Sustainable Villages for Development (SV4D) is a project led by the Fraunhofer Portugal Research Centre for Assistive Information and Communication Solutions (AICOS), Association of Communications and Telecommunications Regulators of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (ARCTEL@CPLP).
SV4D represents a collection of specific hardware and software aimed at bridging the digital divide by providing connectivity to insufficiently networked regions, promoting the use of ICT and thereby improving the quality of life of many people through sustainable access to the Internet and communication technologies. In addition to the digital inclusion of the individual, these means of information and data exchange also constitute an important instrument for different domains such as health, education, social and environmental services, and overall economic development. As illustrated in the figure below, SV4D combines hardware and software to meet the demands of various domains and giving the necessary momentum to carry out focussed projects tailored to the needs of target communities. At this, it is important to identify the specific needs of a region to ensure the deployments are contributing to a long-term and sustainable success; as an enabler, WiBACK plays a key role but only thrives with the services of SV4D.