[Skunkworks] communicatication project

Hi a friend of mine is has a a project with an ngo that has a communications component supported by the DC*IO*CA, and we are looking for any technology available in Kenya whereby you can do video conferencing and training between countries. We have been told that communication projects that are web-based won't work in Africa due to the slow connection, and we haven't heard of anything besides satellite that is non web-based. Do you know of any? or where he can get informations (websites) n documents etc thanks