View source for ICT Timor Leste demonstrates alternative technology for ordinary people

 Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2008 22:05:40 -0800 (PST)
 From: Abel Pires da Silva <lybel_2000@yahoo.com>
 Subject: ICT Timor Leste demonstrates alternative technology for ordinary people


Dear friends,
Below is the latest ICT training organised by ICT Association of Timor-Leste (ICT-TL). The news was taken from
Timor-Leste Media Development Centre (TLMDC) www.tlmdc.org [www.tlmdc.org]
 
Regards,
Abel
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ICT Timor Leste demonstrates alternative technology for ordinary people
 
Timor-Leste Information Technology (ICT-TL) on Friday demonstrated
alternative technology for ordinary people to get access to information
through the telephone and internet.
 
ICT-TL Coordinator, Abel Pires da Silva, said this was an alternative
technology for Timorese people to use the internet and telephone  without
using a simcard and free of charge.

"Timor Telecom remains expensive, because it is the only communication
company in the country, therefore they are monopolizing everything.
Timor Telecom does not care about Timorese people's condition, the
important thing for them is how their company is successful in the
country," Pires said.
 
Pires said the alternative technology is cheaper, it could cost five or
ten dollars for a month. ICT-TL is commencing to move forward with this
program, Pires said.
 
"We will first try to provide it for NGOs, how the NGOs' communication
can be cheaper and will also implement at schools, as well as at health
community centers," Pires said.
 
From here they will make sure our capability and will enhance this
information to all community members to see and understand, as well as
through this alternative people could feel that their communication fee
is cheaper, Pires said.
 
IT trainer Ono Purbo from Indonesia said he shared daily experiences in
Indonesia with his friends in Timor-Leste. Ordinary people in Indonesia had found out their own ways to get cheaper and free telephone, Purbo said.
 
Timorese people are also facing the same economic situation, therefore
ICT-TL should find out alternative technologies for its ordinary people
to get access to free and cheaper telephone and internet.
 
"We have never competed with Timor Telecom, because they are working for money and we are helping people who are not able to get access to information," Purbo said.
 
He added the only difficult thing is how they could make people to be
clever and if all people are being clever and that they could now be
able develop this country.