Solar Powered VIA pc-1 Information Community Center, Samoa
To showcase the considerable benefits and the sustainability of VIA Solar Computing deployments, VIA established the first ever solar powered cyber community center in the South Pacific, in a remote Samoan village. Developed in tandem with the Samoan ICT Secretariat, the VIA pc-1 Information Community Center is designed to address issues of e-Education, e-Health and e-Governance for local residents, as well as provide business opportunities for the recipient and surrounding communities.
 The remote Samoan village of Ulutogia, Aleipata District was selected for this first solar powered computing deployment due to its erratic power infrastructure, the breadth of its local communities, the lack of formalized education, health and other facilities in the area, and the presence of many eager and helpful citizens wishing to fully participate in the project from the outset. And, like most of the South Pacific, Samoa is blessed with an abundance of sunshine, making solar the logical source of power.
 Amongst a sea of smiling faces young and old, VIA opened the first solar powered Information Community Centre in the South Pacific in August 2006. For most, it was the first time to catch a glimpse of the global resource well online when the first Internet connection was established, and the whole community joined in the excitement!
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VIA pc-1 Information Community Center Configuration
The complete solar system at the Center provides the power for three VIA Power-Saving PCs featuring the VIA pc1500 platform, complete with 40 GB HDDs, DVD ROMs, 15 inch LCD monitors, keyboards, mice and modems, networked to a VIA pc-1 server powered by the VIA pc2500 platform and featuring a 120GB HDD and peripherals, as well as an external fax/scanner/copier/printer. All of this equipment is powered solely by a dual 175-watt photovoltaic solar panel solution from partner Motech.
The first of its kind, the solar powered VIA pc-1 Information Community Center will be a template for VIA and its partners to help bridge the digital divide in emerging market regions that do not have sustainable and affordable supply of power and offer proactive Green Computing solutions for use in urban environments
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