Dear ITU-D SG2 Rapportuer?s Group Q10-2/2 members,

A Happy New Year and Best Wishes for 2007 to all of you.

By the kind invitation of Indonesian Administration, RGQ10-2/2 will hold the meeting in Badung 26-27 March 2007 together with the workshop on ?disaster communications? 28 March, and RGQ22-2/2 on ?disaster communications? 29-30 March.

Taking this opportunity , I would like to invite you to actively participate in the e-discussion which was approved by the last ITU-D SG2 meeting in autumn 2006. Also I would encourage you to contribute case studies to the forthcoming meeting using the format in the following ITU-D website http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/CDS/gq/sgq10-2-2.html as approved by the said SG2 meeting. Your input could make the forthcoming meeting productive and beneficial. Indonesian Administration is now collaborating with BDT for facilitating as many delegates as possible to participate in the meeting including provision of fellowship for the LDC participants.

The following is the new arrangements to facilitate the e-discussion members to participates in the e-discussion on 10 different topics authorized by the SG2 meeting(Ref. SG2 and RGQ10 report http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/study_groups/SGP_2006-2010/SG2/SG2-index.html ). Mr. Yukio Miyoshi(contracted consultant with the BDT e-strategy unit) and myself in collaboration with IT department of BDT and under the support of Mr. Alexander Ntoko are promoting e-discussion according to the work plan of the Q10-2/2 for the period of 2006-2010.

Q10 Group has the web log page at http://www.itu.int/ituweblogs/ITU-D-SG2-Q10/ since last year. Some of the participants to E-discussion might find using the web log not appropriate for their working environment. Access speed to the internet is insufficient, or may not check the web log pages frequently.

We established a E-mail distribution address, q10fora@pj9.so-net.ne.jp, for automatic distributions of your inputs to all participants. These inputs could be a simple opinion, an input to be posted on the Weblog, or any other e-mail, so long as those documents are supposed to be read by the E-discussion participants. Please do not send e-mails which are personal or intended to be received by the part of the E-discussion group, because the redistribution of your e-mail through q10fora@pj9.so-net.ne.jp is automatic.

E-mails thus sent to the above address will be distributed to the current participants of about 70 people, including your e-mail address. The contents will be later posted on the Q10 web log page by administrator (Mr. Miyoshi). If these automatic mails should be sent to your different E-mail address or if you prefer not to receive it, please let me know at kawasumi-yasuhiko@s3.dion.ne.jp.

This new feature will supplement the Weblog functions for easy confirmation of what discussion is going on. Also we expect this facilitates exchange of opinions by using normal e-mail correspondence method among all the registered participants.

 

Yasuhiko KAWSUMI

Rapporteur for Q10-2/2 on ?Telecommunications for Rural and Remote Areas?

kawasumi-yasuhiko@s3.dion.ne.jp

(Yukio Miyoshi, Contracted administrator, ymiyoshi@pj9.so-net.ne.jp)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION HUARAL PROJECT - PERU

 

May 22, 2006

Jorge Mesia

OSIPTEL-PERU

 

For financing of the Project, OSIPTEL (THE PERUVIAN TELECOM REGULATOR) awarded funds of FITEL (FUND OF INVESTMENTS IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS FOR RURAL AREAS ? UNIVERSAL ACCESS AND SERVICE FUNDS) to The non-government organization named ?Peruvian Centre for Social Studies? (CEPES). This financing is of character of "no reimbursable". The granted financing was used in the implementation of the proposed activities by CEPES, as well as in the acquisition and installation of infrastructure of telecommunications for the information modules of the 14 localities of the Project.

 

The components of the Project are the following ones:

(i)                   Software for the Agrarian Information system;

(ii)                 Management of the Agrarian Information system;

(iii)                Technical trainning;

(iv)               Acquisition and installation of the infrastructure of telecommunications.

 

Population: *   Directly benefited *   Indirectly benefited

6,000 hab. (farmers) 13,700 hab. (students and public in general)

 

Main obligations of CEPES

 

• Carry out completely all the stipulated activities of the Project, considering that the development of such activities will contribute to the self-sustainability of the project.
• Economical contribution valorized in US$11,280.39 for affording activities of technical training and the study of evaluation of the environmental impact of the Project.
• To submit quarterly reports regarding the products or results of the activities, within the terms established in the Contract of Financing.
• To submit reports regarding evolution of indicators of project's impact defined in the profile of the project, within the terms established in the Contract of Financing.
• Before the third year of operation of the Project, to transfer the infrastructure of telecommunications to the local agricultural organization in charge of coordination of using the river?s water irrigation resources of the Chancay-Huaral Valley.

 

Obligations of OSIPTEL (FITEL):

 

• Carry out the payments of the no-reimbursable financing, in the terms and chronogram defined in the Contract of Financing.

• The financing of FITEL is as described below:

 

INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS and SERVICES - OSIPTEL-FITEL CONTRIBUTION:

 

CEPES-HUARAL PROJECT
OSIPTEL-FITEL CONTRIBUTION	US$
Infrastructure	119,687.32
Payment in advance against the account of the purchases and installations of the network of telecommunications	76,416.00
Payment against surrender of accounts of the purchase and installation of infrastructure	36,416.00
Payment for additional infrastructure	6,855.32
Services	42,407.60
First payment in advance	28,991.76
Second payment	10,355.14
Third payment	3,060.70
	162,094.92

 

The infrastructure of telecommunications is for the fourteen (14) localities that the Project comprises

 

The detail of the additional infrastructure included in Table shown above, to which FITEL has contributed with USS 6.855,32, is shown below (the balance of USS.500.88 to complete the required total amount of USS 7.356,20, was put by CEPES).

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS:

 

Ítem	Descripción	Cant.	Precio (US$.)
P Telephone Switch Allti-X	·    IP Swith, expandable up to 20 ports. It includes PC. 12 IP extensions. 4 CO trunks. ·    Installation, programming, put into operation and training. The IP Switch works in Linux and is a software of open code.	1	2,745.50
Telephone adapters (ATAs) and accessories	·    2-ports telephone adapters (ATA.). ·    Accessories: Gateway Welltech - 4 FXO ports. o        10 pairs Block. o        Protector of trunks R4C1FS Installation, programming, put into operation and training.	12	2,646.86
HP Server -Proliant ML 110	·    Server with 2 Intel Pentium IV processors of 3.2GHz ·    RAM of 1.25MB. ·    HD 36.4GB, Ultra 320 SCSI. ·    LAN card PCI 10/100/1000 WOL Gigabit Etjernet. ·    CD ROM 48X IDE, 5U tower form factor. CD external writer Omega 52x32x52.	1	1,963.84
Total			7,356.20

 

 

COSTS SUMMARY:

Concept	Amount US$
Infrastructure and services (OSIPTEL-FITEL)	$ 162,094.92
Additional Infrastructure (OSIPTEL-FITEL)	$ 6,855.32
Computers (CEPES)	$ 11,280.39
Additional Infrastructure (CEPES)	$ 500.88
Total:	$180,731.51

 

 

INSTALLED TELECOMMUNICATION EQUIPMENTS:

 

a) Central Point: Huaral premises

 

Were installed the following equipments and accessories:

• 04 Grid semi-parabolic antennas of 24 dBi 2.4GHz
• 05 radios (AIRNET Bridge 11 Mb WATERPROOF/POE High Power)    
• 01 multipoint antenna of 12 dBi 2.4GHz
• Cables and accessories

 

Tower is pole type, 39 meters high.

 

b) Typical terminal: for example, of the Chancayllo Premises

 

Were installed the following equipments and accessories:

• 01 Grid semi-parabolic antenna of 19 dBi 2.4GHz
• 01 radio AIRNET Bridge 11 Mb WATERPROOF/POE High Power
• Cables and accessories.

 

Tower is pole type, 30 meters high, mounted on the roof of a building next to the shelter of equipments.

 

c) Typical repeater: for example, of Laura repeater.

 

Were installed the following equipments and accessories:

• 02 Grid semi-parabolic antennas of 24 dBi 2.4GHz
• 02 radios AIRNET Bridge 11 Mb WATERPROOF/POE High Power
• Cables and accessories.

 

Tower is pole type, 36 meters high, mounted on the roof of the building where the equipments are sheltered.

 

Description of IP Network and Voice over IP

 

The technology of VoIP digitizes the voice analog signal and compresses it to 5.3 / 6.3 kbps (G.723), 8 kbps (G.729), 64 Kbps (G.711), etc. The equipments has been configured to use the algorithm of G.723 compression to 6,3 kbps by voice channel.

 

Gateways of voice used can be administered locally (console port) or remotely (telnet).

 

In order to make simpler the task of memorizing the ips of each of the organizations of water irrigation, an identifier has been used (from 22 to 34 , each corresponding to the telephone number of each place).

 

The ?user? and ?password? of the VoIP router, are: "eitg" and "huarcep ##" (# # corresponds to the identifier assigned to the organizations of water irrigation), respectively.

 

 

VOICE OVER IP DIAGRAM - HUARAL

> 

 

> 

 

> 

 

 

CODECS SUPPORT

Supplier : Local dealer ?Telecomunicaciones Computación y Control S.A..?

 

The Switch ALLTI-X supports the following codecs:

GSM

G.729 (optional)

G.723 (only transport)

G.711 A-Law

G.711 Mu-Law

ILBC

LPC-10

MP3 (decoding only)

 

SUPPORT OF PROTOCOLS IP

The Switch ALLTI-X supports the following protocols:

H323

SIP

IAX

 

IP Switch ALLTI-X  ? User Manual

Supplier : Local dealer ?Telecomunicaciones Computación y Control S.A..?

 

MGCP

Notice. - Although system ALLTI-X can support these protocols, TCC S.A. only offers SIP and IAX in its standard configuration.

TELEPHONE INTERFACES

Switch ALLTI-X works with the following interfaces of telephony:

 

FSX: FXO: For connection to a power station E&M: For connection to systems of transmission T1: For digital connection of 24 E1 channels: For digital connection of 30 channels PRI: For connection ISDN of 30 channels BRI: For connection ISDN of 2 channels

 

FSX : For connection to an analog telephone

FXO : For connection to a telephone Switch

E&M : For connection to systems of transmission

T1 : For digital connection of 24 channels

E1 : For digital connection of 30 channels

PRI : For connection ISDN of 30 channels

BRI : For connection ISDN of 2 channels

 

The standard configurations are as follows:

AlltiX20 20 ports

AlltiX32 32 ports

AlltiX64 64 ports

AlttiX128 128 ports

 

Description of some obligations of CEPES

 

Software para el Sistema de Información Agraria (SIA)

 

CEPES has been responsible to carry out the activities for the elaboration and beginning of operation of the data base and the program that will administer the agrarian information and will provide information through Internet to the agriculturists of the organizations in charge of water irrigation. In addition, CEPES has developed software components additional to the required with the purpose of facilitating the tasks of the administrators of the Telecenters.

 

Scope:

 

A system of registry for the Telecenters was designed, which will facilitate the invoicing processes, handling of promotions and administration in general. This software allows:

 

• Statistical data of the use of the Telecenters and its services.
• Controlling the access to the PCs and to Internet.
• Storing and administering the profiles of users.
• Preliminary information of incomes.

 

The handling of this software is simple, generally through the presentation of graphs; is escalable (control of 100 or more PCs), being able to be remotely controlled.

 

At the moment this software is being tested in five (05) Telecenters: Palpa, Retes Naturales, Chancay Bajo, Chancay Alto y Boza-Aucallama.

 

Technical training (324 hours of training at Huaral).

 

CEPES carried out the activities for the training of the administrators and operators of the network, most of which are personnel of the organizations in charge of water irrigation. Emphasis in the training of Radio equipments was put, thanks to which the costs of maintenance of these equipments will be eliminated because the organizations in charge of water irrigation and its personnel previously trained will assume them.

 

Covered points:

 

 

Qualification of Administrators

 

CEPES fulfilled the dictation of three (03) courses.

 

Scope:

 

For the Administrators of the Telecenters was deepened the knowledge of:

 

• Intranet of the Agrarian Information system
• Voice over IP (VoIP)
• Free Software and proprietary software

 

 

Qualification of Operators

 

CEPES fulfilled with the dictation of three (03) courses.

 

Scope:

 

   For the Operators of the Telecenters was deepened the knowledge of:

 

• Intranet of the Agrarian Information system
• Voice over IP (VoIP)
• IP Switch

 

 

Jorge Mesia ? Peru

 

INFORMACIÓN ADICIONAL PROYECTO HUARAL ? PERU

Febrero 1, 2006

Jorge Mesía

OSIPTEL-PERU

 

Para el financiamiento del Proyecto, OSIPTEL adjudicó fondos de FITEL a CEPES. Dicho financiamiento es de carácter de ?no reembolsable?.

 

El financiamiento otorgado se utilizó en la implementación de las actividades propuestas por CEPES, así como en la adquisición e instalación de infraestructura de telecomunicaciones para los módulos de información de las 14 localidades del Proyecto.

 

Los componentes del Proyecto son los siguientes:

 

(i)                    Software para el Sistema de Información Agraria;

(ii)                  Gestión del Sistema de Información Agraria;

(iii)                 Capacitación Técnica;

(iv)                Adquisición e instalación de la infraestructura de telecomunicaciones.

 

Población: *   Directamente beneficiada *   Indirectamente beneficiada

6,000 hab. (agricultores) 13,700 hab. (estudiantes y público en general)

 

 

Principales obligaciones de CEPES

 

Entre otras, las principales obligaciones de CEPES fueron:

 

• Desarrollar íntegramente todas las actividades estipuladas en el Proyecto, teniendo en cuenta que el desarrollo de los mismos contribuirán con el auto-sostenimiento del mismo.
• Cumplir con el aporte a las actividades de capacitación Técnica y Evaluación de Impacto, valorizado en US$ 11,280.39.
• Presentar informes y reportes trimestrales referentes a los productos de las actividades, dentro de los plazos establecidos en el Contrato de Financiamiento.
• Presentar informes de seguimiento referentes a los indicadores de impacto definidos en el perfil del proyecto, dentro de los plazos establecidos en el Contrato de Financiamiento.
• Antes del tercer año de funcionamiento del Proyecto Piloto, transferir la infraestructura de telecomunicaciones a la Junta de Usuarios del Distrito de Riego Chancay-Huaral.

 

Obligaciones de OSIPTEL

 

• Cumplir con los desembolsos del financiamiento no reembolsable, en los términos y plazos acordados en el Contrato de Financiamiento.
• El financiamiento del FITEL se describe a continuación:

 

COSTOS INFRAESTRUCTURA Y SERVICIOS-CONTRIBUCIÓN DE OSIPTEL-FITEL:

PROYECTO ? CEPES-HUARAL
CONTRIBUCIÓN OSIPTEL	US$
Infraestructura	119,687.32
Pago a cuenta adelanto compra e instalación de red de telecomunicaciones	76,416.00
Pago contra rendición de cuentas de la compra e instalación de infraestructura	36,416.00
Pago por infraestructura adicional	6,855.32
Servicios	42,407.60
Primer pago a cuenta	28,991.76
Segundo pago a cuenta	10,355.14
Tercer pago a cuenta	3,060.70
	162,094.92

 

La infraestructura de telecomunicaciones es para las catorce (14) localidades que forman parte del Proyecto, ubicándola dentro de los locales acordados.

 

La infraestructura adicional incluida en el Cuadro de arriba, a la que contribuyó FITEL con US$ 6,855.32 se detalla a continuación (el saldo de US$.500.88 para completar los US$ 7,356.20 requeridos, los puso CEPES):

 

COSTOS INFRAESTRUCTURA ADICIONAL:

 

 

Ítem	Descripción	Cant.	Precio (US$.)
Central Telefónica IP Allti-X	·    Central IP expandible hasta 20 puertos. Incluye PC. 12 anexos IP. 4 troncales CO. ·    Instalación, programación, puesta en funcionamiento y capacitación. La Central IP trabaja en Linux y es un software de código abierto.	1	2,745.50
Adaptadores Telefónicos (ATAs) y accesorios	·    Adaptador telefónicos (ATA.) de 2 puertos. ·    Accesorios: Gateway Welltech 4 puertos FXO. o        Block de 10 pares. o        Protector de troncales R4C1FS Instalación, programación, puesta en funcionamiento y capacitación.	12	2,646.86
Servidor HP Proliant ML 110	·    Servidor con 2 procesadores Intel Pentium IV de 3.2GHz. ·    1.25MB de RAM. ·    HD 36.4GB, Ultra 320 SCSI. ·    Tarjeta de Red PCI 10/100/1000 WOL Gigabit Etjernet. ·    CD ROM 48X IDE, 5U tower form factor. Grabador de CDs externo IOmega 52x32x52.	1	1,963.84
TOTAL			US$ 7,356.20

 

 

 

RESUMEN DE COSTOS:

 

Concepto	Monto en US$
Infraestructura y servicios (OSIPTEL-FITEL)	$ 162,094.92
Infraestructura adicional (OSIPTEL-FITEL)	$ 6,855.32
Computadoras (CEPES)	$ 11,280.39
Equipos adicionales (CEPES)	$ 500.88
Total:	$180,731.51

 

EQUIPOS DE COMUNICACIONES INSTALADOS:

 

a) Punto Central: Local  Huaral

 

Se instalaron los siguientes equipos y accesorios:

• 04 antenas Grid semi-parabolica de 24 dBi 2.4GHz
• 05 radios (AIRNET Bridge 11 Mb WATERPROOF/POE High Power)    
• 01 antena multipunto de 12 dBi 2.4GHz
• Cables y Accesorios

 

La torre tiene una altura de 39 metros, montada en el suelo de  dicho local.

 

b) Terminal típico: Ejemplo, del  Local Chancayllo

 

Se instalaron los siguientes equipos y accesorios:

• 01 antena Grid semi-parabolica de 19 dBi 2.4GHz
• 01 radio AIRNET Bridge 11 Mb WATERPROOF/POE High Power
• Cables y accesorios

La torre tiene una altura de 30 metros, montada sobre el 2do piso de una casa vecina.

 

c) Repetidor típico: Ejemplo, Repetidor Laura.

 

Se utilizaron e instalaron los siguientes equipos y accesorios:

• 02 antenas Grid semi-parabolica de 24 dBi 2.4GHz
• 02 radios AIRNET Bridge 11 Mb WATERPROOF/POE High Power
• Cables y accesorios.

La torre que se utilizó tiene una altura de 36 metros, montada sobre el techo de  dicho local.

 

Descripción de la  Red IP y de Voz sobre IP

 

La tecnología de VoIP digitaliza la señal analógica de voz y la comprime a 5.3 / 6.3 kbps (G.723), 8 kbps (G.729), 64 Kbps (G.711), etc. Los equipos han sido configurados para utilizar el algoritmo de compresión G.723 a 6.3 kbps por canal de voz.

 

Los gateways de voz utilizados pueden ser administrados de manera local (puerto de consola) o remotamente (telnet).

 

Para hacer mas sencilla la tarea de memorizar los ips de cada una de las comisiones de regantes se ha utilizado un identificador (del 22 al 34 correspondiente al numero de teléfono de cada lugar)

El user y password de los VoIP router: ?eitg? y ?huarcep##? (## corresponde al identificador asignado a la comisión de regantes) respectivamente.

 

 

 

 

 

  

  

SOPORTE DE CODECS

Telecomunicaciones Computación y Control S.A.

La Central ALLTI-X soporta los siguientes codecs:

GSM

G.729 (opcional)

G.723 (solo transporte)

G.711 A-Law

G.711 Mu-Law

ILBC

LPC-10

MP3 (solo decodificación)

 

SOPORTE DE PROTOCOLOS IP

La Central ALLTI-X soporta los siguientes protocolos:

H323

SIP

IAX

 

Manual de Usuario de la Central IP ALLTI-X

Telecomunicaciones Computación y Control S.A.

MGCP

Nota.- Si bien el sistema ALLTI-X puede soportar estos protocolos, TCC S.A. Solo ofrece SIP y IAX en su configuración estándar.

INTERFACES DE TELEFONIA

LA central ALLTI-X trabaja con las siguientes interfaces de telefonía :

FSX : Para conexión a un teléfono analógico

FXO : Para conexión a una central

E&M : Para conexión a sistemas de transmisión

T1 : Para enlace digital de 24 canales

E1 : Para enlace digital de 30 canales

PRI : Para enlace ISDN de 30 canales

BRI : Para enlace ISDN de 2 canales

 

Las configuraciones estándares son las siguientes:

AlltiX20 20 puertos

AlltiX32 32 puertos

AlltiX64 64 puertos

AlttiX128 128 puertos

 

 

Descripción de algunas obligaciones de CEPES

 

Software para el Sistema de Información Agraria (SIA)

 

CEPES ha sido responsable de llevar a cabo las actividades para la elaboración y puesta en marcha de la base de datos y el programa que administrará la información agraria y proporcionará información a través de Internet a los agricultores de la Junta de Usuarios. Además, ha desarrollado componentes de software adicionales a los requeridos con la finalidad de facilitar las tareas de los administradores de los Telecentros.

 

Alcances:

 

Se diseñó un sistema de registro para los Telecentros, el cual facilitará los procesos de facturación, manejo de promociones y de administración en general. Este software permite:

 

·         Tener estadísticas del uso de los Telecentros y de sus servicios.

·         Controlar el acceso a las PCs y a Internet.

·         Almacenar y administrar perfiles de usuarios.

·         Tener informes preliminares de ingresos.

 

El manejo de este software es sencillo, por lo general a través de la presentación de gráficos; es escalable (control de 100 o mas PCs), pudiéndose tener control de manera remota.

 

·         Actualmente este desarrollo se encuentra en calidad de prueba en cinco (05) Telecentros: Palpa, Retes Naturales, Chancay Bajo, Chancay Alto y Boza-Aucallama.

 

Capacitación Técnica (324 horas de capacitación en Huaral)

 

CEPES llevó a cabo las actividades para la capacitación de los administradores y operadores de la red, la mayoría de los cuales son personal de la Junta de Usuarios. Se puso énfasis en la capacitación de Radio Enlace, gracias a lo cual se eliminarán los costos de mantenimiento de estos equipos pues serán asumidos por la Junta de Usuarios y su personal previamente capacitado?

 

Puntos cubiertos:

 

Capacitación de Administradores

 

CEPES cumplió con el dictado de tres (03) cursos.

 

Alcances:

 

Se profundizó en los Administradores de los Telecentros los conocimientos de:

 

§         Intranet del Sistema de Información Agraria

§         Voz sobre IP (VoIP)

§         Software libre y software propiestario

 

Capacitación de Operadores

 

CEPES cumplió con con el dictado de tres (03) cursos.

 

Alcances:

 

   Se profundizó en los Operadores de los Telecentros los conocimientos de:

 

§         Intranet del Sistema de Información Agraria

§         Voz sobre IP (VoIP)

§         Central IP

 

 Jorge Mesia - Peru

 

Wireless Network Diagram of Huaral Project

Satellite View

Source: Report of Netkrom Technologies SAC, Lima, 2004

Jorge Mesia - Peru

 

 

 

 

Submitted for Topic 1, Topic 3, Topic 5 and Topic 8B

 

Agricultural Information Project for Farmers of the Chancay-Huaral Valley

 

The pilot scheme in the Huaral Valley, 80 kilometres north of the capital Lima, aims to offer the valley communities up-to-date information on agricultural market prices and trends.

 

The Agricultural Information Project for Farmers of the Chancay-Huaral Valley also provides vital links between local organizations in charge of water irrigation, enabling them to coordinate their actions.

 

The non-government organisation Cepes (Peruvian Centre for Social Studies) led the $200,000 project, also backed by local institutions, the Education and Agriculture ministries, and European development organisations.

 

One of the institutions which supported the project was the Agency for supervision of private investments in telecommunications, in spanish the ORGANISMO SUPERVISOR DE LA INVERSION PRIVADA EN TELECOMUNICACIONES known for short as OSIPTEL. This Agency manages the Fund for Investment in Telecommunications ? FITEL which is dedicated for telecommunication developments in rural areas and those of social interest.

 

The communities comprehend more than 13,000 rural inhabitants, as well as 18,000 students in the region, that also benefit from the telecommunication infrastructure.

 

The 14 telecentres uses only free open source software and affordable computer equipment and was officially inaugurated in September 2004.

 

Summary: HUARAL VALLEY NETWORK

 

·         14 telecentres: Two in the city, with ADSL link to the national network

·         12 interconnected through Wi-fi equipment.

·         Radios: AIRNET Bridge 11 Mb WATERPROOF/POE High Power. Band: 2.4 GHz.

·         Wi-fi aerials built locally

·         One high-spec server in each centre

·         IP Telephone Swith Allti-X

·         Telephone adapters (ATAs) and accessories

·         HP Proliant ML 110 Server

·         Average five low-spec computers in each centre

·         Training as a key factor for the success of the programme

 

The Board of Irrigation Users which runs the computer centres, aims to make the network self-sustainable within three years, through the cash generated by using the telecentres as internet cafes.

 

One of the key elements of the project is the Agricultural Information System, with its website www.huaral.org , where farmers can find the prices for local products, as well as information on topics ranging from plague prevention to the latest farming techniques.

 

The system also helps the inhabitants of the Chancay-Huaral Valley to organize their vital irrigation systems. Water is the main element that unites them all. It is a precious element in Peru's coastal areas, because it is so scarce, and therefore it is necessary to have proper irrigation systems to make the most of it.

 

The information network also allows farmers to look beyond their own region, and share experiences with other colleagues from the rest of Peru and even around the world.

 

The involvement of the farmers has been key in the project's success. Throughout the last years, the people have provided a vital thrust to the project; they feel it belongs to them. The community training sessions, attended by an equal number of men and women, have been the perfect showcase for their enthusiasm. There was an excellent response, mainly from young people. But there were also a great feedback when trained 40 or 50-year old women, who were seeing a computer for the first time in their lives.

 

So far, the Huaral programme promoters say the experience has been very positive, and are already planning on spreading the model among other farmers' organisations in Peru.

 

This is a pilot project, and organizations responsible are thinking of its replication in other places.

 

As another development worth of mention arose as a necessity of one of the localities included in the project, named Cuyo, a 50-family community with no electricity, it was necessary to build a mini hydroelectric system in order to generate 2kW worth of power for the computers, the communications equipment and the cabin lights.

Jorge Mesia  - Peru

 

References

1) FITEL Project documents

2) ?Wi-fi web reaches farmers in Peru?, by Roberto Belo, BBC News website technology reporter, BBC News world edition (Web), 15 December, 2004, 09:26 GMT