Telecentres

Telecentres: Case studies and key issues

The book opens with a global overview of the multipurpose community telecentre movement and discusses the key issues of ownership, management, operational models and sustainability. The book offers an unparallelled range of information and advice on the organisation and running of telecentres. It has been designed for policy-makers, centre managers and all of those in education, training, health and community development who are keen to serve urban, peri-urban, rural and other disadvantaged communities for which access to education and information means access to a better future.

Telecenter Sustainability: Myths and Opportunities

An excellent article from developmentgateway.org looking at models for sustainability. Telecenters need to be business orientated genterating revenue at least equal its outgoings. This is a must read for for policy-makers, centre managers and all of those in education, training, health and community development who are keen to serve urban, peri-urban, rural and other disadvantaged communities for which access to education and information means access to a better future.

Telecenters, Community Informatics and Development

Here you will find five papers that address a range of telecentre issues that will be of interest to practitioners, researchers and policy makers in developing countries that see telecentres as a means of spreading the benefits of information access more widely among their populations.

Drishtee Telecenters: A Sustainable E-Government and Market Development Solution

A closer look at the Drishtree Telecenter example where in less than two years, Drishtee has successfully demonstrated its concept in over 285 kiosks across five Indian states. Using a tiered franchise and partnership model, Drishtee believes that it can enable the creation of up to 50,000 information kiosks across India within a span of six years. These kiosks would serve a market of 500 million people.

Somos@Telecentros: The Story So Far and Lessons Learned

Community-based telecentres are one of most important examples of digital inclusion initiatives. Some have become agents of social change and have developed within their communities programs that assess local needs. The Somos@Telecentros Network (S@T) developed in Latin America and is until now the only significant regional community based telecenters Network worldwide. The general objective of the S@T network is to strengthen the digital inclusion initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean. Since its inception the S@TNetwork has quickly become the place for activism, information, education, networking, resources, lobbying efforts and communication for telecentre issues in LAC. The second part of this paper describes some of the key lessons learned by the S@T network and how these lessons are used in the plannification for the future.

Telecentre Evaluation: A Global Perspective

The contributions in this volume are the result of an international working meeting on telecentre evaluation, held at Far Hills, Quebec from September 28-30, 1999. There is no attempt here to provide a unique model for telecentres. Instead, the idea is to foster the creation and dissemination of knowledge relevant to the design, operation and evaluation of telecentres.

Telecentres Sustainability: What Does It Mean?

Another excellent article on telecenter sustainability. A solution for telecentre sustainability emerges when one looks further than simple financial sustainability and widens the understanding of sustainability in such a way that it includes, besides financial sustainability, social, political, cultural, and technical sustainability as elements of equal value. A must read.

Telecentres: How Did We Lose the Plot?

A critical analysis of everything that is wrong with telecenters. Far from solution orientated, this article provides no answers to what is needed and reiterates the obvious.

WA Telecenter Network

This is a commercial site for the WA Telecenter Network in Western Australia. You can join the Telecentre Network in a 'partnership' to deliver services on behalf of government departments or commercial organisations.

Tele-community Centres and ICT Applications for Communities

This is a presentation from the WSIS National Consultation Workshop, November 17-19 2003, Islamabad. Lots of the usual questions about what can be done, but no answers.

Assessing Community Telecentres

This guidebook will assist researchers as they assess and evaluate the role and impact of community telecentres. It provides an introduction to some of the key research issues, a framework for telecentre evaluation, and an impetus for research teams to share ideas, instruments, and methods. Assessing Community Telecentres will interest researchers, practitioners, and academics in information science, communications, international development, and evaluation, including telecentre operators, telecentre managers, and community leaders.

Papers on Multipurpose Community Telecentres

A collection of papers from ITU on multipurpose community telecenters. Please click to see the full list of papers.

Ten Steps for Establishing a Sustainable Multipurpose Community Telecentre

This first booklet gives a short explanation of an MCT, its ownership and its possible services and programmes. It deals with the initial process of identifying and mobilising key persons in the community to form a Steering Committee as well as the actions to be taken prior to calling an Open Community Meeting. Factors contributing to sustainability of MCT such as availability of physical facilities, funding, volunteers and, more importantly, the interest of the community to avail themselves of the programmes and services to be offered are introduced in this booklet.

Telecentres: Case studies and key issues

The book opens with a global overview of the multipurpose community telecentre movement and discusses the key issues of ownership, management, operational models and sustainability. The book offers an unparallelled range of information and advice on the organisation and running of telecentres. It has been designed for policy-makers, centre managers and all of those in education, training, health and community development who are keen to serve urban, peri-urban, rural and other disadvantaged communities for which access to education and information means access to a better future.

Community ICT and Networking Resources

Here you will find many online resources by organizations that offer suggestions especially tailored to setting up and maintaining community ICT and networking projects, including community telecentres/community technology centres. Some of these links also offer tips for activities at such centres, such as how to work with diverse populations and how to teach certain classes.

Community Internet Access in Rural Areas: Solving the Economic Sustainability Puzzle

In researching and studying the economic self-sustainability of the Internet in rural areas (particularly in India), we have identified some criteria for success — something of a laundry list.

Community Telecentres: Assuring Impact & Sustainability

This Highlight focuses on community telecentres, in particular, on their sustainability and effectiveness. Which telecentres are most successful in providing access to the poor? Which business models work best? Do different countries and different kinds of communities require different types of telecentres and/or different business models?