Information and Communication Technology for Development – Page 2

Mobile Innovations for Agricultural Development: An Uncertain Trajectory

Photo Credit: The World Bank

There is no doubt that the current surge in mobile innovations for agricultural development is defying the normal progressive growth of agricultural technologies over the past decades. For centuries, innovations in agricultural technologies have been progressively slow. The emergent of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and their innovative use to support agricultural extension and advisory services has, however, changed the history forever. According to the World Bank report Information and Communications for Development 2012: Maximizing Mobile, close to 6 billion mobile phones are in use today, a jump from less than 1 billion subscriptions in 2003. About 77% of the 6 billion subscriptions is located in the developing nations in which 70% of the world’s poor whose main source of income and employment comes from the agricultural sector.

Agricultural Technologies and the Future In her 1991 paper “Beyond Tractors: The History of Technology in American Agriculture,” Deborah Fitzgerald, Professor of the History of Technology in the Program in Science, Technology, and Society (STS) at MIT, argued that the history of agricultural technology is in a very nascent stage of development, and it is difficult to predict the outlines of a more orderly, systematic future. Barely 20 years after her observation, the developments in mobile technology for agriculture have confirmed her argument. Little is known about any prediction of the current growth of mobile technologies, especially in the world’s poorest regions. It is also becoming more difficult to predict what the market will look like in the next decade given the fast pace at which the technology is growing.

So Why This Sudden Spurt? The 2nd chapter of the World Bank report referenced above titled “Mobilizing the Agricultural Value Chain” has identified a number of factors that are driving the increased adoption of mobile phones for agriculture in the developing nations:

Improved accessibility and affordability through expansion of mobile networks.
Increased capacity or bandwidth availability on mobile networks as the technology evolves.
Increasing data-enabled mobile devices with increasing affordability.
Innovative development of remote wireless sensors and identification technologies.
Increasing availability of specialized mobile services targeted to specific agricultural functions.

These and other factors, such as wide ownership of mobile phones, instant and convenient service delivery, increasing functions, and falling prices of mobile handsets, will continue to drive its adoption.

Looking into the Future of Mobile Innovations for Agriculture

Photo Credit: American Public Health Association

According to USAID, innovations must lead to substantial (not incremental) improvements in addressing development challenges. But this does not seem to be the case in the mobile agricultural sector. The role of mobile agricultural projects in addressing development challenges in the developing nations is yet to be empirically tested in most countries. Anecdotal results have been reported here and there, but there is little to cite about any substantial impact on agriculture and rural development. An interesting trend with the mobile innovations for agriculture pointed out by the report is that, the applications are usually designed locally and for specific target markets, with localized content specific to the languages, crop types, and farming methods. It continues that while these local designs may offer exciting opportunities for local content and applications development, they may also limit the economies of scale realizable from expanding from pilot programs into mass markets, potentially hindering the spread of new and promising applications and services. So while development practitioners are careful not to repeat the traditional “technology transfer” approach in the ICTs for development sector, they are also faced with the limitations of scalability of the locally developed mobile applications for agriculture.

Is Reverse Innovation a Possible Solution to Limited Scaling of Locally Developed Mobile Apps? The local app development market in the emerging economies is being boosted by the proliferation of Technology Hubs & Parks in these countries. But what are the approaches to development of applications within these hubs? How can we learn from the past challenges with technology transfer and the current scaling limitations of locally developed apps for agriculture? The concept of reverse innovation developed by Vijay Govindarajan, and Chris Trimble and explained in details with practical applications in their book, “Reverse Innovation: Create Far From Home, Win Everywhere”, could bring these two challenges together. A key component of the concept is about building Local Growth Teams (LGTs). Within the mobile agricultural sector, LGTs comprising of ICT developers, marketing specialists, and content developers in the emerging economies with strong link with global market could be developed. This will ensure that locally developed ICTs apps with inexpensive models and limited infrastructure to meet the needs of developing nations, can be easily repackaged as low-cost innovative goods for Western buyers. This could address the scaling challenge brought up by the report and at the same time limit the traditional diffusion of technologies from the developed to developing nations.

Oversights: Mobile Solutions for R&D and Data Collection? I would like to recap my recent work on “Mapping ICTs Along the Agricultural Value Chain” for USAID’s Global Broadband and Innovations (GBI) program. Two key components of the value chain, which seem to be overlooked, are ICTs for agricultural research and development (R&D), and ICTs for data collection to inform monitoring and evaluation (M&E). Firstly, mobile technologies for agricultural R&D are emerging, but due to the traditional under-estimation and under-investment in agricultural R&D in developing countries, little attention is being paid to its potential. There is huge potential in the use of mobile technologies to support the work of agricultural researchers, agricultural science students, extension staffs, and farmers to facilitate access to scientific knowledge and exchange of information between and among these actors. Unfortunately, this has been overlooked by this important report. Secondly, mobile technologies are being used along the agricultural value chain for data collection in order to inform policy and decision-making. The report did mention briefly the importance of mobile in agricultural data collection, for example the work of Grameen Foundations Community Knowledge Worker (CKW) program in Uganda and the Reuters Market Light (RML) in India. But in addition to these programs, there are host of new mobile applications that are being used in this area that need to be acknowledged. Examples include iFormBuilder, EpiSurveyor, Open data Kit, among others. These new mobile applications are essential for the work of extension staff – both public and private to facilitate their work. Most importantly, timely and accurate data through these applications will lead to actions that will benefit the smallholder farmer in a number of ways, thereby increasing their productivity.

Conclusion The growth of mobile technologies for agriculture has outpaced the speed of past technological developments within the sector. While the invention of tractors in the 1800’s was acclaimed a significant breakthrough for agriculture, not even the green revolution in the 1900’s can be compared to the extensiveness and intensiveness of mobile technologies for agriculture. The World Bank report reference in this post has done excellent job by carefully selecting experts in the field of ICTs for development to delve into a number of cases worth following. Specifically on the second chapter that deals with mobile technologies and agriculture, I believe practitioners, researchers, technology developers, policy makers, and users of agriculture and mobile technologies should look critically into the recommendations given at the end – business models, ICT skills and the supporting infrastructure to insure the growth and sustenance of the revolution.

August 3, 2012/by actualize

Areas of Expertise, Information and Communication Technology for Development

“Maximizing Mobile” Report Eyes the Future of M4D

In 2008, Jeffrey Sachs said to the United Nations Millenium Project that “mobile phones and wireless internet end isolation, and will therefore prove to be the most transformative technology of economic development of our time.” Well, as the new World Bank report “Maximizing Mobile” shows, Sachs may not have been too far off the mark. However, despite the promising statistics there are still some daunting challenges in the field of m4d that must be overcome.

The report shows some very encouraging mobile statistics. Between 2000 and 2012, the number of mobile phones in use worldwide grew from less than 1 billion to over 6 billion (check out this great info-graphic). The number of mobile subscriptions in low and middle-income countries has increased by over 1,500 percent between the years 2000 and 2010, moving from 4 subscriptions per 100 people up to 72 subscriptions. Indeed, the mobile sector as a whole has become an increasingly significant economic force in developing economies, with mobile revenues as a proportion of gross national income (GNI), rising from 0.9 percent in 2000 to 1.5 percent in 2010.

Beyond statistics, the report points to some very interesting trends that must be kept in mind as we move forward in any mobile for development work. First and foremost, “Maximizing Mobile” marks a change in dynamics for the Bank’s approach to ICT: a shift away from its traditional supply-side focus on connectivity to a new demand-side focus on mobile applications and the ways ICTs are used. Indeed, the report posits that much of the industry is shifting from hardware to software and services – as it is no longer about the phone, but rather how the phones are used. Though true,

As for challenges, the report provides useful inside into the obstacles and constraints that mobile still faces. Generally, the most common constraints to the supply side of mobile service provision are a lack of available spectrum and inadequate backbone networks. The largest constraints on the demand side remain a lack of affordable mobile devices and broadband services, as well as a dearth of local applications and content available to users. The bank goes on to underscore the importance of partnership programs between government, business, and NGOs and the role they can play in surmounting these obstacles.

When it comes to content creation, no one is better placed to construct relevant and localized applications and services than those who need them. The Bank points out, quite rightly, that “new mobile applications that are designed locally and rooted in the realities of the developing world will be much better suited to addressing challenges than applications transplanted from elsewhere.” The report highlights the emerging trend of the crowdsourcing that has arisen out of social networking, increased connectivity and the subsequent demand that often results. Local content portals have been popping up all over the world in order to satisfy local demand for various types of news and information previously inaccessible. Indeed many mobile innovations (multi-sim card phones, low-cost recharges, mobile payments) increasingly originate in poorer countries.

There are many opportunities in the field as we move forward. Tapping into and fostering local talent for mobile application development is an important next step and should remain a priority, as use and development of smart phone applications is likely to rise as market pressures continue to drive down prices. Cross-sector partnerships between governments, firms, and NGOs will be necessary for creating the necessary solutions to both supply and demand-side obstacles. Sachs may very well have been correct, but we still have many challenges ahead before mobile’s full potential can be realized.

July 31, 2012/by actualize

Agriculture, Food Security & Rural Development, Areas of Expertise, Economic Growth, Environment & NRM, Information and Communication Technology for Development

Ambassador Verveer discusses “Women’s Economic Success and Global Growth”

Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, Melanne Verveer. (Photo: US Dept of State)

On Monday, July 23, 2012 the Center for American Progress hosted Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, Melanne Verveer for a discussion on “Women’s Economic Success and Global Growth.” Amb. Verveer’s talk focused on the crucial role women play in sustainable development and economic growth worldwide. US women generate $3.5 trillion yearly, and women’s employment in developing countries contributes more to the global economy than China. By 2050, women will control 2/3 of all spending worldwide. Noting that women traditionally spend their earnings in sectors that create a multiplier effect (i.e., health, education, food), Amb. Verveer emphasized the tremendous consumer power women will wield in global markets. She also highlighted growing research that shows how countries where women’s rights are more closely equal to those of men are more peaceful and prosperous than countries that ignore, marginalize or limit the role of women.

Amb. Verveer spoke of three main areas the State Department focuses on increasing the role and influence of women: Economic Empowerment, Women in Development, and Peace and Security. Within the Women in Development sector, three initiatives discussed fit squarely within Integra’s areas of expertise: Feed the Future (Agriculture), Global Climate Change Initiative (Environment) and mWomen (Information and Communications Technology).

Agriculture: Women are vital to agricultural development, often making up the majority of farmers in developing countries and the backbone of agriculture-based economies. FAO reports claim that if men and women farmers had equal access to credit, training, property rights and technical inputs, yields could improve 20 to 30 percent and the number of malnourished people worldwide could be reduced by 150 million people.

Environment: Women bear the burdens of climate change disproportionately more than men. Yet women are uniquely empowered to address climate change because of their central role in agriculture, forest management, and running the home (i.e., making crucial energy decisions as pertains to energy sources used in the home).

ICT4D: Increased technological access creates opportunities for financial security and independence. With mobile access, women are able to gain information about the current market, including data on pricing and weather systems, in addition to business insights and trainings, access to support networks, and the ability to transfer and save funds. “The significance of mobile technology cannot be underrated,” said Ambassador Verveer, who emphasized both the economic and social value of mobile technology. While 350 million women still do not have access to cell phones, the State Department is working to bridge this gap in connectivity through various initiatives, including the GSMA mWomen initiative. mWomen is committed to reducing this gender gap in connectivity by 50%.

In each development sector highlighted, Ambassador Verveer reiterated that gender equality is not only smart economics, but in line with US values and “a moral imperative of the 21^st Century.” While the State Department and USAID continue to add gender guidance components to trainings and major international initiatives, true change will only be achieved once gender equality becomes institutionalized and integrated across all bureaus. Women’s rights need to be viewed as human rights essential to fostering economic growth, social stability and a more peaceful prosperity worldwide.

To view full event video, click here. To read Ambassador Verveer’s article on “Why Women Are a Foreign Policy Issue,” click here.

July 27, 2012/by actualize

Areas of Expertise, Information and Communication Technology for Development

9 Things to Consider when Planning a National Broadband Strategy (NBS)

Photo Credit: Danny Morgan

National Broadband Strategies (NBSs) are becoming a necessity for each nation nowadays considering the immerse benefit of such policies or strategies or plans to unlock the full potential of the broadband network and maintain an open Internet. As a result, a NBS should be seen as a social contract to develop the industry base within any country. It should aim at bringing about a stronger foundation for effective governance, private investment and more active citizenship, leading to a desirable social and economic future.

Below are the 9 points distilled from the World Bank’s Broadband Strategies Handbook and another Conference Paper by Prabir K. Neogi and Rekha Jain that reviews some national broadband strategies.

1) A National Broadband Strategy (NBS) should take an Ecosystem Approach by considering both the demand and supply of broadband: This must include a) Networks – by creating the environment to reduce barriers for international connectivity, domestic backbones, metropolitan connectivity, and local connectivity; b) Services – by providing broadband services to schools, government agencies, etc.; c) Applications – by making available e-applications and content (local) creation; d) Users – by considering Customer Premise Equipments (CPEs) and Personal Computers (PCs), and digital literacy.

2) In order for the ordinary citizen to benefit from broadband investments, a NBS of any country should aim at having the greatest economic impact on the country: This could be achieved by creating and making available broadband-enabled services and applications; and then building the capacity of users to use the broadband-enabled services and applications in a productive and efficient way.

3) NBS should describe the broadband supply chain from a topological perspective: Such a topology should take into consideration a) The international, regional, national, and local connectivity and access deployment solutions; b) The technologies for each of these segments – fiber optics, satellite, microwave, mobile wireless, and traditional copper wire; and c) The implementation issues associated with these technologies – open access, quality of service, and spectrum constraints.

4) NBS should describe demand in order to make broadband services available to the users: By clearly defining the private and public sector roles to facilitate adoption after the networks are created; go beyond the market demand to reach where demand is stifled because consumers are not aware of the benefits of broadband; where broadband is not affordable; and where broadband is not attractive or relevant to potential users.

5) NBS should aim at building the capacity of users: The presence of broadband services without the capacity of the citizens to use them may be a waste of investment. Hence capacity for citizens, businesses, and government should be build to understand, learn, and apply broadband benefits and capabilities across the economy and society: Absorptive capacity in the areas of the economy’s macroeconomic environment; the business environment; the quality of human capital; and the governance structure are key for consideration.

6) Stages of NBS: NBS should be design to include three stages: a) Promotion stage when the market is incipient and the aim will be to promote the build-out of broadband networks, encourage the use of broadband services and applications, explore options for funding the development of the strategy and address issues associated with measuring the effectiveness of policies designed b) Oversight stage will key as competition begins to drive growth. The traditional legal and regulatory frameworks need reforms in order to address supply and demand issues with convergence of the technologies. Government’s role in creating the environment for oversight through competition policy, guard against monopolistic, oligopolistic, and unfair practices and regulate essential facilities. c) Universalization stage comes as the market matures. The role of governments is needed when market mechanisms do not meet goals for broadband access and use. This can be done through universal service and access programs. Government should also narrow or eliminate gaps between markets and the country’s development needs to allow for private-led competitive markets.

7) Scale and scope of the strategy: NBS should be seen as a component of a larger, long-term phased national economic plan for the adoption and use of ICTs to improve competitiveness and productivity. Countries such as Australia has taken a comprehensive national strategy approach that is rather supported by all levels of government. Others also have a standalone or ad hoc programs at various levels of government, to improve broadband connectivity in rural and remote areas.

8) Duration of the broadband strategy: A NBS should be developed in such as way that it is not too long that technology solutions might have radically changed, but covers a longer time frame than electoral cycles in most countries. Example of short/medium term initiatives, such as 2-3 year programs of the U.S. DOC/NTIA $4.2 billion Broadband Technology Opportunities Program/BTOP), funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. On the other hand, the Australian National Broadband Network (NBN) initiative and the Federal Communications Commission’s proposed National Broadband Plan are long term strategies extending over 5-10 years.

9) Funding and implementation model: NBS should consider the degree and nature of public sector funding and support such as direct funding, loan guarantees, targeted tax incentives. In most cases, governments are provide one-time, up front capital grants to fund the deployment of the broadband infrastructure. But the main challenge is with the provision of continuing subsidies for the ongoing operation of the network facilities which mostly may be the function of the private sector. The model of greatest interest is the Public-Private Partnership (PPP), with joint ownership of the deployed infrastructure as seen in Singapore, Australian NBN, and New Zealand.

In conclusion, there is no ‘one size fit all’ for National Broadband Strategies but a good NBS should have the following key characteristics:

a) Be forward looking to keep up with the pace at which technology is being developed

b) Become a permanent fixture of economic development and the embodiment of a shared vision

c) Be resilient to the checks and balances brought about by politics

d) Be endorsed by all policy-makers at the time of conception

e) Demarcate respective roles of public and private sector participation, and the potential for partnerships

f) Should contribute to demand through e-services, expertise centers, government services online, and capacity building.

Note: Key points in this post were distilled from the: The World Bank’s Broadband Strategies Handbook, edited by Tim Kelly and Carlos Maria Rossotto (2012) in preparation for the release of Broadband Strategy Toolkit as done for Telecom Regulation and National Broadband Strategies: and A Comparative Review and Possible Lessons for Developing Countries by Prabir K. Neogi and Rekha Jain (2011/12), presented in a conference in India, February 2012.

July 9, 2012/by actualize

Africa, Areas of Expertise, Economic Growth, Information and Communication Technology for Development, Where we work

Massive New Submarine Cable to Bring High-Speed Broadband Access to West Africa

Bandwidth problems in West Africa may soon become a thing of the past when the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) broadband submarine cable comes online this December. The US$700 million will interconnect a total of 23 countries in Europe and West Africa, including two Integra and GBI clients, Nigeria and Ghana. This massive infrastructure project aims to bring high-speed broadband internet to these developing countries in order to reduce the digital divide and serve as “a vector of social development and economic growth in Africa.”

Led by the France Telecom company, this broadband system will extend over 17,000 km to from Brittany in France to Cape Town in South Africa. Parts of Europe and 16 West African countries will be interconnected by the submarine cable. Connectivity will extend even to the landlocked nations of Mali and Niger who will be connected via their own terrestrial links.

The cable itself has an initial 1.92 terabytes per second (Tb/s) capacity that can be upgraded to a whopping 5.12 Tb/s. ACE will use cutting edge fiber optic technology developed by Alcatel-Lucent that offers a higher quality of high-speed broadband than satellite at a lower cost. Utilizing new wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM)technology, the ACE stations can be upgraded without any actual modifications to the cable itself. This is a significant increase in the broadband capacity for these countries. Gambia for example, is estimated to have an increase in capacity by a factor of 16.

Increasing bandwidth capacity is crucial for enabling increased broadband penetration rates within a county. In 2011, the Broadband Commission for Digital Development issued a report that identified broadband as a “tool of unprecedented power” in helping countries meet the millennial development goals in 2015. Additionally, a report from the World Bank showed that a 10% increase in broadband penetration in developing economies correlates with a 1.38% contribution to economic growth. With ACE online, West Africa will be able to access a plethora of new opportunities.

June 25, 2012/by actualize

Areas of Expertise, Information and Communication Technology for Development

Broadband: A Fundamental Technology to Achieve Sustainable Development

Photo Credit: Costas Troulos

In a joint statement issued today ahead of the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development, the Broadband Commission noted that “We believe broadband is a fundamental technology to achieve sustainable development that should also be recognized in future Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.

The statement came as a follow-up to its April call to action to the delegates at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development who gathered in New York at the time to continue their negotiations ahead of the Rio+20 conference. In this April call, the Broadband Commission asked the delegates to recognize ICT and broadband connectivity as catalysts to achieve the three pillars of sustainable development – economic growth, social inclusion and environmental sustainability.

In renewing their call, the Secretary-General of ITU, Hamadoun Touré stated that “ICTs have created a watershed moment in human evolution and are poised to make a catalytic impact on the sustainable development of our planet and the roadmap being negotiated at Rio+20 must therefore explicitly recognize the potential of ICTs and broadband connectivity.” Dr Touré added that ‘Broadband Inclusion 4 All’ must be fully integrated into shaping strategies in the post-2015 international development framework.

The statement concluded that broadband connectivity has the potential to provide solutions to sustainable development challenges, while simultaneously increasing socio-economic development and quality of life as well as facilitating transformative change in a wide range of key sectors from power, transportation, buildings, education, health and agriculture.

For more information on the press release, see ITU Newsroom and on the Broadband Commission for Digital Development.

June 20, 2012/by actualize

Areas of Expertise, Information and Communication Technology for Development

ICT Indaba 2012: Africa’s Agenda for ICT Growth

Deputy President Motlanthe addresses audience at ICT Indaba 2012, held at the Cape Town International Convention Center, June 4-7, 2012

Photo Credit: Republic of South Africa

The South African Department of Communications in partner with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), hosted the inaugural ICT Indaba 2012 conference June 4-7, 2012 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, South Africa.

The 2012 ICT Indaba showcased how South Africa’s strong ICT infrastructure can benefit strategic sectors of the African economy such as education, healthcare, infrastructure and extractive industries. With a strong focus on socioeconomic development and job creation, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe reminded attendees that on average, a 10% increase in broadband connectivity for developing country leads to a 1.4% increase in GDP. Furthermore, international delegates and ICT industry leaders stressed the importance of developing and implementing an ICT strategy, to act as a catalyst for the other African economies.

The conference gathered international stakeholders to create a continental agenda to expand the growth of the ICT sector, and establish a networking platform for like-minded industry leaders. Expected to run annually for the next five years, the ICT Indaba will be used to discuss ICT policies geared towards poverty reduction and the creation of a knowledge based economy across the continent. This year, four speakers from Rwanda, China, Cuba and India presented papers on different development models for ICT industry. Additional keynote speakers included but were not limited to the President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr. Jacob Zuma; Deputy Secretary General of the ITU, Mr. Houlin Zhao; Lead ICT Policy Specialist of the World Bank, Dr. Tim Kelly; and Managing Director of Microsoft South Africa, Mr. Mteto Nyati.

Taking a collaborative approach to ICT development and welcoming relations between countries and regions, African leaders aim to fast track their policies for increasing broadband access across the continent. Using a theme entitled “Bridging the Digital Divide”, a target was set by the Ministries involved to have 80% of the African population online by the year 2020. Speakers stressed the importance of using sustainable, affordable green technologies to foster socioeconomic development throughout the continent. The need to reach rural areas was discussed as well, by presenters like Motlanthe who stated, “We must also not forget that 55% of the Africans live in rural areas. As a result, it is our responsibility to ensure that they are integrated into the Knowledge-based society”.

Not without its challenges, one obstacle to ICT development addressed during the conference was the comparatively high price of broadband. Acknowledging this obstacle, new licensing plans have been enacted in order to increase competition in the data market, decreasing prices and making access more affordable. As South African Communications Minister Dina Pule stated, “These Internet Service Providers (ISPs) big and small are also expected to offer affordable broadband services to poor South Africa’s and people living in rural areas”. On a regionally wide scale, five more undersea cables to be constructed by 2014 will also reduce costs associated with universal access.

In addition to setting the 80% broadband penetration target, a team will also be set up to monitor the implementation of Indaba’s resolutions. While simultaneously serving broader development objectives, such as attaining the Millennium Development Goals, the ICT Indaba created a forum through which the continent can openly discuss and subsequently address, complex issues surrounding ICT strategies. The declaration prepared by the Ministries involved also reaffirms Africa’s commitment to ICT for development, and the ongoing implementation of ICT polices already in effect. Given the large amount of stakeholders that attended the inaugural conference, it will be interesting to see how Africa’s progress takes shape in the years to come.

June 12, 2012/by actualize

Areas of Expertise, GBI Updates, Information and Communication Technology for Development, Integra News, USAF Updates

Integra Attends Intel’s World Ahead Program Meeting

The conference floor at the Four Seasons Bosphorus Hotel in Istanbul, Turkey.

Photo Credit: Bob Otto

Last month Integra representatives met with telecommunications sector leaders from 17 countries in Istanbul, Turkey. Focused on sharing broadband strategies and implementations, the meeting provided a unique opportunity for Integra to discuss next steps with GBI clients as well as an opportunity to meet with other country representatives interested in collaborating with USAID.

The meeting was held from May 22 to 24 and was sponsored by Intel Corporation’s World Ahead program with the goal of sharing experiences and best practices for reaching the billions of people who do not have access to ICTs. Sixty participants from 17 represented countries were in attendance in addition to various organizational representatives. The Secretary General of the International Telecommunications Union, Dr. Hamadoun Toure, attended, as did the Vice President of Intel’s World Ahead, John Davies. There were a total of 7 ministers participating as well as chief regulars and USF representatives from around the world.

Six GBI client countries (Moldova, Ukraine, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Ghana) were in attendance, and there was substantial recognition given to the contributions GBI is making to USFs and their broadband strategy. The Intel Corporation expressed strong support for GBI’s program to develop USF leadership associations for the Latin American and Asian regions, recognizing the importance of such platforms for sharing experience and best practices.

June 8, 2012/by actualize

Areas of Expertise, GBI Updates, Information and Communication Technology for Development, Integra News, Latin America and the Caribbean, USAF Updates, Where we work

Making Progress and News in Colombia

Earlier this month, Integra President Robert Otto and Managing Associate, Eric White, traveled to Colombia as a part of our work on the Global Broadband and Innovations Program. The two met with officials from Compartel, Colombia’s universal service administrator to begin exploring opportunities for rolling out new low cost, low power demand rural connectivity solutions. They met with key players in both the mobile and broadband industries in Colombia, and early in the trip Bob was interviewed by El Tiempo! Video below (in Spanish) This due diligence phase is expected to wrap up later this month.

This is the first initiative under the Broadband Partnership of the Americas.

May 14, 2012/by actualize

Areas of Expertise, GBI Updates, Information and Communication Technology for Development, Integra News, Latin America and the Caribbean, USAF Updates, Where we work

Broadband Partnership of the Americas

President Obama, seated at a panel discussion at the Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia In April 2012, President Obama announced the creation of the Broadband Partnership of the Americas, an effort set to improve internet access across the Latin America and Caribbean region. The President was in Cartagena, Colombia, for the Sixth Summit of the Americas.

The Broadband Partnership for the Americas (BPA) is designed to improve access to broadband and the Internet and other communications technologies in the Americas. It will serve as a voluntary and flexible framework through which the governments of the Western Hemisphere, multilateral organizations, the donor community and the private sector can collaborate to increase access to broadband and the Internet across the Americas.

The BPA is supported by USAID and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and will be managed by the Global Broadband and Innovations Program, of which Integra is an implementing partner.

Eric Postel, Assistant Administrator for USAID’s Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade Bureau, said in a joint statement with the FCC, “We are very excited about this rich partnering opportunity within our own hemisphere- where we can mobilize public and private resources toward achieving more equitable access to broadband and the Internet as a key contributor to development.”

The financial and technical resources mobilized through the BPA will be used to help interested countries advance a range of information technology initiatives, including:

– developing and implementing national broadband strategies;

– creating or upgrading universal service funds to finance the expansion of mobile and broadband technologies to rural communities;

– improving international and regional connectivity by linking existing broadband networks;

– collaborating on a regional effort to harmonize the use of digital spectrum; and

– sharing best practices.

For more information, please visit GBI’s Broadband Partnership of the Americas page.

April 19, 2012/by actualize