1. JUSTIFICATION

1.1 Problems to be addressed :

"Integrated Rural Development" (IRD) covers all human activities in the rural environment and is based on the concerted development of all sectors such as agriculture, education, transportation, health care, etc. Access to adequate telecommunication services in rural and remote areas is a key to the success of IRD programmes. An efficient telecommunication infrastructure in such areas will contribute to nationally balanced economic development and to eliminating or reducing the huge imbalance between rural and urban populations in terms of living conditions, education and other social services.

The long term goal should be to provide "universal access" to telecommunications and whenever rural entrepreneurs can afford it, they should be provided with the telecommunication services they need. However, this needs to be complemented with Public Call Offices (PCOs) to give access to less wealthy people. When more advanced Telematics services are required, for example, for tele-training, tele-medicine and tele-working, the most realistic and cost-effective way of providing such services is by means of a shared facility, a "Community Telecentre". Such Community Telecentres, located at strategic places, would be equipped with the necessary terminal equipment and IT tools and should provide the support needed by the villagers to make adequate use of this equipment and services strategic locations. The proposed programme focuses on the development of Community Telecentres, supporting small and medium local enterprises (SMEs), tele-working, tele-training, public administration, remote access to health care (tele-medicine), etc., besides the traditional use of telephone. These could be complemented with individual lines and PCOs, as required. This is expected to contribute to economic development and generate demand for more telecommunication services in the participating communities, so the infrastructure should be planned so as to provide for flexibility and extension of the initial local network.

Concentrating telecommunication services to a focal point in the community will provide the modern information processing and communication facilities which will enhance the competitiveness of local enterprises and enable them to cooperate with similar enterprises in different locations. In a longer perspective the programme is also expected to contribute to improving the commercial viability for telecom services in rural and remote areas.

Such Community Telecentres could, for example, be located in post, or telegraph offices, where they can serve a population of some 1000 - 10,000. However, Community Telecentres alone would not bring about the desired development of small (micro) and medium enterprises. This programme must therefore be integrated into a much wider programme of sustainable community development, including the development of SMEs, education, health and other social services. It is therefore of critical importance that the communities selected for participation also become involved in such coordinated efforts of integrated rural development.

The Question No. 4/2 of ITU-D Study Group 2 is relevant to this programme and so are the following Resolution and Recommendations adopted by the World Telecommunication Development Conference, WTDC, Buenos Aires, March 1994.

• WTDC/94 Resolution No. 8 (Telecommunication Support for the Environment)
• WTDC/94 Recommendations No 1 (Application of Telecommunications to Health and Other Social Services) and
• WTDC/94 Recommendation No. 2 (Development of Partnership with International Educational Agencies)

1.2 Situation by the end of the period :

A number of Community Telecentres and local networks will have been established in some countries in each developing region as part of concerted efforts of integrated rural development in these countries. An evaluation will have been made of cost and performance to the technologies used as well as of the socio-cultural-economic impact of this coordinated effort and, in particular, of the contribution of Community Telecentres to this development. Models for choice of organization and technology for Community Telecentres and local networks in rural and remote areas will be available.

Evaluation report and other studies made as part of this programme will be disseminated, inter alia, through Telecommunication Development Conferences and Study Groups organized by the BDT.

1.3 Programme beneficiaries :

The population in the selected communities will improve their living standard through creation of jobs, increased revenues of SMEs, improved education, health care and other social services. National telecommunication operators in the developing countries will benefit from the increase in traffic and revenue generated by the Community Telecentres. Developing countries will benefit from the experience gained in the pilot projects and have models readily available for introducing the concept of Community Telecentres in their plans for integrated rural development.

Telecommunication equipment and service providers (Satellite Communications, including VSAT, fixed and mobile cellular radiocommunation, fibre optics, submarine high capacity systems, etc.), in developed as well as developing countries will benefit, as the introduction of the Telecentres will contribute to developing the huge potential markets that the rural populations in developing countries represent. Also broadcasters and entertainment business have a stake in this development. The pilots will be used as demonstration and training sites and hence, provide opportunities for manufactures to test their products in a developing country environment and to market their products and services.

2. DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE

In the long term, the goal is to improve access to telecommunications in rural and remote areas as well as in deprived urban areas by developing the necessary telecommunication infrastructure. A key component of this infrastructure would be 'Community Telecentres', serving 1000-10,000 inhabitants and equipped to offer telematic services and support, and public phone booths for all rural communities in developing and, where needed, in developed countries. This will be piloted during the next cycle (1995-1999) by the establishment of Community Telecentres in some 20 countries in developing regions, priority being given to the LDCs. The experience gained, including an evaluation of the Telecentres' contribution to sustainable development, will be disseminated to developing countries through the study groups, seminars, etc. Policy guidelines for integrated rural development will also be produced in conjunction with BAAP Programme No. 1. Recognizing the importance of trade and international cooperation, regional programmes will create the critical mass required to bring about and demonstrate the benefits of this concept which are so difficult to realize in isolated country programmes. Networking rural Community Telecentres, not only amongst themselves but also with telecommunication networks in developed countries, will contribute significantly to sustain this development (see also BAAP Programme No. 12 - Development of Telematics and Computer Networks).

3. MAIN ACTIVITIES

4. POTENTIAL PARTNERS AND COORDINATION ARRANGEMENTS

Cooperation with bilateral cooperation agencies, other UN-agencies involved in IRD, such as FAO, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNEP, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO and the World Bank and the Regional Development Banks is an essential condition for this programme to achieve its long term goals (Community Telecentres and Telematics are complements to basic telecommunications and only means to achieve development goals, so from the perspective of other organizations this programme may be considered as one contribution among many others).

The concept of Community Telecentres, has for some time been successfully tried out in rural areas of Europe, North America, Japan and Australia which have many characteristics in common with developing countries. National, Community Telecentre associations and CTSC International (which has assisted Brazil and other countries) may also be partners in a global programme for further development of such centres. Other partners are non-governmental organizations, foundations and associations involved in community development, tele-working, tele-training, tele-health care, and, not least, in the development and delivery of distance learning resources, e.g., the Commonwealth of Learning, the consortia participating in the European Union 4th Framework RDT Programmes for Telematics for Education and Training, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada, the US "Global University" and other similar initiatives developed in Australia and Japan.

Contributions to this programme can be made in kind, for example by providing:

• specialists for participation in the planning of networks, studies of appropriate rural telecommunication technologies, specification for equipment, etc.;
• telecommunication services free or at reduced tariffs during pilot projects;
• equipment for Community Telecentres (communication terminals, computers and multimedia hardware), on loan or as grants.

or in cash by providing funds for fellowships, consultants, translation of documents, etc.

This programme may be part of a larger effort, involving several organizations and the coordination arrangements will have to be developed in consultation with these organizations and other partners. The PSP Department of the BDT, in close consultation with the Regional Divisions at HQ and the Regional offices in the field, will act as a focal point for the ITU. This programme must be closely coordinated with Programmes

• No. 1 (Policies, etc.),
•  No. 2 (HRM/HRD),
• No.5 (Network Planning), and
• No. 12 (Development of Telematics and Computer Networks).