Telecentres and Internet Cafes in Africa.
Telecenters are one of the most rapidly growing applications
of IT in the developing world fulfilling the need for a practical
and cost-effective way to bring the community of Africa into
contact with itself and with the world.
Shared-access to refurbished Optimax computers and telephone
systems allows the provision of a wide range of services to
more users at lower cost than privately-owned home or office
computers which are often out of the financial reach of the
poorer people.
The definition of a telecenter is as varied as the activities
that such a center can offer.
Smaller telecenters usually include access to fax, phone,
and photocopying, the larger ones may also include a basic
internet service
Others may include targeted activities in education and training,
health, e-commerce, e-government services and more. The physical
composition of telecenters also varies widely.
Common models include kiosks, school computer labs made available
to the public after hours, multipurpose community telecenters,
and mobile telecenters.
|
