Yazmi, founded by former Worldspace CEO Noah Samara, has launched an e-learning project. The Odyssey service uses Newtec’s multicast technology to deliver education-based content to rural, remote and low-income regions in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

The technology uses the – now somewhat ancient – Worldspace AfriStar and AsiaStar satellites. Trials are currently taking place with two schools in Western Cape, South Africa. Each student in Grade 6 has received an Odyssey 700 tablet and can now access live lectures, as well as supplementary material, via classroom servers installed at each school using the WLAN interface. Solar chargers have also been provided.

As well as transmitting live lectures from a remote teacher, Odyssey also enables the sharing of digital textbooks and notebooks, educational apps, preparatory materials and other files. Teachers can also use the tablet to access live training modules, helping them to be better prepared and more confident in the classroom.

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