Turning software revenue into zero-cost student connectivity
The Rangpur Campus Network Deployment Initiative is i4E’s social enterprise model in action: commercial ISPbills revenue is reinvested into fiber, network equipment, managed campus Wi‑Fi, and safer educational access.
Global software value. Local education impact.
ISPbills revenue
Commercial ISPs subscribe to i4E’s management and billing software.
100% net proceeds pool
Net software proceeds are reserved for i4E’s public-benefit mission.
Fiber & hardware
Funds source backhaul, routers, switches, access points, and supporting equipment.
Managed, filtered Wi‑Fi
Campus gateways provide controlled access through safer education-focused layers.
Zero student cost
Learners gain a stable environment for research and e-learning without a monthly access fee.
The cost-isolation trap
Fiber backbones may pass nearby towns while schools on the Rangpur periphery remain disconnected.
Recurring commercial broadband costs—estimated in the project context at US$40–$100 per month—can remain beyond an institution’s operating budget. With low commercial margins, school connections receive little market attention, leaving learners dependent on capped, unstable mobile data costing roughly US$5–$12 per month.
Open mobile access also moves safety controls away from the institution. Young learners can face predatory tracking, cyberbullying, malicious advertising, and large volumes of distracting or unsuitable content.
Cross-subsidized “SaaS for Good”
i4E treats high-speed internet as foundational school infrastructure—funded by enterprise technology and delivered for public benefit.
Software earns revenue
ISPs purchase subscriptions to ISPbills, a platform for automating billing and managing network operations.
Net proceeds move to mission
i4E directs 100% of net software proceeds into nonprofit connectivity and education programs rather than private distribution.
Campuses get connected
Available program resources fund the agreed fiber connection and network equipment, with no infrastructure or subscription charge to participating students.
Three controlled layers from fiber to learning
Hardware drop
Fiber backhaul linkA central fiber connection terminates at a protected on-site network point with the required routing, switching, power protection, and access hardware.
Gateway configuration
Managed captive portalTechnicians configure a MikroTik-based gateway and captive portal, separating and managing student and teacher bandwidth pools according to campus needs.
Content filtering
Safer education layerManaged DNS and firewall policies restrict known adult content, malicious advertising destinations, and selected recreational domains while prioritizing academic use.
What the initiative is designed to change
The figures below are the project’s deployment benchmarks supplied for this initiative. Institution-level results should be documented after installation and ongoing monitoring.
| Impact dimension | Before intervention | Deployment benchmark | Intended return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student cost | US$5–$12/month for mobile data | US$0/month for campus access | Student access cost eliminated |
| Campus speed | 1–3 Mbps throttled mobile | 30–50 Mbps fiber connection | Major capacity improvement |
| Digital safety | Open mobile web with no campus filter | All managed campus traffic routed through DNS and firewall policies | Central safety layer |
| Reliability | Unstable tower coverage | Low downtime target of under 2% | More consistent access |
A model designed to be sustainable and repeatable
Financial self-reliance
A globally scalable B2B product creates a recurring mission-funding stream and reduces dependence on unpredictable donation cycles.
Gateway-level control
Central network policy provides consistent safeguards across connected devices without relying only on apps installed by individual students.
Scalable infrastructure
Standardized fiber, routing, access, and filtering layers allow the framework to be adapted for additional education campuses.
Help fund or host the next deployment
Institutions can request an assessment. Supporters can contribute funds or compatible network equipment.