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

[Polly Gaster]

Hi Meddie

Re your question, I do recommend people signing up to the e-Agriculture
discussion on mobile phones in rural areas that is currently running.

I haven't been participating actively for lack of time, but there are various
examples of how mobiles are currently being used in different countries, plus
what seems to be a fairly common view that so far too much of the information
is anecdotal and we are lacking proper studies to analyse real use and impact.

This forum doesn't deal directly with links between mobiles and telecentres,
but perhaps shows that mobiles are providing some services that telecentres
currently aren't - and perhaps could, for instance getting that same
information and circulating it more widely (in our case, through the community
radios). For me, one of the big questions is - can the telecentres meet the
same needs more efficiently, reliably and cheaper (eg free communications via
Skype or VOIP, Internet banking), or can it use the mobile services (not that
we have many yet in Mozambique, but undoubtedly we will soon)to build and
improve its own services?

At an immediate practical level, our radios rely on the mobile for phone in
and debate programmes, so civic participation is improved. And some sell phone
cards - and cd in the future sell paper till receipts which wd be cheaper for
the mobile companies?? And as I said before, some are taking advantage of
connectivity via mobile phone infrastructure.

Polly 

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Polly Gaster
TICs para Desenvolvimento/ICT4D
Centro de Informatica da Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (CIUEM)
Campus Universitario, Maputo, Mozambique
e-mail: polly.gaster at uem.mz
cel: +258-82-3264540
tel/fax: +258-21-485779
Skype: polly_gaster


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