Advanced telecommunications and wireless communications technologies not only add new elements of competition to markets dominated by telephone and cable companies, but open up huge opportunities for empowerment.
"In this ICE (Internet changes everything) age, technology is a powerful, all-encompassing tool that can accelerate the upliftment and development of disadvantaged communities," says Doug Batchelor, general manager of Bay Networks for sub-Saharan Africa.
Batchelor recently accompanied a government trade delegation, including Telecommunications Minister Jay Naidoo, to San Francisco where Bay Networks executives briefed the South Africans on the success of their Telecommunications Infrastructure Partnership (TIP) project in the City.
"The achievements of the TIP project were enthusiastically received by the South African visitors. Encouraged by this, Bay Networks in South Africa is now looking at driving a similar project here with buy-in from government and other corporates," says Batchelor.
"In essence, the project will facilitate high-tech teaching and learning at universities in rural areas using state-of-the-art telecommunications and wireless communications technology.
"The universities will then be positioned to facilitate teaching and learning at other local institutions such as colleges and technikons, who in turn will provide similar services to schools."
Batchelor said the TIP project in the Bay area of San Francisco had achieved significant results over a seven-year period. A disadvantaged community in the Bay had been selected for the project. The starting point was to teach people in this community computing and Internet skills.
"TIP took Internet services into the schools, libraries, police stations, fire departments and other community service providers, resulting in significant benefits accruing to many people living in the area.
"Individuals who learned computing and Internet skills improved their status with a high percentage of those previously unemployed now holding well-paid permanent jobs."
Batchelor adds that the local TIP project community will have to be carefully selected and with the right TIP partners, commitment and the co-operation of central, regional and local authorities, similar successes can be achieved in South Africa.
"As far as the trade delegation visit was concerned, the feedback from the American participants, including Bay Networks, was positive in terms of a commitment to enter into partnerships with South African empowerment companies. The South African companies represented were also keen to do business with American companies."
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