1.2.5 Public access to Internet services
As in the case of telephony, forms of public Internet access are essential at the community level for social and economic development. All continents have multiple public points of Internet access, which have been developed through policy, private entrepreneurship and other public initiatives designed to overcome the barriers for Internet access. These access points range from purely commercial cyber-cafés, to non-profit or publicly funded telecentres and may consist of small public Internet access points with one to four computers (many hundreds of these access points have been established through universal access and service funds [UASFs] on semi-commercial or non-profit bases) to large multi-purpose community telecentres, most of which have been financed separately through aid agency activities and agreements. The table below summarizes a survey of such models in Latin America. While there is a lot of information on classifications of telecentres, case studies and best practice, there is little comprehensive data that give an overview of the numbers of public access Internet centres by world region.
|
Table: Classification of telecentres |
|
Type |
Services |
Management-Administration |
Examples |
|
Commercial |
The basic service is computer plus Internet connection. Called a cybercafé when a cafeteria or bar is present, but these other services generate only a small part of the income (<20%). |
Private business |
Cabinas Publicas in Peru, cybercafés in Bolivia, Argentina and elsewhere; E-Choupal in India. |
|
Franchise |
Seeks to stand out by improved quality, faster connection, more and better services, atmosphere and comfort. |
Private business |
There were examples in Latin America and Africa, however, they have ceased to exist, as the low margins of Internet cafes make a franchise model challenging. In India, Akshaya uses a public-private partnership, franchise model. |
|
NGO |
Wide diversity of services, orientation, and target group, depending on location and orientation of promoting institution. Services include Internet combined with training and development activities. Hours of Internet may be subordinated to use of machines for other uses by NGO staff. |
NGO or development project (dependent on grants from private businesses for initial computers and software)
|
CDI (Brazil), El Encuentro (Chile), LINCOS (Costa Rica), AEDES (Cotahuasi, Perú), Gemas da Terra Rural telecentres (Brazil), Infoplazas (Panama),, MS Swaminathan Research Foundation Village Knowledge Centres (India). |
|
University |
Many terminals (30 to 100) mainly for students but also available to general public. Specialized technical support available. Academic courses in computers and preparation of contents easy to organize. |
University |
Universidad Nacional San Agustín (UNSA), Universidad San Antonio Abad del Cusco (UNSAAC) |
|
School |
The school opens its doors to the community after class hours. Services tend to be many and varied (Internet, e-mail, content preparation). Most suited are e-literacy programmes and continuing education.
|
School |
Leo Ussak (Canadian Arctic), Casi (Uruguay), Fundacion Omar Dengo (Costa Rica)
|
|
Municipal/State |
In principle, can include a wide range of services (public and private).
|
Municipal government directly, in partnership with other entities, or entrusted to private enterprise |
Infoplazas in Pedací and Penonomé (Panamá), Amic@s (Paraguay), Sao Paulo Acessa (Brazil), Pirai Digital Project (Brazil), IT clubs (Egypt), Gyandoot (India), e-Sri Lanka |
|
Multipurpose |
Rural: Access to Internet, e-mail and related services. Commercial web hosting to community, telephone booths, sales of working materials and stationery, Internet café, training courses.
|
Administrative board representing donors, service suppliers and community members |
LINCOS (Costa Rica), Joven Club de Computacion (Cuba), Puntos de Acceso (Venezuela), GESAC (Brazil), Compartel (Colombia), UNESCO Community Multimedia Centres (Mali, Uruguay and elsewhere). |
Source: Adapted from Telecentres for Socioeconomic and Rural Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (Francisco Proenza and others, IADB, May 2001).
Previous Page
Next Page
Toolkit user contributions for this section
 One moment...
|