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Digital Dividend Digest vol. 50
September 9, 2004
CONTENTS
1. New "What
Works" Case Study Released: Smart Communications
2. Mobile Phone Enabled: Digital Dividends Clearinghouse adds
a new Activity category
3. New in the Digital Dividend
Clearinghouse: Library Networking in Rural China, Solar-Powered
Village Computers, Zitt Geeks
4 . Special Opportunities:
Bridges.org HP Palm Competition, International Open Source
Network Grants for Pacific Islands, Panos-GKP Journalism Awards
2004
1. New "What
Works" Case Study Released: Smart Communications' BOP-Driven
Business Model
The newest "What Works" case study focuses
on a local Philippine firm's success providing telecommunications
services to low-income Filipinos. Smart Communications, Inc.
had almost 12.5 million GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications)
subscribers as of June 30, 2004, 98 percent of whom are pre-paid
subscribers. In the first half of 2004, Smart’s ongoing
growth has enabled it to become the Philippines’ leading
wireless operator. Smart’s business model has had a
"base of the economic pyramid" (BOP) market orientation
from the start. The company has continuously modified their
products and services to sell further downstream in this market.
To read the executive summary and access the full text, click here
2. New Clearinghouse Activity Category: Mobile Phone Enabled
The Digital Dividend Clearinghouse has added a new category,
making it easier for users to search its 1,000-plus projects.
Recently, the number of mobile phone-enabled initiatives has
increased in number and quality. In response, the Digital
Dividend Team created a new category in the Activity section
of the Clearinghouse: Mobile Phone Enabled. Listed as a sub-category
under Enabling Technologies, the new search parameter brings
users to the 15 initiatives using mobile phone technologies
in developing countries to innovatively address the needs
of their communities.
To search the Clearinghouse for Mobile Phone Enabled and other
projects, click here
3 . New in the Digital
Dividend Clearinghouse: Library Networking in Rural China,
Solar-Powered Village Computers, Zitt Geeks
Five new projects have been entered since the last
Digest. Among the highlights:
Library Networking in Rural China
The California-based Evergreen Foundation, with support
from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is funding expanding
library networking between rural Chinese villages. The libraries,
which serve as all-purpose information centers for thousands
of rural Chinese, have been able to expand their hours and
scope of services. Computers and networking equipment funded
by Evergreen, for instance, allows libraries to share resources.
Solar-Powered Village Computers
The government of Uttar Pradesh, India, is working with local
authorities to bring more than 1,000 computers into village
schools across the state. Many of the targeted villages are
off the electricity grid or suffer from frequent brownouts.
In response, the government is installing solar panels to
power the computers which will also power local businesses.
Zitt Geeks
To support its ICT4D activities, Nigeria’s Fantsuam
Foundation has developed an in-house corps of experts called
the Zitt Geeks. The Zitt Geeks are graduates of the Foundation's
business incubator, having been trained and mentored to start
enterprises in exchange for volunteer service to the Foundation.
The corps' name is derived from the tribal word 'Zitt,' which
means 'ours.'
4. Special
Opportunities: Bridges.org HP Palm Competition, International
Open Source Network Grants for Pacific Islands, Panos-GKP
Journalism Awards 2004
Bridges.org
HP Palm Competition
Bridges.org has launched a competition to support innovative,
ground-level initiatives in South Africa that want to use
handheld devices to improve people's lives. A total of 120
Hewlett Packard H4150 iPAQs will be given to up to ten winning
organizations that demonstrate a clear strategy to harness
the power of handhelds for social or economic development.
To enter the competition, organizations are invited to outline
a project idea that would make use of up to 35 iPAQs. Small
businesses, public sector organizations (schools, hospitals,
clinics, etc.), NGOs, and community organizations are encouraged
to enter. The deadline for entries is October 8th, 2004.
International
Open Source Network Grants for Pacific Islands
The University of the South Pacific (USP), in partnership
with the United Nations Development Programme's Asia Pacific
Development Information Programme (APDIP), is launching the
USP-IOSN (International Open Source Network) Microgrant Program
for Pacific Island Countries. This Microgrant Program is a
competitive grants program made available to individuals or
teams in the Pacific Island Countries. The grants (20 altogether)
will be provided specifically for the development of software
applications that will be released as Free or Open Source
Software (FOSS). The software application can be an enhancement
of an existing application or it can be a new application.
Software applications that run only on a proprietary platform
will not be accepted. The funding available for each microgrant
will be US$900 (approximately FJ$1,809.00) per project and
for a duration of not exceeding 6 months. Extension of time
may be considered if justified. 20 awards are available in
this first offer. Applications are due by September 20th,
2004.
Panos-GKP Journalism Awards 2004
Panos and GKP are pleased to call for submissions for the
2004 'Reporting on the Information Society' awards. The topic
for this year is Transparency, Good Governance, and Democracy:
Do Information and Communication Technologies increase accountability?
Four awards of US$1,000 each will be made for the best journalism
on this topic produced by journalists in developing and transition
countries. These awards, which were launched by Panos and
GKP in 2003, aim to encourage and bring to international recognition
thoughtful and incisive reporting that goes beyond describing
information projects or new investment initiatives to analyze
their social and political impacts and policy implications.
Print, radio, TV and web journalism are all eligible. Deadline
for submissions is October 15, 2004.
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