the importance of alliances between civil society, the government and international agencies to...

The importance of Alliances betweenThe importance of Alliances between Civil Society, the Government and Civil Society, the Government and International Agencies to reduce International Agencies to reduce

the Digital Dividethe Digital DividePresented to:Presented to:

Open Access WorkshopOpen Access Workshop

Peter McFarrenPeter McFarren

PresidentPresident

Foundation for the Development of ICTs in BoliviaFoundation for the Development of ICTs in Bolivia

Sweden, May 2004

An Overview of BoliviaAn Overview of Bolivia

• Bolivia has 1.1 million square kms• A population of 8.5 million• The largest indigenous population in

Latin America

An Overview of BoliviaAn Overview of Bolivia• Two thirds of Bolivia is

tropical, one third highlands• The country’s GNP is 1,200

US per capita• Bolivia ranks 114 out of 174

in the UNs Human Development Index

An Overview of BoliviaAn Overview of Bolivia

• Life expectancy is 62 years

• Democracy returned in 1982

• President Carlos Meza sworn in as president in October of last year after a popular uprising led to the resignation of Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada

Telecommunications SectorTelecommunications Sector

• Telco market was opened in 1995, eliminating the monopoly of ENTEL, even though it is the mayor telco in Bolivia providing Internet, cell phone, data transmission and satellite services.

• Entel was bought by STET from Italy for 610 US million and was responsably for installing phones in communities with more than 350 residents

• Three cellular phone companies serve over a 1 million clients

• Cooperatives have a monopoly on local services• Regulatory polices are the responsibility of the

Superintendence of Telecommunications

Telecommunications SectorTelecommunications Sector

• Only one fifth of households have a fixed telephone line

• 80 percent of all lines in services are in three largest cities

• Bolivia has one of the lowest levels of teledensity in Latin America

Status of Bolivia’s ICT SectorStatus of Bolivia’s ICT Sector

• Only 45 Bolivian public schools have Internet• There are only 2,800 computers in Bolivia’s

12,000 public schools• Funding for Universal Access has been limited• Internet is available to only 5 percentage of the

population although Internet Cafes have opened access in mayor cities

• Limited Community participation in developing ICT strategies and programs

Challenges facing the ICT SectorChallenges facing the ICT Sector

• Lack of Coordination between government, private sector, civil society, universities and donor agencies

• Lack of a E Strategy for Bolivia

• Limited resources for reaching rural areas and connecting schools

• Limited awareness of the importance of ICTs as a development tool

Challenges facing the ICT Sector Challenges facing the ICT Sector

• Weak government institutions responsible for ICT Development

• Private Sector only interested in high traffic and high profit areas

• Donor agencies lack clear and coherent strategies for ICT Development

• Too many resources wasted on studies and bureaucracy

Players in implementing ICT Players in implementing ICT programs in Boliviaprograms in Bolivia

– ADSIB in charge of Government E-Government Strategies.

– Vice Ministry of Telecommunications in charge of policy and channeling resources to the ICT sectors

– SITTEL in charge of regulatory policy– World Bank, UNDP, Inter American

Development Bank, USAID, IICD, CAF, foreign aid programs


• ADSIB– Established by the Vice Presidency to

coordinate government E-strategies and programs.

– Limited resources and personnel inhibits effective implementation

– In charge of coordinating the UN GeSCI program

– Limited civil society participation


• Vice Ministry of Telecommunications– In charge of implementing the World Bank and

Government Rural Electrification and Telecommunications project

– Limited effect due to lack of counterpart funds, efforts to reduce government deficits and bureaucratic changes

– 20 US million dollar World Bank loan on hold due to above factors

– Strategies and policies dictated from Washington with limited civil society participation

– ICT not considered a priority by Central Government


• Superintendence of Telecommunications– In charge of implementing telecom regulatory policies– Well positioned economically due to fees collected

from Telcos– Universal Access laws limit access of new players for

rural telecommunications– Spectro policies inhibits expansion of wireless

systems– Lack of E-strategy for the country


• FUNDETIC– New foundation set up to coordinate and implement

Information and Communications Technology programs in Bolivia.

– Partners include the Bolivian Government, aid agencies, NGOs, Telcos, software companies and universities

– Will implement Development Gateway portal in Bolivia– Participating in GeSCI strategy workshops for Bolivia


• FUNDETIC– Working on Food For Minds project with the Quipus Foundation

to set up a National Fund and Program for Information Technology, Training and Culture.

– Program is based on monetizing surplus food products donated by governments.

– Surplus food products would be sold at competitive prices in Bolivia and other markets.

– Partners include the UNDP and ACDI VOCA, an NGO expert on monetizing surplus food products.

– Would help fund GeSCI program in Bolivia– Would support innovation, culturally-appropriate content and

software development, training and Community Telecenter Projects throughout Bolivia


• FUNDETIC– Working on a Information System for Development

that will set up a Geographic Information System based program to coordinate, systematize and provide open access to information on education, health, donor agencies, NGOs, micro credit institutions, etc. s.

– Partners would include the World Bank, the Inter American Development Bank, the Institute of Statistics, municipalities, government agencies and NGO’s

– Would provide a web-based information system that would operate independent of political and government changes


• Ministry of Education– Limited ICT educational strategies– Lack of funding for implementing schools,

Internet and Programs in public schools– Partners in Entra 21 Youth ICT training and

youth employment program– Lack of priority for implementing ICT

programs – Key partner in GeSCI program in Bolivia


• CRIS Bolivia– This network of civil society and NGOs

supports Information Society awareness and programs in Bolivia.

– Universidad Real. Implementing a Telecenter Educational project

– FINFURAL and several NGOS implementing community Telecenters.


• Quipus Foundation-NUR University– Operate 3 Cisco Networking Academies– Implementing a Center for Innovation in ICT

for Development in Bolivia– Runs programs on Linux, Network Security,

VSATs, etc


Entra21 Bolivia

Is comprehensive and innovative ICT training and employment project designed to fill educational gaps of disadvantaged youth in Bolivia improving their employability and ultimately their economic prospects as well as those of their families.

International Youth

Foundation


Three components of Entra21 Bolivia• Integrated Classroom Training for 600 youth (16-

29 years) from semi-urban and rural areas

• Practical Training (Internship) for 2 months

• Job Placement Services

Players in implementing ICTPlayers in implementing ICTBoliviaBolivia

DESATELDESATELDesarrollo, Energías Alternativas y TelecomunicacionesDesarrollo, Energías Alternativas y Telecomunicaciones

A project developed by CARE, NUR A project developed by CARE, NUR University, the Quipus Foundation, University, the Quipus Foundation,

the NGO network PROCOSIthe NGO network PROCOSI

Project Overview Project Overview

• “Socially responsible” rural telecommunications venture backed by non-profit organizations

• Plans to develop nation-wide Community Telecenter network to offer affordable Internet, IP Telephony and Video services. Will work with the ICA E Links hub in Canada

• DESATEL will utilize a network of franchised Community Telecenters to provide community access to communications resources and development programs

DESATEL’s MissionDESATEL’s Mission

Affect positive social and economic change in

rural Bolivia by creating a sustainable

Community Telecenter Network to serve as the

delivery platform for valuable telecom

services and development programs

TechnologyTechnology

IDU

servidor

LAN

VoIPPBX

ModuladorDVBEncapsulador IPNMSServidor TNMA

HUB Banco Demoduladores

HUB

La Paz

PSTN

Backbone Internet

ISPE1

DNS Cache WebCobranzas

router

VoIP

ODU

Telecentros

TelefoniaPública

Red E-Link-socio estratégico de DESATELRed E-Link-socio estratégico de DESATEL

ObjectivesObjectives

1. Bridge the digital divide in Bolivia:

Telecenters and telecommunication services (Internet & IP telephony)

Renewable energy services

2. Utilize Telecenters to deliver comprehensive development programs:

Distance education, training and multi-ethnic content and cultural programs

E-government transactions and workflow

Municipal strengthening

Telemedicine and micro-credit services

Transfer of remittances from overseas

Agricultural resources (water/soil analysis)

Services

DESATEL will offer the following services:Connections to the Internet to Telecenters, schools, universities, health centers, micro credit institutions, municipalities, private companies, tourism operators etc. Radio IP, video, and IP voice transmissionWeb and email hosting A platform for long distance education

DESATEL PartnershipDESATEL Partnership

Telecenter Franchise SystemTelecenter Franchise System

DESATEL’s Community Telecenter Network will be organized in a franchise system

Community and/or institutional (i.e. local partners, NGOs and micro-credit organizations) stakeholders will manage each location

Involvement by community stakeholders and leaders will maximize facility utilization and accelerate technology adoption

TechnologyTechnology

DESATEL will utilize VSATs DVB RCS open standard technology offering two way connectivity to reach regions of Bolivia without land line access Easy to install and operateIdeal for institutional networks with geographically dispersed sites and/or communities lacking infrastructureLow-cost technology enables DESATEL to offer extremely competitive telecom services and valuable programs

Long Distance Education Long Distance Education PlatformPlatform

– DESATEL and GLOBATEL will use the Community Telecenter network as a platform for long distance educacional programs for public employees, teachers, micro credit organizations, NGO’s, etc.

– Broadband connectivity through a DVB platform will be provided by DESATEL. GLOBATEL will provide the video conferencing platform.

LAN

VoIP

Educational Platform

Public Telephone

Internet

MunicipalitiesMunicipalities Educational Educational

centerscenters TelemedicineTelemedicine Electoral CourtElectoral Court CustomsCustoms NGOsNGOs Micro Credit Micro Credit

InstitutionsInstitutions

video conference

Classroom

Educational SystemEducational System

The system will include:Central Transmission

StudioTwo way satellite

transmission, point to multipoint system using Broadband Internet

Instalation, training and operation of the network

Ideas to reduce the Digital DivideIdeas to reduce the Digital Divide

• Support the Development of a Country Strategy and Action Plan involving the Government, Civil Society, Universities, NGOs, bilateral and multilateral aid agencias and municipalities. UNDP is supporting the preparation of a Country E strategy.

• Identify and search for innovative funding mechanisms (debt swaps, universal access funds, Food for Minds, etc) that will support the sustainability of ICT for Development projects.

• Set up a Center for Innovation in Information Technology in Bolivia for Development

• Strengthen Government institutions to assist in implementing E-strategies and E-Government Programs


• Establish the GeSCI program with the Ministry of Education and ADSIB with support from UNDP, FUNDETIC, CRIS, etc.

• Implement a Universal Access Fund paid for by Telcos.• Support the regulatory policies that will allow for the spread of

wireless, VoIP and other state-of-the art telecommunications technologies.

• Promote public awareness campaigns on the importance of ICT as a Development Tool

• Promote ICTs as a tool to improve government efficiency, reduce bureaucracy and corruption and improve public services

• Support the development of culturally-appropriate content for the educational and development sectors

• Support ICT services for Small and Medium Enterprises


• Support technological innovation in areas such as VSATs, Wi Fi, recycled and inexpensive computers, accesible and culturally appropriate software.

• Involve universities in promoting ICTS as a development tool

• Set up a Fund for Innovation in ICTS• NEVER GIVE UP AND FIND CREATIVE

SOLUTIONS TO THE CHALLENGES FACING THE ICT SECTOR

ICT Center for Development and ICT Center for Development and EducationEducation

• Joint venture; Quipus Foundation, Mision Titicaco + FundeticEmpowerment, entrepreneurship, problem solving, business services, culturally- appropriate content development

• Education,communication is key to sustainable development

www.titicaco.com

support maintenance

education

training content

programming

computers

connectivity

schoolcommunity+ portal

Contact InformationContact Information

Peter McFarrenPresident

Fundación para el Desarrollo de las TICs en Bolivia (FUNDETIC).

[email protected]

Many ThanksMany Thanks

the importance of alliances between civil society, the government and international agencies to...

Documents

bolivia slide

overview of bolivia

ict programs

bolivia adsib

bolivia limited resources

thirds of bolivia

bolivia sweden

central government slide