Speaking at the launch of E-Networks’ WiMax 4G network at the Georgetown Club, he stated that government was also pursuing the WiMax network which will be installed in all towns while another advanced technology will bring internet access to the rural areas. “This would allow us to move fully into e-government mode, hooking up our schools and our hospitals and our police stations and everything else so that we can deploy technology in the service of our people.
He said this is already happening with the fibre optic cable being brought in from Brazil to be the backbone of the e-governance initiative. The 2009 Auditor General’s Report stated that some $353.5M had been spent on the fibre optic cables. Yesterday’s announcement follows an earlier one in July when the president announced that his government would be pledging some US$30M over three years to provide computers to some 90,000 poor families. That announcement had been made at the launch of GT&T’s fibre optic cable on which its Emagine Broadband Network is powered.
“This is not intended to outcompete any of the providers, this is intended to be supportive, to accelerate the process,” he said last night.
Jagdeo added that he believed that once people start using the technology it would create a demand which would also be fueled by the 90,000 computers to be distributed by the government. “In fact we’re looking before the end of the year, early next year, to have about 30,000 of the 90,000 computers on order so we’re moving quickly. I’m sure that once people have these computers there would have a huge demand for the services.”
He acknowledged the questions about the feasibility of the project given the current demand content-wise but added that he believed that the benefits will grow and that the youths who are leading the technological charge will “catapult” this country into a position where all the services will be provided by “home-grown companies.”
