completely Wireless Network, Standardised On Ubiquiti Hardware
With a little TP-Link and D-Link equipment alongside, every link in the Kuntu network is radio-based — from the backhaul down to the last relay point.
Network map · Microsoft Visio
Network map · Google Earth
Dedicated Backhaul
A Vodafone Cambium ePMP Force 300-19R point-to-point radio delivers a dedicated, high-bandwidth link reserved solely for the project.
The Spectrum
The design makes strategic use of the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands together, balancing reach and throughput across the Nkusukum communities.
Core Rack
Cat6 runs down to a pfSense firewall server and a D-Link 16-port gigabit switch (DGS-1016D), all backed by a LightWave 3000 VA UPS.
Mast Radios
Two Ubiquiti Rocket Prism 5AC-Gen2 units paired with airMAX AM-5G19-120 sector antennas, plus a LiteAP AC 16 dBi serving Kuntu and Hinii township.
From The Mast At Kuntu Basic J.H.S To Every Township Relay
Base station at Kuntu Basic J.H.S
The physical network starts at the top of the radio mast at Kuntu Basic J.H.S with the Vodafone Cambium ePMP Force 300-19R point-to-point radio. An outdoor Cat6 patch cable runs down into the transmission room, into a server rack and a gigabit port on the pfSense firewall server.
From another gigabit port the firewall connects to a D-Link 16-port gigabit switch (DGS-1016D). Three further outdoor Cat6 runs leave that switch and climb back up the mast to the radio antennas.
At the top sit three radios: two Ubiquiti Rocket Prism 5AC-Gen2 units paired with airMAX AM-5G19-120 120-degree sector antennas, propagating a combined 240-degree signal to Saltpond and Mankessim — plus a LiteAP AC 5 GHz 16 dBi covering Kuntu and Hinii township. The whole installation is powered through a LightWave 3000 VA UPS.
Kuntu Chief's Palace Relay Point — a LiteBeam 5AC-Gen2 in station mode links back to the base station; a NanoStation M2 re-broadcasts open wireless access to the township.
Hinii Information Centre Relay Point — an identical LiteBeam and NanoStation M2 pairing extends public access to Hinii township.
Services Hosted On The Kuntu Local Server
Step Network developed and uploaded local content so the most useful services stay fast and available even when the upstream link is under load.
Payment App
A robust payment platform lets every user pay affordable rates, covering recurrent internet and operational costs so the network sustains itself.
School Learning Platform
Built by Step Network (Peter Siaw Donkor and Paul Eshun), the eLearning platform gives teachers, learners and parents shared tools and resources online.
SDrive Cloud Storage
An OwnCloud-based backup and file-sharing service. Members back up videos, music and documents to a quoted drive space and reach them anywhere.
Built For Everyone Who Keeps The Community Running
The project is expected to increase knowledge across the Nkusukum communities now that people can reach information online.
Project staff undertake awareness creation exercises — visits to schools, churches and mosques, other departments and NGOs, and printed leaflets distributed in the communities.
The project addresses challenges like power outages and funding limitations by exploring solar energy solutions and seeking partnerships.
From The Field
Click any image to enlarge.
Base station mast
Township relay antenna
Chief's palace relay
Coverage footprint
Users on the network
Field deployment
On-site install
The Change of Heart Foundation funded and supported the Kuntu internet hub as part of its work to improve daily living for the Nkusukum traditional communities.
Every Deployment Teaches Us More
Kuntu is one of five community networks — each project grows our ability to connect the communities that need it most.
By fusing innovation, technical skill and community involvement, the Kuntu Community Network serves as a ray of hope. Together we can bring about a time when the digital era thrives in every location, no matter how remote.
Conclusion