Information for Phase 2. Below you will find the information for Phase 2

### Additional description section. In case participants wish to add an update to their abstract, please use this field.

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### Overview of the solution/proposal (*). The non-technical overview of the proposed solution (500 Words recommended).

Our proposal aims to provide a messaging service based on voice notes to isolated communities that do not have even the most basic messaging services. A solution like ours would be of great help: inhabitants could have access to a news system, weather notifications, prices of certain goods they wish to sell or buy and be able to schedule medical appointments before moving to another place.
Our solution incorporates devices that use different wireless technologies, which allow them to establish links over long distances and in turn function as access points where users can connect. These devices are low cost and have low power consumption. We are designing a frugal generic architecture to provide computing services in poorly connected and resource-constrained scenarios.
We have developed the necessary mechanisms for the devices to be able to communicate with each other, handling different types of content, from text messages, sensor data to voice notes. In addition to providing an interface through which users can send or receive messages.
Our goal is to provide a voice messaging system that allows users who cannot read or write to send voice notes. This would be a clear advantage in isolated communities with a high rate of illiteracy, thus expanding the number of people who can communicate in a more friendly way.
Currently we have implemented an infrastructure with low power consumption and low-cost devices, with which we have been able to perform various tests of the system's operation. Voice messages can have a maximum duration of up to 50 seconds. We have conducted various tests where we have been able to transmit messages of different sizes over distances of several kilometers and experiment with different wireless technology configurations as well as transmission times. These tests allowed us to evaluate the performance and reliability of our proposal.
We believe that our proposal could be useful in the design of solutions for isolated communities. Our solution is inclusive, as it allows illiterate users to communicate while being beneficial, as it provides a clear solution to a specific problem. We consider this solution to be highly sustainable, as all the HW required is low cost and undemanding in energy resources.

### Solution details CO (*). The technical and/or solution-specific details (500-1000 Words recommended). As part of your response, if this is a technical initiative, please share more about what would you develop in the case of a conceptual submission. Is there/would there be open architecture? Does/can/will the initiative take advantage of open source models?

Our solution aims to provide a messaging system for isolated communities based on LoRa. LoRa is a wireless technology that enables long distance links, with low power consumption. With LoRa, remote locations, such as rural areas, can benefit from connectivity-based services that would otherwise be impossible. We have developed a flexible protocol based on this technology, called LoRaCTP, which enables the transfer of "content" over long distances with very low power.
LoRaCTP provides all the necessary mechanisms to make LoRa reliable, introducing a lightweight connection setup and ideally allowing data messages to be sent as long as necessary, the only limitation being duty cycle regulation. Using LoRaCTP, we are designing a frugal generic architecture to provide computing services in a low-connection, resource-constrained scenario.
The architecture we propose consists of central devices (Hub's) integrating various wireless technologies (WiFi, LoRa, Bluetooth), which will generate a wireless access point where users can connect using their mobile devices to send or receive messages. The Hubs will transmit these messages over long distances using Lora and LoRaCTP.
Users will be able to generate text or voice messages, in case they are not literate, which can be received by a specific user or by all users connected to the network.
For text messages we have developed a simple web page, where the target user is indicated and the message to be sent is typed. Illiterate users on the other hand will be able to use a friendly graphical interface where they can select by pictures the target user and record the voice message. These messages will go through an audio compression process so that the devices can transmit the message.

### Beneficiaries. Who are the current beneficiaries/can you describe them (for conceptual submissions, who are the intended beneficiaries?)

Primarily our solution can benefit less developed countries or rural areas of developed nations, including people who cannot read and write, through voice messaging. It can also benefit rural communities by providing access to health services, communication, education, etc.
In addition, our proposal can be used by control centers to collect data from sensors over long distances.

### Innovation: (*). Describe the degree to which the solution to an identified connectivity problem/issue is novel, unique, and original, in terms of its increase or improvement in connectivity, commercialization, or business models (200-400 Words recommended).

The proposed solution is innovative as it allows human communication using a wireless technology that has been originally designed for sensor data. We are making use of the low cost and long range capabilities of LoRa to provide a wireless link to remote communities. The solution can be easily commercialized, as it uses off-the-shelf equipment.

### Relevance: (*). Describe the degree to which the solution solves or addresses an identified connectivity problem/issue and the digital divide (200-400 Words recommended), particularly: 1) relevant to underserved communities in the targeted area; 2) delivering real value to its users in the targeted area; or 3) suitable for submission in the specific use case. (whenever possible, please use numeric or quantifiable data with references)

Still in 2021 half of the world population is not connected to the Internet. Part of the problem is the lack of infrastructure, but access to electricity is the biggest issue in most rural areas. Using a low power technology such as LoRa can be part of the solution, as the devices can be powered by solar energy at a very low cost. The long distance capabilities of LoRa can be used to connect communities that would not be reachable via traditional wireless standards.

### Sustainability CO: (*). Describe how your solution is planning to achieve sustainability including both financial/business (e.g. investment/revenue streams) and technical (e.g. implementation aspects). In answering financial/business sustainability, it would be helpful if you can address the following questions (200-400 Words recommended):
> • Is there broader support for the initiative beyond your organization, either financially or otherwise? Does any of this support come from industry partners or government entities? If so, can you highlight details on this?
> • Is this a market-based model or are subsidies required to achieve ongoing progress?

From the technical point of view, the solution is sustainable: the devices are extremely low power and can easily be powered via a small and low cost solar panel. The nodes can be placed on top of building/houses/huts with no need for expensive towers.
LoRa networks do not require any recurrent costs to operate, so the initial cost for the devices is the only financial expenditure. A business model can be developed where business owners from the city acquire devices for their partners in remote/peripheral areas to be able to quickly communicate in order to optimize the business operations. The cost of the device (50USD) can be recovered in one year of operation (given a monthly mobile phone cost of 4USD).

### Scalability CO: (*). Describe the capability or potential with which the implementation of a particular solution can be easily scaled up, within and without the targeted geography/demographic, to benefit/potentially benefit a broad number of people and/or support areas with demonstrated lack of connectivity or usage (200-400 Words recommended).

Our proposal is based on the concepts of community networks; therefore, it can be easily expanded, new access points or new users can be added to the system. We use LoRa technology, because of its ability to enable long distance links.
When used as a messaging system for rural communities, villagers could use it to communicate within their community, with other communities and with cities. And thus, be able to access services or information that may be useful to them.
New users or communities will be able to make use of the messaging system if they have the necessary devices, which are low cost and low energy consumption.
The solution we propose can be deployed in different geographical areas, but one of the main limitations is that the devices used must have a clear line of sight, once this limitation is overcome, the messaging system can provide connectivity.

### Efficacy CO: (*). What do you estimate to be the cost/benefit ratio of the solution? (calculated as the cost of the solution per person or service it benefits in US$.) How does this compare with other existing or comparable solutions, to the best of your knowledge? Also, to what extent would the cost of the solution be reduced if your initiative achieved greater scale? (200-400 Words recommended).

Obtaining actual values for the cost/benefit ratio of the solution strongly depend on the actual solution and scenario this solution would be adopted. Considering the case of a farmer willing to check and compare the price of some good he is willing to sell in different market, this solution would mostly save time for the farmer to actually get to the different markets to get the values to compares. So, we could be talking of days vs minutes, thus allowing the farmer of this example of not wasting time travelling, thus attending his crops, and selling in the best location, thus obtaining the highest revenue.
Another possible application is a patient asking for opinion to his/her own physician. This can be done in minutes instead of days, and a unique physician can take care of a bigger area or a greater number of patients.
The greater the scale, the better the efficacy of the solution, since more and more services could be reached by more and more users.

### Readiness CO: (*). Describe the readiness and maturity level of the team for solution development/deployment/growth. Have you filed patents where appropriate? What is the experience and expertise of the team? What is the team’s growth vision? How does the team plan to get the support and buy-in from the community? (200-400 Words recommended).

The solution is yet at the level of a conceptual solution. All the authors proposing this solution have experience with the technologies involved in the project and have a strong background in programming. We therefor consider that preparing a prototype solution would be reasonably simple. Creating a functional device that could be distributed to some Pilot run could take some time, especially to deal with the robustness and self-adaptability of the solution.

### Risk Level: (*). In addition to discussion of standard business risk elements like operations, compliance, economic/financial, please describe your analysis of the risks of the proposed solution, based on factors such as its complexity, regulation, stringent technology/implementation/market requirements, community or beneficiary buy in, intermediaries or partners, or vulnerability to local or regional geopolitical changes (200-400 Words recommended).

The major risk is given by the regulation. As much as the frequencies used are in the ISM bands, specific countries might have regulatory limitation for the use of the spectrum. This has happened in the WiFi spectrum, where some countries have limited the use of this technology to indoor only or have requested companies to be licensed to be able to install devices.
Minor risks are related to physical security of devices: as the nodes are small and are powered by solar panels, they can be easily stolen as the panels can be reused. A strong community involvement could help prevent such issues.
A short learning phase is necessary to operate the system. Involvement of the local community and a clear view of the benefit related to its use will help overcome this fear.

### Social Impact CO: (*). Describe the potential positive impacts on or contributions to society your solution would make in terms of citizens’ quality of lives (e.g. equality, employment) if your solution succeeds. Additionally, if you anticipate that your solution could have wider benefits (e.g. healthcare, education, agriculture, etc.) then please indicate (but only where this can be attributable to your solution). If your solution is targeted towards an intermediary (like an ISP or Telco operator), what evidence do you have that the benefits (such as lower prices, etc.) are passed on to the end user? (200-400 Words recommended).

Our solution can generate different positive impacts in isolated communities, not only to be able to have a means of communication with other communities and cities, as it could also be used for the dissemination of news services or weather forecasts and keep the population informed.
In the field of health, the messaging system can be used so that people can schedule appointments at medical centers without having to make trips to do so.
Education is another major problem in isolated communities. By having access to a means of communication such as ours, students could receive their homework if they have not been able to attend school.
Farmers would also benefit, as they would be able to know the price of a certain good, they wish to sell or buy before traveling to the city.
In turn, control centers could monitor rivers or lakes and alert a community if it is at risk of flooding.
In cases of natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods, communications services are often damaged or saturated, our proposal, by not depending on any kind of service provider, can continue to operate to request or provide assistance.

### Inclusion: (*). Describe the inclusivity of your solution with respect to the target audience/beneficiary. Is your solution able to address underserved user communities such as women, children, elderly, low income, accessibility challenged, LGBT+ etc., or help them overcome the digital divide? Please also address whether your solution can reach people where it is more convenient and/or where they will feel safe (such as in their homes)? (200-400 Words recommended).

Isolated communities are the main objective of our solution, since having a means of communication with other communities or cities, the quality of life of the inhabitants will benefit in many aspects.
Our proposal is capable of sending text messages over long distances, which can contain various types of information, however, we know the high rate of illiteracy that exists in rural communities, where the highest percentage of these people who cannot read and write are women and girls, for this reason we have integrated a friendly interface that allows the recording of voice messages that will be of great help for the villagers to make use of our messaging system.
Our solution can be installed for use from a home to a community access location, this gives villagers the freedom to communicate from anywhere in their community, without having to move to a specific location where they may also have no privacy.

### Anticipated Challenges/Obstacles (*). Please indicate what impediments/challenges exist, and any anticipated barriers to adoption. This may include, but is not limited to, technological, market-based, cost, socio-cultural issues, compliance, etc. (200-400 Words recommended).

The solution we propose has several challenges to be adopted, to mention a few, many isolated communities lack electricity services, which represents an extra economic expense in its implementation if you want to use batteries or solar panels.
Another important challenge for our proposal could be the little or no contact of the residents with technological devices, generating a bit of fear or rejection of the use.
One of the biggest challenges for implementation will be that the devices must have a clear line of sight to be able to transmit between them, which represents a geographical barrier or, failing that, the use of some type of communication tower.

### Standards. Would you like your application reviewed by the IEEE Standards Association for potential standardization projects?
> (Yes/No)

No

### Standardization challenges:. Describe any aspect of current standards that represent an obstacle for your solution (N/A if not applicable) (100 Words Max)
>...

The LoRa protocol uses different frequency bands depending on the region where the links are established. In the ITU Region 1 we can use the 868 MHz ISM band, in the Americas the 915 MHz ISM band.

### Standards support:. Describe any potential standards that need to be introduced to support your solution (N/A if not applicable) (100 Words Max)
>...