Samreboi
Community Network.
Affordable, easy internet access for all parts of Samreboi — serving public bodies, private enterprise and households across a vibrant but digitally unconnected part of the Western Region.
Base station at sunset
Sector antenna
On-site installation
Network commissioned
Mast-top antennas propagating signal to the community
2.4 & 5 GHz frequency bands in use
Relay points across Samreboi and adjoining townships
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 made more profound by the Covid-19 pandemic that pushed nearly every business and social activity online.
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 Western Region is noted for having several communities, including very vibrant areas like Samreboi, that remain digitally unconnected — raising the cost of running businesses, cutting off access to social services, and pushing up the cost of living. It is for this reason that this project was conceived, with the aim of extending connectivity to Samreboi and its adjoining communities.
Coverage across Samreboi
Project brief
Serving public, private & householdsAffordable Internet For All Parts Of Samreboi
The Samreboi Community Network provides affordable and easy internet access across the town, serving public bodies, private organisations and households alike. Transmission devices installed in the community deliver wireless internet to residents, while the project promotes the appropriation of ICT through initiatives led by government, civil society and the private sector.
A locally hosted web application delivers electronic educational materials for all levels — especially science and mathematics — alongside an eLearning platform, and bridges the gap between farmers in the village and buyers in the cities by sharing produce pricing and market information over the internet.
What The Project Delivers
A Completely Wireless Network Standardised On Ubiquiti Hardware
With a little TP-Link and D-Link equipment alongside, delivered via a dedicated Vodafone Radwin point-to-point radio for a stable, high-bandwidth backhaul.
Network map · Microsoft Visio
Network map · Google Earth
Dedicated Backhaul
A Vodafone Radwin point-to-point radio delivers a dedicated, high-bandwidth link reserved solely for the project.
The Spectrum
Strategic use of the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands together delivers reliable, high-speed wireless connectivity across Samreboi.
Core Rack
Cat6 runs down to a pfSense firewall server and a 24-port gigabit D-Link switch (DGS-1024D) hosting the web applications and SCN Meet server.
Mast Radios
Two Ubiquiti Rocket M5 units with airMAX AM-5G19-120 sector antennas, a PowerBeam M5 and two NanoStation M5 radios propagate a 240-degree signal.
From The SAXCCU Guest House Mast To Every Township Relay
Base station at SAXCCU Guest House
The physical network starts at the top of the radio mast at SAXCCU Guest House on the Vodafone Radwin point-to-point radio. An outdoor Cat6 patch cable runs down to a server rack, into a gigabit port on the pfSense firewall server, then to a 24-port gigabit D-Link switch (DGS-1024D) hosting the web applications and the SCN Meet conferencing server.
Five further outdoor Cat6 runs leave that switch and climb back up the mast, where two Ubiquiti Rocket M5 units fixed with a 120-degree airMAX sector antenna propagate a combined 240-degree signal, alongside a PowerBeam M5 and two NanoStation M5 radios configured as access points for schools, organisations and nearby communities. The whole installation is powered by two Mercury UPS units.
Samartex AT&P Basic School Relay Point
BAMS Relay Point
I.C.T Relay Point
Samreboi Transport Union Relay Point
Samartex Credit Union Relay Point
Nyembekyere Township Relay Point
A Local Digital Ecosystem, Not Just Internet
Step Network developed and uploaded local content to the Samreboi server so the most useful services stay fast and available even under load.
Donation 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.
SCN Meet
A locally hosted video-conferencing and messaging app built on Jitsi Meet — usable entirely offline, with end-to-end TLS encryption so no one can snoop on a call.
PMALL
Developed by Passion Technology (Ignatus Arkoh Amoah), PMALL is an online multi-vendor e-commerce marketplace serving Wassa Amenfi and beyond, hosted locally and online on the Samreboi network.
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.
Passion Technology
A socially responsible IT partner advancing technology and innovation in rural communities — combining strategic thinking and appropriate technology to bring new digital experiences to Samreboi.
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 at sunset
Sector antenna
Tower climb
Users on the network
On-site installation
Field deployment
Community setup
Passion Technology partnered with Step Network as a socially responsible IT company, combining strategic thinking and appropriate technology to bridge the digital gap and bring new digital experiences to rural communities like Samreboi.
Every Deployment Teaches Us More
Samreboi 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, Samreboi 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