Title:
The TICBolivia country programme : the impact of IICD support for poverty reduction and development using ICTs, 2000-2004
Corporate author(s):
International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD)
Place:
The Hague
Publisher:
IICD
Year:
2005
PAGE:
72
Language:
eng
Subject:
Information, Knowledge and Communication
Keywords:
information and communication technologies
,
poverty
Abstract:
This study evaluates the impact of TICBolivia (the Bolivia Country Programme of IICD) from the perspective of poverty alleviation. The impact is measured in terms of who is reached by the programme, and how the services provided have affected their level of awareness, empowerment, and economic options and status. Poor rural connectivity is a major challenge in Bolivia, with its large size and mountainous terrain. Telephone infrastructure in rural areas is generally poor and quite expensive. A very promising approach is shared satellite connectivity, in which several local organizations including the TICBolivia partner share a single satellite link to the Internet and related costs. Local organizations including schools and health centres connect to the Internet hub via a strong wireless network. The first connections are now operational in the small communities of Vallegrande and Lomerio. Satellite connectivity is much faster than traditional dialup, and thus brings all the benefits of convergence – internet radio, multimedia, and voice over IP – to communities which previously did not even have telephone.
Organization:
IICD - International Institute for Communication and Development
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
Latin America
,
South America
Category:
Practice
Right:
© 2005 IICD
Document type:
Report
File:
118714.pdf