No abstract

This paper explores how a wide range of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) available in Agricultural Research Institutes (ARIs) if used effectively by agriculture researchers can improve agriculture productivity in Tanzania. A structured questionnaire and telephonic interviews were used to collect data from a randomly selected sample of 64 respondents made up of agricultural researchers, agriculture managers and other agricultural stakeholders in the selected institutes. Data were analyzed using statistical tools. The results indicate that ICTs tools are available in ARIs for the day to day research activities. However, utilization of agriculture journals is very limited due to unreliability and poor connectivity of the Internet and frequent power cuts. Results also show that the uses of specialized ICT devices have not taken a great recognition in agriculture activities which is attributed by low investment of ICTs that can be used for teaching and learning modern agriculture productivity techniques in institutes under this study. Among the challenges hindering the use of ICTs in ARIs includes: inadequate computers and the supporting technological infrastructure, lack of electricity needed to operate computers, unreliable Internet connectivity and lack of systematic ICTs investment; low coordination of agriculture stakeholders due to institutional diversity and department fragmentation. This study recommends that the Government of Tanzania (GoT) should formulate and implement ICT for Agriculture (ICT4A) projects based on a researched conceptual framework related to ICT4A use and Information and Communication Management (ICM) in ARIs in Tanzania.

This study was conducted purposely following various initiatives and programmes by the Government of Tanzania to incorporate ICT in education since 2007 with the National ICT policy theme "ICT for improved education". The study provides insights regarding secondary school students' skills and attitudes in effective use of information and communication technology. The study was a co-relational and cross-sectional survey biased to the quantitative approach involving students, ICT teachers and school administrators. A total of 246 students from six public secondary schools in Tanzania were involved in this study. Primary data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Using inferential and descriptive analyzes, results show that, secondary school students do not have enough skills on effective use of information and communication technologies. However, students have basic knowledge in different aspects of ICTs particularly Internet and various hardware and software available in Tanzania. The implications to the approach of teaching and learning of ICT subjects in secondary schools, its evaluation and assessment and future initiatives related to ICT educations and infrastructure development have impacts towards creating a well-connected society. It is therefore recommended that secondary schools should provide enough ICT tools for students' hands-on experiences. The utmost end result of integrating ICT in secondary education system will eventually be the economic engine of Tanzania by preparing her students for the knowledge based economy.

Mobile applications and social networks tend to enhance the needs for high‐quality content access. To address the expeditious growing demand for data services in 5G cellular networks, it is important to develop distribution techniques and an efficient content caching, aiming to significantly reduce redundant data transmission and, thus, improve the efficiency of the networks. In modern communication systems, caching has emerged as a vital tool for reducing peak data rates. It is anticipated that energy harvesting and self‐powered small base stations are the fundamental part of next‐generation cellular networks. However, uncertainties in energy are the main reason to adopt energy efficient power control schemes to reduce SBS energy consumption and ensure the quality of services for users. Using the edge cooperative caching such as energy efficient design can also be achievable, which reduces the usage of the capacity limited SBSs backhaul and the energy consumption. To support the huge power demand of cellular network, renewable energy harvesting technologies can be leveraged. In addition to this, power supply to the infrastructures is the main challenge to the mobile network operators (MNOs) especially in terms of economic optimum, sustainability, and green energy in developing countries for the growth of cellular networks. Renewable energy–based solutions for MNOs not only reduce the overall carbon dioxide emissions but also provide numerous profits.

Future wireless systems will require higher data rates with better coverage for a wide variety of users operating with a large variety of different systems. To achieve these goals, greater power, interference suppression, and multipath mitigation are needed. Smart antenna gives a promising future for wireless communication systems since it can improve the capacity, extend coverage and provide better quality services by tracking users, switching beams accordingly. In this paper three non-blind adaptive beamforming algorithms, least mean square (LMS), Recursive Least square (RLS) and Sample matrix inversion (SMI) have been studied. Investigation of their performances in tracking a desired user has been made and compared. All the three algorithms direct their beams towards a desired user and place nulls towards interferer. However the rate of their performance differs from each other.

Infrastructure sharing is a practical resource utilization strategy among mobile network operators (MNOs). The rapid growth of data flow and technology migration has increased the costs for both infrastructure deployment and management. Hence, to ensure effective resource utilization, researchers propose a joint venture towers construction for the mobile network in Tanzania. Cost reduction analysis for tower construction has been done through game theory. It has been observed that there is significant cost saving by the MNOs sharing the infrastructure. Based on game theory, it was found that 50% of the cost can be saved when the MNOs cooperate in tower construction, which in turn improves services to the users and increase the network rollout to the remote area. In general, network infrastructure sharing (NIS) benefits both operators and the public at large. The MNOs can have a significant financial saving by avoiding the costs of construction or upgrading the overlapping sites, consolidating the existing sites, and by reducing expenses related to rents, maintenance, and transmission.

No abstract

Farming communities in developing countries are adopting ICT based systems for agriculture. However, few countries have formalized national ICT for agriculture framework to guide farmers and other actors in solving problems as per their technological and agricultural needs. This paper proposes a framework for agriculture productivity in developing countries. First the description of the components of ICT based systems to support different phases of farming cycle is presented. Then the proposed framework is explained how it can be incorporated in the farming cycle to improve agriculture productivity. The authors anticipate that the proposed framework can bring an increase in agriculture productivity by improving communication pathways for agricultural knowledge and innovation systems (AKIS). The proposed framework is grounded on establishment of strong link between farmer-extension agent-researcher (agricultural innovation platform) using participatory approaches.