Dr Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, the Minister of communications, successfully launched five multi-purpose community centres (MPCCs) including community post-offices (CPOs) in remote rural villages (namely Soetfontein, Dikgale, Leshwane, Mungomani and Leflane) in the Northern Province, on Tuesday, 23 October 2001.
The Department of Communications (DoC) sponsored MPCCs are a part of the South African integrated rural development strategy geared towards bridging the digital divide. To date, the government has sponsored a total of 158 MPCCs in such impoverished isolated rural communities.
Donation of Phone Management Systems
Alcatel Altech Telecoms (AAT) has donated 40 Phone Management Systems in Kit form to the DoC including installation, commissioning and training. The DoC has contracted SMMEs to establish 40 Telecentres throughout the country.
Technology and equipment
Each of the above mentioned five MPCCs utilises five Alcatel DECT wireless network terminations (WNTs) to connect the three telephones (which operate on the AAT sponsored management systems), a fax machine, and the Internet.
Each MPCC is fitted with the following equipment:
* Three telephones
* One fax machine
* One copier
* One cash register
* One printer
* Ten (Arrow Altech provided) computers
* One server
* One PABX
* One TV
* One decoder
Security
The centrally located buildings are provided with adequate security.
Training and support services
Maintenance, spares, training and support services are to be provided by Unix. Information systems, a value-added networks service provider on a 12 months contract with the DoC.
Satellite link
The launch by the minister was based in Soetfontein. The other four centres were linked by satellite multimedia.
Objectives
The objectives which have been set for the community-based MPCCs include the following:
* Human resource development/enhanced introduction computer literacy skills to schools and to communities some of whom have not seen a computer and/ or have never used a telephone before.
* Economic growth and job creation
* Entrepreneurial development
* Rural development
The minister was grateful of AAT`s donation and active participation in supporting the government`s initiatives in this context.
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