The National Telecommunications Corporation (CNT EP), pursuant to the provisions of the Law Amending the Law of the Elderly and in accordance with the mandate embedded in the Constitution of Ecuador, benefits more than 18,000 users of older by applying an exemption of 50% in the basic  rent of telephone service and the implementation of special modules for care and recovery.
 
Requirements
Users should approach the Internal Revenue Service, IRS, to apply this exemption and according the  information provided by the regulatory body of citizens, they can determine who qualifies to be exempt and not pay the VAT; in addition to the reduction of consumption by 50% in the basic rent directly.
 
Preferential treatment

Integrated Services Centers, CIS, have physical space to care for the elderly in a comfortable and appropriate place. If it is not feasible to go personally to do some processing of requests for products or services of the CNT, authorize in writing to a relative.

 
It should be noted that in case of death of the user, the privileges gained on the telephone line are automatically lost . To be reinstated, it must make the appropriate assignment of rights in the event that the new user is elderly, and the process begins again.

 
Thus, the Ministry of Telecommunications through the CNT EP complies with national government policies and the development of the good life of citizens, seeking to provide more and better telecommunications and connectivity services throughout the country, backed a solid technology platform.

 

(Source: Mintel – Ecuador)

Further details

New law addresses the weaknesses of the networks of telecommunications in disasters, which were revealed in the earthquake of 27 February, especially on backup power antennas, quality of communication services and delivering timely and accurate information to citizens. In case of suspension, interruption or alteration of public telephone service and Internet, users will be compensated.

After the earthquake on last 27 February, President Piñera assumed as one of its commitments to restructure the country's emergency agencies and creating an early warning system "to avoid repetition of dialogues, confusion, ambiguity, we could observe that although we had institutions in charge, none fulfilled its duty to warn the Chileans and may have saved many lives", said the president.

The presidential task has taken a big step forward with the final approval of the National Congress of the Law on Reconstruction and Emergency Telecommunications, which was released yesterday unanimously for the enactment of the Executive. The new body of law creates an early warning system, following the best practices implemented in the U.S.A and Japan, for accurate and timely inform the public how to act in case of disaster.

At the same time, the Act addresses the weaknesses and shortcomings in telecommunications networks exposed after the earthquake happened, increasing the demands on telephone and Internet companies, especially in the field of energy support networks, service quality and communication compensation to users regarding failures or interruptions.

On this last point, the law grants public treatment and Internet service provides automatic deduction and payment of compensation in case of suspension, interruption or disruption of telephone service and Internet. It also clarifies that the discounts and allowances should also apply to services with flat plans and prepaid.

In this way, it seeks to ensure emergency service continuity in the public telecommunications system, providing to the State the tools to coordinate actions and have better infrastructure prepared, identifying critical sites in the network that should have special measures security.

(Source: SUBTEL - Chile)
Further details

Telefónica and Nokia launched the first organic commercial offering in the market, which includes two of the most "sustainable" mobile devices: Nokia N8 and Nokia C7, adapted by the Finnish manufacturer exclusively for movistar. This is the first commercial release to materialize the overall project "Green Customer Experience" of Telefónica, designed to offer customers a "green" experience, since the device was shopping until the end of its useful life.

Spain is the first country where Telefónica starts the project; the proposal will be coming gradually to other countries where the Spanish company has a presence, like UK, Germany, Argentina, Peru and Chile.

This is the first offer "sustainable" integrated between an operator and a manufacturer that links the use of wireless to save power and enables customers concerned about the environment, access terminals made with innovative materials and cutting edge technology and eco-design that minimizes environmental impact, offered for sale also 100% recyclable boxes of smaller size and organic content applications and ad-hoc.

The terminals have ecological applications, reduced packaging, charger, high efficiency and final recycling option. All this accompanied by an attractive commercial offer that rewards the decision to buy this mobile service integrated.

 

(Source: Telefónica)
Further details

Simple mobile technology, like basic cell phones, can be used to save the lives of mothers in childbirth, and improve the care of newborns and children, reaching underserved populations in remote areas. The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH) praises innovation seen at the second mHealth Conference in Washington, and PMNCH Partners’ Forum in New Delhi.

More advanced mobile technology can do even more, such as checking on patients, keeping records, improving diagnosis and treatment in the field, and letting community health workers consult general practitioners and specialists for guidance."With mobile technologies for health, called ‘mhealth’ or ‘mobile health,’ we’re extending capabilities to where they don’t exist today", says David Aylward, who heads mHealth Alliance, a partnership founded by the United Nations Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation and the Vodafone Foundation.

"At the most basic level, mobile phones can be used to keep track of people, call for emergency assistance, remind them of appointments and share information", says Julian Schweitzer, PhD, former Chair of The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Care (PMNCH) and the Chair of the Finance Working Group for the UN Secretary-General's Global Strategy for Women's and Children's Health, launched in September. "But then you can layer on things like check lists, protocols, the steps to ensure a safe birth and action instructions in particular circumstances", says Dr. Schweitzer.

Used by midwives in rural, urban slums and isolated areas, cell phones can also be attached to diagnostic devices, including those used for remote fetal monitoring or remote wireless ultrasound. This lets a midwife or health worker know in advance that a mother must get to a clinic. They can also be used for recording births and deaths or assuring that both women and children get the care they need when and where they need it.

"In the near future, wireless diagnostics like stethoscopes, blood pressure, temperature and insulin monitors, and ultrasounds will enable remote diagnosis and treatment far from the closest doctor or clinic", says Mr. Aylward.

(Source: PMNCH and World Health Organization)

Further details

The highest authorities of the National Telecommunications Corporation (CNT EP) of the regional 2, comprised by Pichincha, Orellana and Napo, reported progress in the province of Orellana.

 
The people of this province have benefited from this service, with a remarkable 496% growth compared to 2008, where connectivity was very low. Fixed telephony grew by 83.09% compared to 2007 and currently have this service more families. This province has significantly increased voice and data services and, in telephony, for example, until 2006 it had 5,584 lines and to date shows an increase with a total of 12,224 lines distributed between several locations.

 
Carlos Loayza, delegate of the General Manager of the CNT EP, reported that the Province of Orellana had 476 Internet ports in 2008 and currently has 2,476 ports, which means an unprecedented growth. The official emphasized that among the localities benefited comprise: Taracoa, Dayuma, Loreto, San Sebastian del Coca, Joya de los Sachas and Coca.

 
The National Government, through its Ministry of Telecommunication and Information Society, cares for the benefits that customers receive from the CNT EP, wich provides the best care to the citizens such as: reduction of response times to customers and delivery of service excellence to raise the levels of satisfaction and quality of life for people throughout the Amazon community.

 
It should be noted that in January 2009, the CNT EP decreased to 50% the values of calls between the 24 provinces. Now call between provinces is 0.02ctvos dollar. This reduction helps more than 1'800,000 subscribers and the National Telecommunication Corporation CNT EP is expected to connect all corners of the country, not only domestically, but also internationally.

(Source: Mintel - Ecuador)
Further details

Telefónica of Perú introduced "Online Business" (NEL), an integrated solution for e-commerce, aimed at professionals, small and medium businesses, allowing them to gain online presence and establish sales channels online at very low cost, opening up interesting prospects for winning new markets and increase their sales worldwide without the need for more investment.

Marcelo Echeguren, Marketing Director of SME Business Segment from Telefónica del Perú said "Today, most SMEs do not have Internet presence, which limits their ability to access large markets and reduces the potential for growth and development. "Online Business" is a turnkey solution that meets this need and reaffirms our commitment to be partners for the development of SMEs". Business Online design tool includes a web page, its own domain, mailboxes, a hosting, technical support by phone and chat and modules for online payments. The latter can have a shopping cart for customers to conduct transactions with debit and credit cards.

For launch, the service is offered free of charge during the first two months; later, as from the third month the customer will have to pay S/.59 (20.98 US$) for their own virtual store with shopping cart included.

(Source: Telefónica del Perú)
Further details

Until the end of this year, the portfolio of Education will implement the first phase of the pilot "My Compu" in order to provide portable computers (laptops) to 3,200 children and 172 teachers from 17 educational institutions in Cuenca, small chuchs of Monay, Totoracocha, Yanuncay and Cañaribamba, and 622 students and 26 teachers from six schools in La Libertad (Santa Elena), as part of its Integrated Technology System for School and Community (SITEC).

In the Government office of Cuenca was signed an agreement with the Municipality of that city for the pilot program. The service includes equipment, awareness, training and assessment, with the input of the municipality on connectivity and logistics.

(Source: Diario El Telégrafo)
Further details

A team of teachers from schools of Neuquén  in Villa La Angostura was one of the winners of American Award for Innovative Education in the Classroom through ICT, which recognizes those educational ventures that successfully incorporated new technologies in the classroom. They were also awarded an initiative of Colombia and one from Mexico.

The event, organized by the Iberoamerican Association of Research Centers and Telecommunication Enterprises (AHCIET), highlighted the work of Gabriela Chaparro, from the school 104 School Corazón de los Lagos, and Alejandra Lopez and Gustavo Perea from the Special School number 18, who presented the project "Para Comunicarnos", which includes the use of computers as an auxiliary resource to facilitate the learning of students with disabilities.

Both institutions will receive 35 netbooks Intel Classmate, two more than expected, which will be split and used according to their specific needs. Also, Ms. Chaparro said that the notebooks will be installed in their computer room, where about 500 children per year, from first to seventh grade, spend their time there.

(Source:CanalAR)
Further details

When you really want to reduce the "digital gap" does not need money. MIN (Child in Zapotec) is an non-profit association that seeks to provide free technology training to the inhabitants of the state of Oaxaca.

Oaxaca is one of the states with the highest rate of illiteracy in the country. 19 percent of people under 15 years old can not read or write, so great efforts are needed so the state gets out of the educational backwardness. MIN puts his two cents. What they do is recycle computer equipment that many consider obsolete, repair, install it - as GNU/Linux- free software and put available for children and young people in disadvantaged areas where technology is almost a luxury.

This, in addition to helping the education of many young people, help the environment by recycling and reuse computer waste which are highly polluting. Its aim is also to spread the free software culture instilling his philosophy. This software is ideal in these cases where resources are scarce and invest in software licenses can be very costly, in addition because the low capacity of the equipments is the only that can operate efficiently.

(Source: VivirMexico)
Further details

During the last week of October, the Venezuelan mobile operator extended its UMTS coverage in 14  new communities, GSM in nine villages and CDMA  in seven localities.

The incorporation of base stations in various parts of the country, to enable mobile communication between more users and service users, reaffirms the commitment of Movilnet, a subsidiary of CANTV, company under the Ministry of Popular Power for Science, Technology and Intermediate Industries in the democratization of access to telecommunications to social justice based on the best technologies available.

Thus, in the last week of October were activated UMTS base stations in places with historically excluded populations such as the city of Amazonas Atures and tourist potential areas as the Archipelago of Los Roques (Federal Dependencies).

The UMTS technology with multimedia capabilities, efficient and fast Internet access through HSDPA (High Speed Download Packet Access) has also been deployed in municipalities of Independencia and San Felipe, Yaracuy state; Guanare Portuguesa, Piar (Upata) of Bolivar, and El Silencio and the Km 9 of El Junquito in Libertador municipality of Caracas.

(Source: CANTV - Venezuela)
Further details

From this year, 98.500 people in 225 isolated rural villages from Junín, get access to public telephone services, residential and / or the Internet via broadband project for isolated locations (BAS) today reported Álvaro Badiola, general manager of Telefonica Peru. "In Junin, the BAS project, implemented by Telefónica and for the Ministry of Transportation and Communications with the funding from the Telecommunications Investment Fund (FITEL), has successfully integrated eight percent of the population of this region to the national telecommunications network", he explained.

Among the beneficiaries are the areas: Chanchamayo, Perené, Yanacancha, Andamarca, Cochas, Mariscal Castilla, Huancayo, Huasicancha, Pucará, Acolla, Monobamba, Sincos, Carhuamayo, Ulcumayo, Mazamari, Pampa Hermosa, Río Negro y Tambo, Satipo, Acobamba, Huaricolca, Huasahuasi, La Unión, Tarma, La Oroya and Marcapomacocha.

Badiola visited Huancayo to head the board of directors of Telefonica del Peru, which met in this city in order to analyze the evolution and prospects of the telecommunications sector in Junín, where Telefonica has more than 890 thousand customers of fixed telephony, mobile telephony , Internet and Cable TV.
"The positive development of telecommunications in Junín responds to the good performance of the economy and businesses in the region," he said.
      
Finally, he said that the Program "Proniño", which fights against child labor through quality education, in Junín is benefiting almost to 2,000 children and adolescents in six educational institutions of Huancayo, Chilca and San Agustin de Cajas.

(Source: Andina - Agencia de Noticias)
Further details

The Vice-Minister of Telecommunications and the Information Society (Mr. Javier Veliz), together with representatives and delegates from various institutions responsible for promoting public safety in the country remained the Third Coordination Meeting of the Plan of Information and Communication Technology ICT for the Citizen Security.

At the meeting, which took place at the premises of the Ministry of Telecommunications, they analyzed the policies of the Plan, which forms part of the Digital Strategy; also they defined the conformation of the Plan Committee and the Planning Team that will represent it. At the meeting, representatives of Mintel spoke on projects developed regarding this subject. Thus, the ministerial adviser, Juan Carlos Cardoso, was involved with the issue "Ecuador Digital Strategy", the Technology Plan Manager, Architect Hugo Gonzalez, intervened on the theme "Functional Structure of the Plan" and the Director of online-Government, Econ. Julia Rodriguez, proposed programs and projects of the Plan.

These resources are applied in projects focused on prevention, mitigation and emergency response of the citizens, which are under the direction of the objectives of the National Plan for Good Living, run by the government.

(Source: Mintel -Ecuador)
Further details

The Government of New Zealand will look into possible mobile-learning initiatives to connect rural schools, following its announcement to subsidise the costs of ultra fast broadband.“The Ministry of Education is currently looking at how to harness the potential of digital devices that nearly all students have already – their mobile phones,” Colin McGregor, Ministry of Education, group manager of curriculum teaching and learning design, told FutureGov Asia Pacific.

“An ‘m-learning’ pilot has already been successfully implemented by Onehunga High School. The Ministry is currently supporting a second project at Howick College in partnership with Waikato University and Vodafone.”

The government has identified broadband as a significant driver for e-learning and equity in education and has committed to providing 97 per cent of schools with access to speeds of 100Mbps or more via the national fibre rollout. The remaining 3 per cent in areas too remote for optic fibre currently receives 10Mbps via satellite or wireless technologies.

The ministry has been using the Virtual Learning Network (VLN), which provides mainly rural students with access to online courses. In 2010, more than 2000 New Zealand students took part in these virtual classes over the VLN.

Other initiatives include the Ministry of Education’s Laptops for Teachers and Principals scheme, which subsidises the leases on laptops for permanent, full-time or part-time teachers at state and integrated schools. The Ministry has about two thirds of the lease cost of the teacher’s laptops and fully subsidises the base model for principals. More than 43,000 laptops are currently on lease, representing an 88 per cent uptake.

(Source: Aisa Pacific futuregov)

Full Story

The Minister of Telecommunication and Information Society of Ecuador, Jaime Guerrero, and the Manager of the National Telecommunications Corporation (CNT EP), Cesar Regalado, officially handed over 8,000 telephone lines in the province of Manabi. The event was developed in the public place of Canton El Carmen, one of the most neglected sectors of Ecuador, as it was noted by its inhabitants.

The cantons that will be benefit from the telephone lines are: Jipijapa, 694 lines; Paján 60; Rocafuerte, 258, Pichincha, 76, Veinticuatro de Mayo, 106; Abdón Calderon, 130; Chone, 1395, Jama, 445, Junín, 690 ; Portoviejo, 563, Pedernales, 685, San Vicente, 30, Tosagua, 970, San Isidro, 488, and El Carmen 1407 lines. The provision of telephone lines will enable, to the inhabitants of the counties in the province of Manabi, connect from home with their families nationally and internationally, without having to go to call centers, also they will benefit from connectivity services - Internet.

(Source: Mintel - Ecuador)
Further details

In order to prevent production practices, transmission and consumption of information online that violate the development and security of minors, confidentiality of personal information of citizens and the copyright, it was launched in Colombia the policy of responsible use of ICT. The presentation of the initiative will take place in the framework of the International Seminar of Digital Culture "en TIC confío" to be held between 10 and 11 November in the city of Bogota and will be broadcast to two Latin American capitals and six cities.

The policy of responsible use of Internet and other ICTs seek to promote the appropriation of new technologies by Colombians and strengthen the process of adopting them to improve their quality of life. To implement it, the government will create the Office of Internet users, which will promote compliance functions of the obligations of the industry regarding the contents and keep them informed about their rights and duties. Address, resolve and follow up complaints and suggestions on the contents that violate the development and safety of minors. The defense will consist of an ombudsman with high academic qualifications and legal experience and a consultant.

 Similarly, the Government will implement other strategies for the implementation of the policy of responsible use of Internet and other ICTs, such as: Protection Program of minors online, masive communication program "I trust in ICT" ("en TIC confío"), Online advice service of prevention and crime reporting, Legal status for the protection of personal information and good name of individuals in line, Legal status for the protection of intellectual property, Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce and International Seminar of Digital Culture "I trust in TIC".

(Source: Mintic - Colombia)
Further details

Mr. Javier Veliz spoke at the official inauguration of the First Congress on Education and Information and Communication Technologies held at the premises of FLACSO in Quito, in order to promote the appropriate use of ICT. The congress was attended by over 500 teachers from public and private schools from different provinces of Ecuador, who were benefited from the knowledge imparted by the discussion of the effective use of ICT through the discussion in groups and forums, in person and virtual, because the event was transmitted via the web channel of FLACSO, which ensured that not only inform the attendees on the progress of science and technology in education.

The ViceMinister of Telecommunication and Information Society spoke about the globalization of Information and Communication Technology and its proper use. In his speech he highlighted the projects undertaken by Mintel Infocenters, highlighting that this project allowed to the community to learn the use of new technologies. Through this projects the community receives equipments, connectivity, digital literacy processes and training to eliminate the digital gap, and foster use of ICT in an inclusive manner.

(Source: Mintel - Ecuador)
Further details

With an investment of about 5.5 billion pesos, "Vive Digital" aims to give Colombia a technological leap over the next four years through the mass of internet and digital ecosystem development of the country. The Plan, wich will be the government policy on ICT over the next four years, was presented by the President, accompanied by the entire cabinet of ministers.
 
The Plan will promote the expansion of infrastructure, building services, application development and technology appropriation by users. This effort is possible thanks to partnerships with private sector initiatives and advanced technology used by all ministries and headed by the President of the Republic, Juan Manuel Santos.
 
The announcement of the Digital Living Plan was made by the government team within the conference ANDICOM organized by CINTEL. Regarding to this point the ICT Minister, Diego Molano Vega, said: "Our commitment as a government will encourage the mass use of the Internet to make a leap toward democratic prosperity. It is shown that the use of ICT tools in the life of every citizen, has a great influence on competitiveness and the development of a country".
 
To carry out the plan, the government will form a Technology Council coordinated by the President of the Republic with the participation of officials from various government and private sector representatives, who will make a detailed analizy and will the scope the goals of "Vive Digital". The formulation of the Digital Living momentum started since 2007 with the ICT Plan, in which more than 13,000 Colombians participated from different regions of the country, with the aim of contributing to the formulation of a plan of mass of use of ICT.

Goals and actions of "Vive Digital":
 As part of measures envisaged for the first 100 days, the ICT Ministry has to introduce the plan "Vive Digital", the technology plan for the next four years, which are established as specific targets for mass internet in 2014:
    * Go from 27% to 50% of households and from 7% to 50% of SME connected to Internet 
    * Multiply by four Internet connections (which mean go from 2.2 to 8.8 million connections).
    * Triple the number of municipalities connected to Broadband through optical fiber networks (from about 200 to 700 municipalities).

To achieve these goals, the Digital Living Plan will develop the digital ecosystem in the country in the following dimensions: infrastructure, services, applications and users, on which will meet specific goals.

Source: MINTIC -  Colombia
Further details

On 21 October, was held the first meeting of the ICT Plan for Public Safety, as part of the Implementation of the Strategy: Ecuador Digital, by the Ministry of Telecommunication and Information Society (Mintel).

Participants who attended the meeting, the Plan Committee members, representing the Ministry of Telecommunication and Information Society were: Mr. Hugo Gonzalez, manager of the ICT Plan for Public Safety; Ec. Julia Rodriguez, director of Online Government, Mr. Alonso Llanos, Director of Broadcasting, Mr. Carlos Freire and Carlos Fernandez as staff members. Also, as a member of the National Planning Secretariat (Senplades) attended the meeting Bolivar Quishpe.

In this meeting, the participants reviewed the methodology to use to enter the Policies, Programs and Projects of the Plan in question, which aims to improve the level of public safety through the use of Information and Communication Technologies, in line with what is stipulated in the National Plan of Good Living. For the Government is important to coordinate actions to strengthen policies for the provision of connectivity, equipment, and digital content readiness.

(Source: Mintel)
Further details

Through the placement of more than 15 kilometers of optical fiber and about 5 000 ports "Aba", the state telecommunications company provides to Venezuela with quality and efficiency of Internet services.

Cantv, as Venezuelan state-owned company committed to the Bolivarian government guidelines give the people the greatest sum of happiness possible. In this way, between April and August 2010, the Information and Communication Technology joined to remote communities in the states of Lara, Bolivar and Tachira. Also, important towns as Santa Elena de Uairen in Bolivar State, Michelena Tachira and the area of Crepúsculo de Lara, which remained outside the country's technological development, now have Internet services, thanks to the fiber optical and the Aba port placement by Cantv.

The telecommunications company, as a sovereign act of mass technology and services in these communities, installed more than 15 kilometers of optical fiber and about 5 000 Aba ports, allowing growth of the telecommunications sector throughout the country. Having a Community Communications Center (CDC Community), a Infocenter, Bolivarian Centers of Informatics and Telematics (CBIT), Equipped Internet Plans and connecting to State agencies; are some of the benefits offered by installing this fiber optic cable by Cantv.

(Source: CANTV-Venezuela)
Further details

"I come to report about a project that you know, that is the subject of submarine cable. I came to inform it because the project had a very interesting twist", noted Mario Esquivel (owner of the company Copaco), he gave this report at the presidential residence. "Do You remember that the Paraguayan proposal was that the cable, to reach Buenos Aires, switch back by Paraguay and Bolivia, and back out to the Pacific Ocean", he said.

The owner of Copaco, with President Fernando Lugo Esquivel announced on Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th October meeting in San Pablo, Brazil, representatives of companies in the Southern Cone countries considered an alternative that enhances the project. He mentioned that the alternative is to create a regional network to join the submarine cable, a network for Paraguay, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. Regarding to this point, he said that the business representatives from each of these countries will analyze and design a technical project for a regional Network.
 
"This is what I came to inform to the President because I felt that is a very interesting topic for the country and the region because it greatly enriches the project", he said that when the project will materialize, Paraguay will have direct access to nodes or points of global connections at lower cost and faster.

(Sources: AHCIET, Presidencia de Paraguay)
Further details

Electronic Government and Electronic Commerce, were analyzed at the Virtual Cabinet meeting held at the "Palacio de Carondelet", chaired by the President of the Republic, Rafael Correa. "Soon we will see the results, is the main project, perhaps from the public administration", said the President. This is a computer system which will be useful for trade massively as well as the attention of Government to citizens, through the use of new technologies. The goal of electronic government is the transformation into a model of public administration, based on the use and development of Information and Communication Technology.

The President explained that according to international indicator, Ecuador is located in the eighth position among Latin American countries, while worldwide it is in 95 posision among 192 countries. The Electronic Commerce, for its part will let the systematization of various formalities, such as business creation, taxes, loans, licenses, procurement, employment agencies, among others.

Currently it is in process the agreements between Ecuador and Argentina, Cuba, Chile, Spain, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru and Uruguay, to process  universal orders.

(Source: El ciudadano Newspaper - Ecuador)
Further details

About 10 million people in Colombia have internet access, but the information contained in web pages is accessible?. Web accessibility refers to the characteristics and conditions that must have documents and Internet pages that can be accessed by different users, regardless of their physical, sensory, cognitive or technological.
Nowadays the citizens' access to Internet, to new information technologies and communication, is considered a factor of economic growth and social inclusion throughout the world. In Colombia, the State forward strategies to ensure that all citizens can access information and services and transactions online, available on the websites of the State.

One of them is the creation of the Standards Committee, which includes representatives of the Colombian Institute of Technical Standards and Certification (ICONTEC), the Ministry of Information and Communications Technologies (MINTIC), the National Institute for the Blind (INCI), the National Institute for Deaf people (INSOR), La Salle University, the University District and National Open (UNAD); The United Nations Program for Development (UNDP), the Government Online program, Astrolabe and Colnodo.

As part of the actions taken by that Committee, they made available to the public knowledge the project "Technical Standards for Accessibility of web pages in Colombia", which seeks to establish accessibility requirements to be implemented on Web pages of the Country . The rule raises a number of technical tools (hardware and software) that will remove barriers for access to online information and use the information technology. Similarly, the rule seeks technical guidance to national government agencies and businesses in general to approach to this issue, web accessibility.

(Source:MINTIC-Colombia)
Further details

The Bangladeshi mobile operator Grameenphone (of Telenor Group) has set up more than 500 Community Information Centers (CICs) across the country, offering low-rate, but high-speed voice, data and other communication services to previously unconnected people.

Set up with technical assistance from the GSM Association in 2006, Grameenphone CICs are equipped with a minimum of a computer, a printer, a scanner, a webcam and an EDGE-enabled modem to access the Internet. The CICs provide high speed Internet access in rural areas, where the nearest Internet facilities would otherwise be at least 20-30 miles away. The centres are extending connectivity to those who have no alternative access to communication technologies and to those with little to spend on such services.

The CICs are designed to be run independently as small businesses by local entrepreneurs. The centres are set up in selected rural areas around the country, and people pay a small fee to access email or Web pages. Together with partners, Grameenphone also provides microcredit if needed and trains the entrepreneurs so that they become aware of the full potential of their business.

(Source: Telenor)

Further Details

Two new acts in the rural area of the country allowed the official launch of mobile services and public telephony from the nationalized company, Entel. This time it was in the department of La Paz; Quime in the province of Inquisivi, and Laja, in the province of Los Andes, celebrated the arrival of the coverage of Entel.
The inauguration of the base stations with thecnology GSM 850, corresponding to expansion projects of rural mobile coverage, Entel has been implementing this project in coordination with the Ministry of Public Works and Housing Services.

QUIME
To 4.5 hours far from the seat of government, the population of Quime, at the time of its CXXIII creation anniversary, celebrated the opening of the phone antenna which reaches more than 3,000 inhabitants, as well as the population of chyme, the antenna coverage reaches Irupaya communities, Itiamaya, Marquirivi, Ornuni, Lurini Lurini Chico and Grande.

LAJA
The antenna of Entel allows the arrival of mobile telephony and public telephony, benefiting more than 3,000 inhabitants, as extended coverage, as well as Laja, the antenna reaches communities of Caicoma, Sullcataca Alta and Baja, San Cristobal, Tambillo Pomacolto and Santa Rosa. The historic town of Laja is located at 27 km distance from the seat of government.

In both openings, hundreds of children received traditional schoolbags of Entel, which was delivered by the social responsibility area of the company.

(Source: Entel - Bolivia)
Further details

Digicel, in partnership with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, is starting a new initiative which will deliver broadband internet service for free to communities and schools across the twin-island nation.

The initiative – entitled “Technology for Communication, Education and Empowerment” – is a joint initiative between Digicel and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and will use Wi-Fi technology to bring Broadband Internet into 3,000 homes across the communities of Grays-Green, Yorks, and Lower Gambles, as well as more than 5,000 secondary school students.

Digicel is partnering with the government to provide community computer access centres in 12 secondary schools, which will include the physical infrastructure as well as the furniture and air-conditioning. Each of these community access centres will accommodate at least 20 students. The initiative will significantly increase the number of households with regular access to the Internet as schools, homes, and villages get connected for the first time.

(Source: Caribarena Antigua)

Full Story

The State Governor, Mr. Fernando Ortega Barnes and CEO of Telmex, Mr. Hector Slim Seade, made a working trip in which they carried out various actions for the "TELMEX 2010: Boosting Innovation Technology", and the social programs of Telmex Foundation for the benefit of Campeche. Thus, in the framework of TELMEX 2010, they announced the operation of a total of 20 digital classrooms in shortly, opened a new public site Mobile WiFi connectivity in Infinitum to reach 50 public sites, and a new Digital Library from a total of 89 that the company operates in the state.

Regarding the impetus for Information Technology, TELMEX signed a cooperation agreement with the Technological Instituto of Calkini (ITSCALKINI) to add to this Institution of Higher Education to the "Plan of Universities. Comprehensive Education Solution" to its participation in the Network for Research and Academic Innovation. This "Academic Portal" is the development of a digital space where students, teachers and researchers in higher education institutions and businesses have free access to content, innovative practices and educational projects. Also, it has the objetive that ITSCALKINI would have available a world-class infrastructure, supported by the Intelligent Network of TELMEX, the company began operating the Fiber Optic Institutional Network and opened the first Intelligent Building and Design Laboratory.

Additionally, Telmex began the installation of public telephones for disabled people, gave to the state DIF 280 wheelchairs from a total of 810, and 1306 bicycles for the program "Help me to get" from a total of 4.210 bicycles; donated by Foundation Telmex.

(Source: Telmex México)

Further details

The objective is that local hiring, use and share free solutions based on technical conditions of tender for the same. This guide is the first of the products generated in the project environment ALIAL, and is available for download at http://www.cenatic.es/url/guia_alial

In a ceremony held today in Madrid, red.es (public company under the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Society Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade), ASOLIF (National Federation of Free Software Companies) and CENATIC (National Reference Center for the Application of ICT-based Open Source), presented the Best Practice Guide for Tendering free development by local government. This is the first of the products generated in the project environment ALIAL (http://www.alial.es), whose objective is that local recruit, use, sharing and reuse open source solutions based on technical conditions of tender of them.

The expected outcome is to improve the current dynamics of technology procurement by the Spanish councils, to ensure it is technically, legally and procedurally feasible to share their solutions and thus contribute to improving the efficiency of their investments technology. This has been highlighted in this act, where participated Sebastián Muriel, General Director  of red.es, Miguel Jaque, manager Director of CENATIC , and Paul Gomez, President of ASOLIF.

(Source: Red.es)
Further details

To coincide with International Day of Rural Women – commemorated every year on 15 October -, Womenwatch launched an updated online feature on “Rural Women and Development” last week ( http://www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/idrw/ )

The International Day of Rural Women directs attention to both the contributions that women make in rural areas and the many challenges they face. Established by the General Assembly in its resolution 62/136 of 18 December 2007, this international day recognizes “the critical roles and contribution of rural women, including indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.” Rural women form the backbone of the agricultural labour force across much of the developing world. According to the 2009 ILO Global Employment Trends for Women report, globally, more than a third of the female workforce is engaged in agriculture while in regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, more than 60 per cent of all female employment is in this sector.

You are kindly invited to visit http://www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/idrw/ to view the thematic portal, which includes the SG's message for the 2010 commemoration (in all official UN languages); a new feature article “Investing in rural women contributes to food security” provided by FAO; and links to resources on other UN websites, such as IFAD’s recent publication "Report on the Special Session of the 2010 Farmers’ Forum, Promoting Women’s Leadership in Farmers’ Organizations and Rural Producers’ Organizations."  

The updated online feature/portal on Rural Women and Development complements Womenwatch’s comprehensive directory of UN resources on gender equality and women’s empowerment and Womenwatch’s UN system-wide gender equality newsfeed at http://www.un.org/womenwatch/ungen/.

Womenwatch (http://www.un.org/womenwatch) is an inter-agency project managed by the Division for the Advancement of Women (now part of UN Women) on behalf of the United Nations Inter-agency Network on Women and Gender Equality (IANWGE). It is a unique knowledge sharing platform, designed to provide access to Internet-based information on all the United Nations entities’ work and the outcomes of the United Nations intergovernmental processes on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

(Source: WomenWatch -United Nations)
Further details

The Ministry of Telecommunication and Information Society (Mintel) and the National Telecommunications Corporation CNT EP signed the Agreement for the implementation of the project "Provision of equipment and management support for fiscal establishments in the provinces of Ecuador". The purpose of this agreement was to formalize the delivery of technological equipment, computer and communication tools to educational establishments in the provinces of El Oro, Loja, Zamora Chinchipe, Cotopaxi, Imbabura, Chimborazo, Napo and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas.

The provision of computer will benefit to 330 schools in the provinces mentioned above.The investment in this equipment is US$ 4'009.536,29, divided by provinces as follows: Loja, US$ 802.756,88, Chimborazo, US$ 428.110,88; Cotopaxi, US$ 748.568,18, Imbabura, US$ 431.945,55; El Oro US$ 1.065.439,59, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, US$ 207.957,46 ; Zamora Chinchipe, US$ 168.049,86, and Napo, US$156.707,89.

As an organization committed to the development of Information and Communication Technologies  in Ecuador, through the Convention, the Ministry of Telecommunication and Information Society guarantees equal access to technology services and promote their effective use, efficient and effective. Moreover, the commitment of the telecommunications operator is to deploy, install and distribute the goods supplied. The agreement will last for 12 months time d uring the development of the project, Mintel, through the Universal Access Authority, will oversee and supervise the technical monitoring of this proyect.

Computer equipment and social inclusion in processes of technological development is central to the Government, wich seeks that all the inhabitants are part of the new technologies.

(Source: MINTEL-Ecuador)
Further details

ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré and Mr Paulo Campos, Vice-Minister for Public Works, Transport and Communications of Portugal, signed an agreement that Portugal, through its e-School International programme, will provide comprehensive technological solutions for schools in a number of interested countries as part of ITU’s Connect a School, Connect a Community initiative. This announcement follows through on a commitment made by Portugal during the ITU World Telecommunication Policy Forum (WTPF), in Lisbon in April 2009. Some twenty countries will benefit from this first phase, with the initiative supporting the launch of one connected school project per country.

Each project will test innovative approaches using ICT in the classroom, measure the impact, showcase the benefits and share lessons learned. The assistance to participating countries will include: 1)  New laptops (up to a maximum of 50) for a group of students and teachers in one school per country, 2) Laptops equipped with software and educational content,3) A smart board in each classroom, connected to the laptops to facilitate interactive e-learning,4) Wireless modems along with a school server, 5) Broadband internet connectivity provided by the local partner.

A multi-partner, international group of experts will support project implementation, including the development of a national school connectivity plan.

(Sources: ITU news, Moneybiz)

Further Details

Qatar’s vision to empower and enable people with disabilities through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is receiving a boost with Mada, the Qatar Assistive Technology Centre. Since the non-profit organisation opened on June 1 this year, a number of individuals have benefited from its state-of-the-art resource centre, described as the region’s only one of its kind.

The centre features interactive assistive technology (AT) environments for the visually impaired, hearing impaired, learning disabled and people with disabilities. The Mada resource centre is a showcase of cutting-edge technology, including computer software that reads the screen for the blind, eye tracking devices that allows to control a computer with eye movement, voice recognition, switch solutions that allow a computer to be controlled with a single movement such as sipping or blowing through a tube and word prediction. There are separate workstations for individuals with hearing, visual, learning or physical disabilities.

Screenreader solutions such as Ibsar and Jaws enables blind users to read, on their own, printed books and documents as well as electronic files. Ibsar helps them write texts in both Arabic and English, in addition to saving and printing these texts in Braille. The software speaks the text on a computer screen in both Arabic and English. With a screenreader a blind user is able to access the Internet and read websites, or send, receive and manage e-mail. The Tobii eye-tracking computer allows someone with no physical control of their body, other than eye movement to take control of a computer through which they can communicate, control the environment, browse the web and even play games.

(Source: Gulf Times)

Full Story

The general secretary of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Dr. Hamadoun Touré, Dr. Javier Elguea Solis, Carlos Slim Foundation representative and the Secretary of Education of Jalisco, Mr. Antonio Gloria Morales, put into operation the "Digital Classroom Carlos Slim Foundation-ITU" in elementary school Ricardo Flores Magon.

The classroom, which was opened in the framework of the Plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunication Union held in this city, is equipped with 36 desktop computers and laptop computer, video projector, and video cameras, printer, scanner, monocular biological microscope, globe earth with interactive pen, plus the furniture required for efficient operation.

Dr. Touré said: "In ITU we full support to schools to reach the Millennium goals for the Information Society in 2015, for that is relevant to connect schools with broadband, connect to a school, connect to a community is important and that is our goal. For this reason we are extremely pleased to partner with Fundación Carlos Slim this day to connect to this school, because children are our future".

For his part, Dr. Javier Elguea said: "For the Foundation Carlos Slim is especially important this classroom together with the International Telecommunication Union. They help us, not only, to install the technology, but also to make a useful tool for children, teachers and parents. This generation must maximize their digital skills to turn them into productive tools".

Also, Mr. Antonio Gloria Morales added: "Thanks to the generosity and commitment of Carlos Slim Foundation now we have a classroom equipped with the latest technology to help digital education. The issue today is not just using the computer, but also how to share information and make it the most, that is what Carlos Slim Foundation leave us here".

(Source: Telmex Mexico)
Further details

The Ministry of Telecommunication and Information Society (Mintel), as an entity committed to the development of Information and Communication Technologies in Ecuador, signed the agreement to provide Internet services with the company Megadatos S.A., to implement the pilot project of access to broadband Internet services in "Fe y Alegría" schools, located in different rural and marginal urban areas of eight provinces of Ecuador.

Through this agreement 25 educational institutions in the cantons of Cuenca, Azuay, Guamote, Chimborazo, Quito, Pichincha, Guayaquil, Guayas, Manta, Manabi, Joya de los Sachas, Orellana, Ibarra, Imbabura, Ambato and Tungurahua; will receive Connectivity-Internet. As beneficiaries are students and teachers in these counties for the period of one year. The investment is US$ 53,388 dollars.

(Source: Mintel - Ecuador)
Further details

Mobile telephony and internet services are available to two rural villages (Chilón and Pucará) in the province of Santa Cruz, wich will be provided by the nationalized Company Entel. The opening of 2 new antennas base stations with technology GSM 850, will allow the arrival of Entel services to these populations. This, corresponds to the implementation of telecommunications projects, coordinated by Entel and the Ministry of Public Works.

Each of the acts included the welcome presence of General Manager of Entel, Mr. Roy Mendez, company executives, local authorities and the general public.
The opportunity was also conducive to the delivery of bags for the school in each locality, by the Social Responsibility area of Entel.
CHILÓN
Chillón is situated on the border with the department of Cochabamba, 250 km from the city of Santa Cruz. The service provided by Entel will benefits about 3 thousand inhabitants of this region.
PUCARÁ
Pucará is 270 km far from the capital of Santa Cruz, Pucará is a rural population wich belongs to Vallegrande in the province of Santa Cruz, bordering the area of Chuquisaca. Pucará has a population of more than 2,300 people who already enjoy the mobile services and Internet from Entel.
 
(Source: Entel - Bolivia)
Further details

The Foundation for Sustainable Development of Doñana and its environment (Doñana 21) and the Consumer Spanish Association of Telecommunication and Information Society (AUTELSI) have signed a collaboration agreement in the framework of the XVII Congres. This association has organized the meeting in Sevilla (Spain) from 7th. to 10th. October.

Cinta Castillo Jiménez, president of Doñana 21, and Leander Perez Manzanera, president of AUTELSI ratified by signing the partnership agreement of both entities to promote, disseminate, develop and implement new technologies of information and communication, both among its members as in the rest of the business community and public administration. AUTELSI is a nonprofit organization with more than 200 members that aims to promote, in society in general and professional users in particular, the study, objective research and dissemination of knowledge on issues related to telecommunications and Information Society.
The lines of action that will link from these entities are now:
  - Identify opportunities for improving efficiency through the use of new technologies.
  -Promotion and widespread use of new technologies.
  -Promotion and dissemination of the services of the respective organizations among members of both.
  -Training and Research.

(Sources: AUTELSI, Doñana21)
Further details

The Ministry of Science and Education of Ukraine and Google to equip 100 schools with wireless high-rate internet, Science and Education Minister Dmytro Tabachnyk has told a news conference. He says for the project they chose as town so as rural schools."We have reached agreement that there will be fifty rural schools and fifty town schools," the minister said.

In frames of the programme 25 teachers were trained to handle equipment that will enable them teach pupils who are simultaneously in several locations. The minister remarks, this aspect of the programme will allow pupils not to interrupt learning in times of epidemics.

The Education Ministry press service did not specify time frames when the schools would be equipped. Tabachnyk has set him a task of connecting all schools to the internet.

(Source: Ukrainian News)

Full Story

Tostan has come up with an intriguing way to teach basic literacy and numeracy, by tying it to the use of mobile phones, through their Jokko Initiative in Senegal. As part of this program, they teach basic literacy and numeracy to community participants, particularly women and girls.

They teach the cost-efficiency of sms texting relative to placing a call, which has immediate impact on the girls’ lives. They can use their newly acquired ability to read and write in their national language, Wolof, from the Community Empowerment Program, to compose and read text messages without assistance. Then, participants apply the skills they’ve gained to specific themes (such as health, agriculture, and the environment) relevant to their everyday lives. For example, to send text messages about vaccinations and awareness-raising campaigns, to make appointments at health clinics, and to ask for advice on matters concerning health and hygiene.

Tostan, UNICEF, and the Center of Evaluation for Global Action (CEGA) at the University of California, Berkeley, recently completed an evaluation of Jokko that shows great promise for using text messaging as a means for improving literacy and community development.

(Sources: ETD)

Full Story

The National Telecommunications Corporation (CNT EP), will commercialize 100 telephone lines with CDMA-450 wireless technology to the communities of "La Bermeja" and "Cascales" (Lago Agrio Canton), thus benefiting about 100 families in these areas.

 To purchase this telephone service the users must present a copy of identity card. Citizens should be aware that the registration fee to the telephone service is US$ 60.00 + 12% VAT, and payments may be deferred to 3 months interest. Also, they will conduct door to door sales, if the person is not at home they can approach to the offices of the CNT EP.

The CDMA-450 technology (wireless service) allows access to Internet and other complementary services such as caller ID, call waiting, international direct dial phone, with the additional complement of allowing mobility within a given area of coverage. The main objective of the National Government is giving more and better services to all sectors of the country, thus fulfilling the obligation to unite all the Ecuadoreans, backed by a solid technology platform.

Source: Mintel - Ecuador
Further details

The Rector of the Technological Institute of Telmex (INTTELMEX), Dr. Javier Elguea Solis, and the President of the Foundation Lorena Ochoa Reyes, put into operation Telmex Digital Classroom in the school "La Barranca", to contribute actively in the development of education and digital literacy of children and youth from Jalisco.
 
The Telmex Digital Classroom, in the school "La Barranca", will benefit more than 400 primary and secondary students, teachers and parents.
The classroom has 36 computer equipment and laptops, video projectors, video cameras and photo printer, scanner, monocular biological microscope, earth globe with interactive pen, plus the furniture required for efficient operation.
 
During the inauguration, Dr. Elguea Solis said: "This classroom Telmex is part of an ambitious project that began earlier this year, boosting Technological Innovation, which includes connectivity, bandwidth needed to run all applications educational currently used anywhere in the world, and best educational practices as we know it today in Tokyo, Boston, Paris, London. The intention of this classroom is to encourage the acquisition of cognitive skills, verbal, numerical and artistic skills. This Classroom Telmex de La Barranca, is part of a network of thousand schools all across the country that have the same cutting-edge equipment".

Also, the president of the Foundation Lorena Ochoa said: "Thank you Telmex for the opportunity that this classroom is now 100% equipped, you have all the tools needed for children to learn how to work on computers that have an Internet connection. This Telmex Classroom is wonderful, I greatly appreciate all the family Telmex".
 
Telmex in the State of Jalisco has benefited, with its classrooms and digital libraries to 58 schools, with 2.236 teams in support of 26,300 students, teachers and parents.
 
With these actions, fundamental part of the "Telmex 2010: Boosting Technological Innovation", Telmex and Carlos Slim Foundation collaborate effectively in the academic development of children and young people from Jalisco to have better development opportunities.

Source:Telmex - Mexico
Further details

After the experience of having a family member who forgets things and the names of objects, the teacher Erika Hernández Rubio proposed to a group of students from the School of Computing (ESCOM), from the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) to develop an interactive system to exercise the memory of people over 50 years.

To this request, the students began to develop a software system which is intended to exercise the memory of adults and thus prevent damage. The proposal was designed for people aged from 55 to 64 years of age are likely to suffer mental deterioration in cognitive, "but not a medical option to prevent diseases such as Alzheimer's", the teacher Hernandez Rubio said.

To use the system established by polytechnic students is necessary that the elderly be able to use a computer. The software was designed by Raúl Fernando Montiel, Ivan Vazquez Rosales and Oswaldo Sanchez Lascano. This software includes games, exercises, tests, results and paragraph Learn to learn. You can select different types of games numbered from 1 to 10.

Source:Universia.net
Futher details

The President of the Republic, Juan Manuel Santos, and Diego Molano Vega ICT Minister presented to the country the "Urna de Cristal", a comprehensive communication system that will provide effective channels to Colombian direct interaction with the central government. Through this strategy, Colombians will share their concerns, contribute to the construction of public policies and will monitor the plans of the Government.

The "Urna de Cristal" is a commitment to Colombia, is a statement of public ethics and good governance that will guide each of the acts of the Government. This strategy will force the exercise of public function is developed with transparency and efficiency. Through it, the Government allows the Colombians to see every act of government, interact with the Government and provide ideas for the construction of public policy.
 
The president Juan Manuel Santos said: "With the program "Crystal Urn" (Urna de Cristal) citizens can "see" every act of government, "talk" directly with their government and "provide" ideas to the construction of good public policy. The "Crystal Urn" is not an empty concept, not a political promise or a nice rhetorical phrase. "The Crystal Urn" begins today and will be a reality now, with concrete mechanisms and scope of all".
 
For his part, Minister for ICT, Diego Molano Vega, said that the colombian citizens can use the new technologies and social networks to be closer to the public administration. "The Technology should be available for the citizens and the service of democracy. The fact that Colombians can use their phone to send text messages, social networking messages, surf in Internet and communicate via toll-free; ensures the exercise of their constitutional rights and participation from the state".
 
"The Crystal Urn" is divided into two phases, the first step was to make available to Colombians the web site www.urnadecristal.gov.co, through which they can register their concerns and proposals on issues of national interest. In this web site citizens can see about other have been published, also they can vote for the initiatives and questions recorded.

Source:Minister of Information and Communication Technology (MINTIC) - Colombia
Further details

CANTV, a telecommunications company of the Venezuelan State, and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Intermediate Industries (MCTI), opened the first Community Communications Center (CDC Comunal) in Portuguesa, in the town of La Trinidad, in the municipality of Ospina. The CDC Comunal, located on Main Street in Barrio Abajo in La Trinidad, has five computers with Internet access via Satellite Simón Bolívar. The Telecommunications services will mean a boost for the development of the agricultural community dedicated to the cultivation of maize, sorghum and sesame among other products.

In carrying out this CDC Comunal encompassed the efforts of the community, the mayor of the Municipality Ospino and CANTV, who acted as part of a single government. The opening ceremony of the new facility was attended by the Mayor of Ospino, Jeremiah Colman, who congratulated the community while thanked CANTV "It's a company that has made people and homeland", he said.

The commitment of the organized communities through Telecommunication Technical Committees (MTT) is key to the successful installation of the Community Communication Centers. In this way, Evelyn Escalona, a member of the MTT of La Trinidad and operator the CDC Community, also expressed his gratitude to CANTV. "People are enthusiastic about the project and that all participated to achieve it. We had no internet and this will be very useful for everybody" she said.

(Source: CANTV - Venezuela)

Further details

Telefónica Argentina takes part in the "Marathon 2.0", a series of days of reflection on new technologies organized by Red Valleys in cities across the country, under which the company will launch the first National Competition of Web Developer, designed to promote productivity and employability of Argentine SMEs.

The round of meetings is intended to create a space for debate on the impact of new technologies and social networking business models, from the experience regarding the business and technology field. The Access is free, with limited registration quotas.

As part of the meeting, Telefónica and the company NEC will present the first National Competition of Web Developer to support the creation of new enterprises and tools to help increase the growth of Argentine SMEs, enhancing their employability, and their professional capacity. Those interested in participating should register at the site http://eventioz.com/events/maraton-20-buenos-aires, where they can learn more about the proposal.

(Source: Telefónica Argentina)
Further details

South Africa’s Vodacom has launched the VF 247 low-cost solar powered cellphone. Developed by Vodafone, this device has the unique ability to charge on the go and makes it possible for people to benefit from mobile communications even in areas where electricity is scarce.

The VF 247 is designed with an integrated solar panel, and the special built-in Sun Boost software ensures that the phone charges even when it’s not in direct sunlight. Charging the phone in sunlight for an hour or two every day should be enough to cover the power needs for average users, but if the battery runs low the phone can be topped up with a traditional mains power charger.

“Cellphones are the primary means of communication for millions of South Africans and thanks to our association with Vodafone we’re able to supply this new solar powered handset which makes it as easy and practical as possible for people to connect. In many communities, electricity supplies are intermittent or non-existent, but with this new handset people won’t have to worry about when they are next going to be able to charge the battery," said Shameel Joosub, Managing Director of Vodacom South Africa.

(Source: it news Africa)

Full Story

The Ministry of Telecommunication and Information Society (MINTEL), as an entity committed with the development of Information and Communication Technologies in Ecuador, signed an agreement with the company Megadatos S.A. to provide Internet services. The purpose of this agreement is to implement the pilot project of access to broadband Internet services in elementary schools in rural and marginal urban areas of the province of Pichincha.

Through this agreement will provided service Internet Connectivity to 10 educational establishments of Cayambe, Mejia, Puerto Quito, San Miguel de los Bancos, and Pedro Vicente Maldonado Quito. The objective is to benefit 4254 students and 129 teachers for a period of one year. The settlement amount is 31,608.00 U.S. dollars.
The beneficiary institutions are:
   *  Ciudad de Guayaquil, parroquia Ascázubi, cantón Cayambe
    * Escuela Provincia de El Oro, parroquia Ayora, cantón Cayambe
    * Luz de América, parroquia Alóag, cantón Mejía
    * Isabel Yánez, parroquia Machachi, cantón Mejía
    * Darío Guevara, parroquia Puerto Quito, cantón Puerto Quito
    * Guayas, parroquia Nanegalito, cantón Quito
    * Ricardo Rodríguez, parroquia Pifo, cantón Quito
    * Gabriel Noroña, parroquia Píntag, cantón Quito
    * Huayna Palcón, parroquia San Miguel de los Bancos, cantón San Miguel de los Bancos.

The Ministry of Telecommunication and Information Society highlights the commitment of the Government with the Citizen from Ecuador who are in disadvantage, through the provision of connectivity that ensures equal access to technology services and strengthens the Good Living all citizens.

Source:MINTEL
Futher details

The new president of the Board of the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel), Mr. David Pérez Taveras, chaired the launch of the program "Escuelas y Colegios con el Indotel", held in the multipurpose room of the regulatory body with the presence of students from the Polytechnic University Loyola, San Cristobal.

The central speech of the act were made by the President of the Board of Indotel, Mr. David Perez Taveras, who said, "every month this regulatory and promoter agency of  sub-sector of telecommunications, also becomes an educational institution, where his technicians have to be teachers who instill in students a desire to learn and explore the potential that they have as professionals and active members of the society".

Mr. Pérez said that as part of this program they will teach  Indotel operation and its goals set, as part of the promotion and development of information and communication technologies. "We want from Indotel to put our grain of sand to have more technically trained people, as we are doing through other programs like "Juventec", "Fondo para la excelencia académica", and others which seek to provide access to deserving students through scholarships and other facilities in ICT-related careers".

(Source: Indotel)

Further details

Telefonica Movistar presented the study "The impact of telecommunications in development: the case of mobile telephony in rural areas", conducted by Apoyo Consultoría. The study showed the positive association between mobile services and the level of income and expenditure per capita in rural areas.

Between 2001 and 2008, the percentage of rural households with a cell phone went from 1.1% to 29.4% coincided with the major improvements in the level of income and expenditure of the population.

The Research of "Apoyo Consultoría" showed, that the introduction of mobile phone in rural areas can increase the annual household income in around to S/.900 (around US$ 300), considering that the average annual income of those without mobile phones is S/.7500 (US$ 2500). Similarly, 6.1% of the persons included in the investigation said to have created a small business after buying their first phone.

Through case studies conducted in five departments of the country (Cajamarca, Cusco, Huánuco, Loreto and Piura), the study proves the positive impact of mobile telephony in tourism development, artisanal networks, agriculture and agricultural exports, provision of health and social services, among others, in rural areas.

(Source: Telefónica del Perú)
Further details

The Ministry of Information and Communications Technologies (MINTIC), the Colombian Chamber of Information and Telecommunications Technology  (CCIT) and the newspaper “El Tiempo” presented the awards "Colombia en línea" to the Colombian public and private companies which developed digital content for their web sites.

The awards "Colombia Online" were created since 1999 by the Colombian Chamber of Information and Telecommunications in order to encourage and promote the presence of Colombian Internet content and use of the Castilian language in their web sites. Since 2006 it is conducted in a partnership with the Ministry of ICT and the newspaper “El Tiempo”. Also, the awards "Colombia Online" seek to promote Internet use for scientific, educational and cultural content, creation of virtual portals in Colombia, electronic commerce and, finally, to publicize the advantages of digital convergence.

(Source: MINTIC - Colombia)

Further details

Congress passed a bill on Tuesday night that would make the Internet and mobile phones more accessible to people with disabilities. The legislation will go to President Obama next week to sign into law.

Advocates for the blind and deaf say the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act would ensure that Web sites and makers of consumer electronics consider the vision- and hearing-impaired, who have been left behind as more communications tools move to the Web.

Specifically, the legislation allows blind consumers to choose from a broader selection of cellphones with speech software that calls out phone numbers and cues users on how to surf the Internet. It makes new TV shows that are captioned available online with closed-captioning. TV remote controls would have a button that makes it easier to get closed-captioning.

(Source: The Washington Post)

Full Story

The National Telecommunication Corporation (CNT EP) in its eagerness to increase the services and provide better services across the country, extends its coverage to the "canton Ponce Enríquez", located in the province of Azuay. This iniciative will let to the families in this area to reach the telephone service.

Applicants for the telephone service, as part of the formal requirements to get the telephony, must submit: two copies of the identity card, certificate of vote to date, a copy of the electric bill payment or water supply, where the line will be installed, two sketches of the location of the home and a nearby telephone number, in order to facilitate the technical work.

The company CNT EP will provide the service to the people who needs more, in urban and rural areas. Hence based on preset schedules for the business area of the CNT will be undertaken, soon, a promotional campaign from door to door sales in this city. The telephone line will cost US$ 67.20, including  tax (VAT ), and can be paid in cash or in installments over three months, without interest, from the first time of consumption.

(Source: Mintel -Ecuador)
Further details