Mobile Telephony to Reach 400,000 People in Remote African Villages
At a press conference in Nairobi, Kenya - Zain, Ericsson and the Earth Institute announced the provision of telecommunications deliverables to the Millennium Villages of Dertu (Kenya), Ruhiira (Uganda) and Molla (Tanzania).
The initiatives were first outlined in September 2007 at Columbia University, when Zain, Ericsson and the Earth Institute announced a partnership to provide mobile communications and Internet connectivity to the Millennium Villages projects covering up to 400,000 people in 10 sub-Saharan African countries where the project is working.
Ericsson and Zain (through its wholly-owned African subsidiary Celtel) have teamed up to develop a comprehensive end-to-end telecommunication strategy in the villages and to drive mobile phone connectivity and coverage build-out to selected areas.
Chris Gabriel, CEO of Celtel, says: “It is wonderful that the people in this remote part of Africa will have access to basic, but effective mobile internet access over an EDGE network. Here we can see how mobile communications can play a key role in helping improve the quality of life for people even in the remotest parts of the world.”
Carl-Henric Svanberg, CEO and President, Ericsson, says: “The Millennium Village project provides us with a unique ecosystem to demonstrate the benefits of voice and Internet. We believe the uptake of mobile services could go even quicker than anticipated in this environment, as the need for even basic services is so much greater. The project is one concrete example where we are actualizing our commitment to the MDGs, while at the same time stimulating positive business impacts and opening new markets in remote parts of rural Africa. “
Jeffrey Sachs, Special Advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General and Director of Columbia University's Earth Institute, says: “Mobile communication is perhaps the single most transformative technology for rural African villages to improve access to health care and education, create new business opportunities and access to markets, and ultimately to help eradicate extreme poverty. We are excited by the tremendous opportunities which mobile phones make possible in every kind of community and economic activity – ranging from pastoralists and farmers, to traders, health workers and teachers.”
In Kenya, Zain and Ericsson have deployed a temporary mobile network providing service to 5,000 people in Dertu for the first time.
...continuedPosted to the site on 9th May 2008
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