paper pansa

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Integrating Modern and Traditional Information and Communication Technologies for Community Development” A case study of Suriname Roberto Pansa Coordinator of Rural Communication Telesur - Suriname A paper presented at the International Seminar addressing the digital divide in some of the poorest communities of the developing world January 22 – 27, 2001 Kothmale, Sri Lanka Organized by UNESCO, the Ministry of Information and the Media of the Government of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation in association with The Kothmale Internet Project of the Kothmale Community Radio

Content : 

Content A Background B Technical challenges C Conclusions and Recommendations

A Background: 

A Background 1. Introduction 2. The Site 3. Objectives 4. Output 5. Organization and management 6. Training Activities 7. Financial aspect 7.1. Telecentres 7.2. Broadcasting Radio Stations

Introduction  1: 

Introduction 1 Suriname has a total land area of 163,820 km2. It lies on the North East coast of South America and is part of the Caribbean as well as the Latin American community and also the world known Amazon Rain Forest (the green Lung of the earth). The hinterland districts of Suriname cover 87% of the total land area. Suriname has diverse ethnic groups, cultures and languages and is famous for its hospitality.

Map of Suriname  : 

Map of Suriname

1. Introduction  2: 

1. Introduction 2 For the year 2000, the estimated population was about 500,000 people. The population of the Hinterland is about 13% of the total population.   The Hinterland of Suriname is traditionally populated by tribal groups of Indigenous and Maroon origin. The major part of the Hinterland Maroon and Indigenous population is settled in villages or camps, ranging from 25 to 7,000 inhabitants. The total number of villages is about 230.

1. Introduction  3: 

1. Introduction 3 The culture of the Suriname interior is predominantly oral with only few features of written media and communication. The medium most used for spreading the message is by word of mouth. Information and communication technology (ICT) deserves a great priority at different governments nowadays, from which Suriname is no exception. A feasibility study was undertaken by the ITU in January-February 1996 in response to a request from Suriname to participate in the BAAP (Buenos Aires Action Plan) Programme no. 9 – Integrated Rural Development within the scope of the BAAP.

1. Introduction  4: 

1. Introduction 4 As a result of the study a pilot project has been started in Suriname. This pilot project first brought telecommunication facilities to the Brownsweg area of Suriname (mid-Suriname).   By using a cell site at Brownsberg to link with the Telesur network, a gateway to the interior of Suriname is provided. This facility gateway provides telecommunication facilities to a region with a population in excess of 20,000 people.   Up till now it comprises two Type 1 and 18 Type 0 Telecentres The total contribution of Telesur was more than USD 1.5 million (90% of the total investment).

1. Introduction  5: 

1. Introduction 5 Due to financial problems Telesur could not finish the project as planned. Therefor Type 0 Telecentres were installed. But the Telecommunication needs of the communities are growing, and UNESCO supported us with an answer; this international organization launched the Community Broadcasting Radio Station project “ Developing a Communication network in the hinterland of Suriname”. Those radio stations will be integrated/upgraded in the next phase of the project to Radio Station – Telecentres. .

1. Introduction  6: 

1. Introduction 6 This project of UNESCO has strengthened the ability to solve the Communication problems of the hinterland, because the answer to the question is, community developing with modern communication abilities.

2. The Site : 

2. The Site The proposed project within the scope of the BAAP concerns four rural and isolated regions (Brownsberg, Mungo/Albina, Apura and Lely Gebergte). The total population in all four regions is some 52,000 people, which represent some 80% of the interior population in Suriname.

The four regions : 

The four regions

3. Objectives: 

3. Objectives Main objective of this project is community development through Rural Communication. It will be reached by: 1. Installing Telecentres 2. Installing Telecentres –Radio Stations 3. Training the people for using the facilities

4. Output: 

4. Output From this project the following results could be expected: 1. Provision of a gateway to the interior 2.   Interconnection between villages 3.   Accessibility to modern communication facilities 4. Special education time for children on the computer 5. Broadcasting programs for youths, women, elderly people, farmers, and news sessions

Organization and management 1: 

Organization and management 1 Telesur is in charge of the execution of this project; more specifically the department of Execution of Telecommunication Projects   Some of the Telecentres are co-managed by the Ministry of Regional Development but some of the managers are private entrepreneurs. There are five men and fifteen women service providers.

Organization and management 2: 

Organization and management 2 Of the selection of managers for the Telecentres the tribal inhabitants are involved in the recruitment process. The tribal chiefs, women groups and the rest of the villages-inhabitants come together in a meeting to do that.

Training Activities 1: 

Training Activities 1 Telesur has trained the members of all the 20 Telecentres. To the type 0 Telecentres service providers Telesur did a limited course depending to which equipment’s are installed and to the Type 1 Telecentres and the UNESCO radio station a complete course of 2 to 4 weeks were given.

Training Activities 2: 

Training Activities 2 The content of the courses dealt with: 1. The services offered by the Telecentres 2. Improvement of the quality of the services 3. Management tools for the Telecentre providers 4. Computer training (word-processing, internet, E-mail) 5. Training on broadcasting to the radio station members, by external communication experts

7. Financial aspects: 

7. Financial aspects 7.1. Telecentres 7.2. Broadcasting Radio Stations.

7.1. Telecentres: 

7.1. Telecentres The total cost of the Brownsberg project, for installing Telecentres in the Hinterland of Suriname, is about USD 1.6 million. From this amount the contribution of Telesur is about USD 1,5 million. A Type 1 Telecentre was estimated to cost USD 20,000. But due to lack of funding Telesur was able to install only two Type 1 Telecentres. On the other hand 18 “Type 0” Telecentres were installed at the cost of USD 4,000.

7.2. Broadcasting Radio Stations 1: 

7.2. Broadcasting Radio Stations 1 UNESCO launched a Community Radio Station Project in Suriname three years ago. In cooperation between UNESCO, Telesur and a local women NGO called Koni Ku Libi, Radio Mujee has been established in the Maroon Village of Gunsi.   This Project includes setting-up ten Community Broadcasting Radio Stations in Suriname, as part of a Caribbean Radio Broadcasting Station Network.

7.2. Broadcasting Radio Stations 2: 

7.2. Broadcasting Radio Stations 2 The choice for Gunsi is based on several deliberations between the government of Suriname, the tribal chiefs of the hinterland, Women NGOs in Suriname and the tribal communities of The Upper Suriname River Region. The UNESCO made available the equipment for Radio Mujee at the village Gunsi and has also sponsored a four-week course for members of Telecentres and Radio stations. The total budget for the project is USD 60,000.

7.2. Broadcasting Radio Stations 3: 

7.2. Broadcasting Radio Stations 3 The community of Gunsi went for financial support to the CDFS . For upgrading of the Station, that fund contributed with more solar panels, more batteries, some more studio equipment and a tower of 40 m to replace the 20 m tower which was installed. Except from the Community Radio Station Radio Mujee, in the Indigenous Village of Galibi there is also a Radio Station installed (Radio Galibi).

7.2. Broadcasting Radio Stations 5: 

7.2. Broadcasting Radio Stations 5 This Station was established by internal efforts of that Community. And now The UNESCO, The Government of Suriname, and national organizations want to adopt this project and make it part of the UNESCO Community Radio Station Network to be installed.

Technical Challenges: 

Technical Challenges B 1. Telecommunication 1.1. The backbone transmission system 1.2. The rural cellular local network 1.3. Other facilities in the Telecentres 2. Broadcasting 2.1. Studio equipment 2.2. Transmission equipment 3. Television 4. Power provision

Telecommunication: 

Telecommunication 1.1. The backbone transmission system 1.2. The rural cellular local network 1.3. Other facilities in the Telecentres

1.1. The backbone transmission system: 

1.1. The backbone transmission system The transmission system, which is responsible for the link from Zandery to Brownsberg, is the Northel SDH 5/40 digital microwave radio. This remote control digital radio is very effective for this remote station The transmission antennas are situated at the Zandery site at 85 m and at the Brownsberg site on the mountaintop called Masaroni (560m) at 70 m height.

1.2. The rural cellular local network : 

1.2. The rural cellular local network At the Brownsberg station there is an analog AMPS cell site installed. The Telecentres are connected to the Telesur telephone network with fixed cellular telephones. This connection allows a transmission speed of 9600bps.

1.3 Other facilities in the Telecentres: 

1.3 Other facilities in the Telecentres Two of the 20 Telecentres are equipped with computers, Printer and fax machine. The computers are Pentium 75 MHz computers installed with Windows 95, Microsoft Office 95 and Internet software.

2. Broadcasting: 

2. Broadcasting 2.1. Studio equipment 2.2. Transmission equipment 3. Television 4. Power provision

2.1. Studio equipment: 

2.1. Studio equipment The broadcasting studio equipment consist of the following:   1.     Audio equipments 2.     Microphones with table stands 3.     And also a fixed cellular telephone

2.2 Transmission equipment: 

2.2 Transmission equipment The transmission equipment consists of the following: 1. A modulator 2. A Transmitter 3. An antenna tower with a dipole anntena  

3. Television: 

3. Television Since May last year television broadcasting is retransmitted in the Brownsberg area. The pictures come from the Telesur Television station ATV. It is 24-hour television provision to that community.

4. Power provision: 

4. Power provision Power provision at Brownsberg is provided by 400 solar panels with storage facilities of back up batteries. The capacity is 27 KVA

Conclusions and Recommendations 1: 

Conclusions and Recommendations 1 The MCT project is in financial problems and it is facing serious problems without appropriate support from the donors and stakeholders. The Telecentres need to be upgraded to at least type 1 of the ITU-standards and Telecentre / Radio Stations of the UNESCO.   Due to lack of finance, management training to the Telecentre providers is not appropriate.

Conclusions and Recommendations 2: 

Conclusions and Recommendations 2 With the project we have not reach the original goals of the initiative, as set out in ITU's BAAP IRD Program, but if the strategy is continued with internal and international aid, we can do that.   However, this will require dealing with new techniques, such as satellite communication and most important, a high degree of commitment from the stakeholders.

Conclusions and Recommendations 3: 

Conclusions and Recommendations 3 New stakeholders and donor institutions should be identified and invited to join a national evaluation team as part of an open-minded strategy, aimed at strengthening the project foundation at the national level and also in the concerned local communities.