Telecoms infrastructure development key to bridging the 'digital divide'

[rpm]

http://www.mybroadband.co.za/nephp/?m=show&id=4851

 

[Tanarri]

Wow seems like this guy spent a lot of time figuring out what is so obvious. He doesn't bash Telkom though... government and Telkom are the only ones that can do something... except we can cast our vote on the next election...

 

[Paul_S]

They want to bridge the digital divide - simple - make ADSL connections and accounts cheap enough for the poor to afford. Like R100 for a 384kbps ADSL connection and 3GiB account.

Then make PCs cheap enough to afford - like R1000 for a complete PIII equivalent system running a Linux distro and OpenOffice.
Oh and then make sure they have electricity as well ...

The poor will never be able to afford this type of technology - that's why they're called the poor. Roll on digital divide.

 

[Oupoot]

What this article clearly states that their is a demand for ICT services in rural and previously disadvantaged areas. And further, that their is potential to make significant profits. But the approach Telkom used since 1997 has not worked. They wanted to implement a first world city model onto a 3rd world rural setting. Cell phones and call kiosks has bridged this gap to a degree, but there is still huge opportunity for anyone to provide ICT services with the right approach. In the end, real empowerment is about providing people with information - ask any politician: information=power.

Then again, empowering people with information may just result in political turmoil, as more people will realise they have more choices, and become more aware of govt wastages, etc. Thus, it could be beneficial and potentially disasterous.

 

[Skip]

You know what would bridge the digital divide? Lowering tarriffs so the 2+ million people Telkom disconnected can afford basic fixed line telecoms services again.