The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Telecommunications Satellite Organisation (ITSO) to partner on capacity-building initiatives on the application and use of satellite communications systems.
Under the partnership, ITSO and CTO will collaborate on delivering satellite communications capacity-building and training through CTO programmes, says the organisation.
This is in line with the CTO strategies of organising numerous courses to help facilitate the promotion of ICT in developing regions, it says. “These courses focus on ICT policy and regulation, fixed and wireless network technology and operations management,” says the CTO.
The organisation says in an industry uniquely typified by rapid and constant change, its training and capacity-building programmes allow governments, regulatory agencies and operators to stay abreast of new technologies, market changes and best practices.
“This new partnership is a logical progression of the two companies' relationship of mutual interest as intergovernmental organisations with the mission to bridge the digital divide,” says the CTO's CEO, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah.
He says the courses will provide the much-required content needs of its member countries and access to these courses will go a long way in helping ICT stakeholders in developing Commonwealth countries to enhance their skills and knowledge in satellite communications.
According to the CTO, the ITSO, with its experience in the development and delivery of professional satellite communications systems, will provide expert trainers for two courses on satellite communications. These will focus on policy-makers and regulators, and other stakeholders, including communications operators.
The director-general of the ITSO, Jose Toscano, says broadband satellite technologies in particular afford countries, especially those facing the greatest challenges, with the ability to shrink the effects of the digital divide by providing much needed telecommunications infrastructure.
“I sincerely believe that the growth and continued technological advances of broadband satellite services will inevitably generate greater economic growth in developing countries by being an enabler for e-applications such as e-health, distance learning, e-government, teleworking (business by telephone), and residential and community Internet access,” he adds.
According to Toscano, through this partnership ITSO and CTO will work together to develop training programmes adapted to the needs of Commonwealth member countries and aimed at raising the awareness and knowledge of satellite communications and how these can be used to achieve the ICT goals of the membership of ITSO and CTO.
The CTO says it will include the training initiatives as part of its forum of programmes to officials from member countries that require capacity-building skills in satellite communications.
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