Rural communication: Is there still a need for telecentres now that there are mobile phones?

[Sandra Nassali]

Hi all, this study was conducted by APC, comparing the role of mobile phones and telecentres in fostering rural development.

It is noted that mobile phone towers dominate the landscape of many countries where decent internet access still remains a dream. The Economist argues that mobile is all that matters now and many donors have succumbed to this vision, retreating en-masse from rural information and communication technology development. The author of the new report commissioned by APC concludes that "This has left the development of ICTs in the hands of large, highly-centralized telecoms."

APCNews however looks at the rationale behind getting internet into rural areas via wireless and not leaving it all to mobile, and reports back on real-life community efforts that have been taking internet access to parts of Latin America ignored by large companies.
MONTEVIDEO (Ian Howard for APCNews) argued that following the initial rush of information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D) projects in rural Africa, many did not yield the anticipated outcomes, and interest has been dying down. People then began talking about "sustainable ICT" projects that would become self-sufficient after their initial set-up period. But with mobile phones gaining in popularity, popular rhetoric has begun to question the need of ICTs beyond the mobile phone. While mobiles have had a great impact in rural areas, a new study by Ian Howard, commissioned by APC, argues that the need for telecentres and affordable internet connections exists, as such centres cater to rural and niche markets the way larger companies cannot.

What is your take on this? Please share your views with us.

Sandra

[Macarena Díaz von der Hundt]

Hi Sandra, as I told you by mail yesterday, we reproduced this discucion in the spanish site. The reaction was amazing. Certainly it is a mayor subject, spetialy because in LAC countries mobile phones do have a big impact as well. I'm sure you will be intrested in following the spanish discussion.
greetings
Macarena

[Sandra Nassali]

Will surely follow up- though with no skills what so ever in Spanish :-)

Sandra

[Marco Figueiredo]

I read a bit of the Spanish discussion and it adds new and interesting outlooks into the question.

[Dean Mulozi]

Hi Sandra,
This resource may be useful in our knowledge sharing expriences. Alhtough it was done for Plan international, most of the chapters could be useful.

[Sandra Nassali]

Thank you Dean, will have a look at it.

[Marco Figueiredo]

Check this report on Mobiles for Development:
http://www.plan.fi/uploads/media/Mobiles_for_Development_-_Plan_200...

"this report for Plan International looks at the
potential of mobile technologies for enhancing development in Africa.
Although the tech side will be nothing new to most, you may be
interested in the socio-technical process
that was developed for their staff to think through how they might use
mobiles, and for what."