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Changing The World Again
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By working with governments, industry, individuals, and organisations in 112 countries and over 1,300 cities worldwide, Intel is contributing to economical development, skill development, and opportunity creation and is able to respond to the unique needs of citizens across the globe, making a quantifiable difference to digital inclusion.
A Tradition of Innovation
In today’s world, digital exclusion is a very serious inhibitor to development. Out of more than 6 billion people on the planet just less than 1 billion have access to technology. There is little doubt that, unless governments the world over start delivering on their promises to put computers in the hands of less developed communities and less fortunate citizens, the digital divide will only deepen. Fortunately, some companies are striving to help governments do exactly this – including Intel.
Intel, the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products, and initiatives to continually advance how we work and live. For decades, Intel-developed technology has enabled the computer and Internet revolution that continues to change our world. Founded in 1968 to build semiconductor memory products, Intel introduced the world's first microprocessor in 1971. And today, Intel is not ‘just’ the world's leader in silicon innovation – it is also a leading manufacturer of computer, networking, and communications products.
Intel is also committed to driving economical growth and positive change in the community as it is to producing industry-leading products. Intel is actively engaged across the globe in the fields of community education, healthcare and communications, ensuring that, through these initiatives, ICT can kick-start the digital lives of as many people as possible.
Transforming Lives
In January 2006, Intel celebrated the training of three million teachers across the world, through its Intel® Teach Program– designed to enhance the teachers’ teaching skills by integrating technology into their students’ learning process. Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah was present at the award ceremony which recognized the three millionth teacher to have completed the program - Bothayna ElHabahba.
This program also made its regional debut in 2003 (in Jordan and Turkey) and was launched in Egypt in 2004. Since then Intel has launched this program in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates. To date, the Intel Teach Program has trained more than 300,000 teachers in the Middle East Turkey and Africa – and improved the classroom experiences of approximately 2 million students – in the region. To support these efforts, Intel has donated computer labs.
Intel has now managed to teach 200 thousand teachers with its Intel Teach Program for the Middle East, Turkey and Africa Region.
Inclusionary Tactics
Underpinning all Intel’s projects is the concept of digital transformation. Our researchers have conducted extensive research into the subject, which considers how more and more governments have developed programmes to address the digital divide, by increasing availability and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), helping citizens and businesses to become more sophisticated in their use of ICT, and encourage a socially equitable diffusion of its benefits. These triple policy goals have been pursued by political leaders both within and between countries, promoting international development and co-operation. And Intel is playing a leading role.
One of the most valuable contributions Intel brings to global initiatives is the company’s worldwide expertise and know-how. Sharing such knowledge with the region’s governments on inclusion strategies enables cumulative advancements of such programs. But in addition to this global perspective, Intel pays close attention to the unique challenges the region faces .That’s why setups like the Intel Middle East platform definition centre based in Cairo created the ‘Discover the PC Initiative.’ This initiative provides customised technology solutions that enable new types of PCs to meet the specific needs of those citizens in developing nations. Through these types of initiatives, Intel works to locally design specialised products and content better suited to the local environment and can cost-effectively connect people, businesses, and organisations.
What’s more, Intel offers government secure, reliable, high-performance platforms that deliver outstanding public value. From smart phones and PDAs to high-end servers, Intel technologies enable governments to deliver the interoperable services that facilitate interaction between departments, businesses and citizens, in ways that they want and at minimum total cost of ownership.
The Promise of WIMAX
WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is a technology that is not only attracting a lot of attention lately but is real in tens of countries around the world. WiMAX is touted as the technology to drive a next-generation, high-speed mobile data network beyond the bounds of current wireless or even wired offerings, and into the realm of genuinely fast, genuinely mobile Internet access. And Intel is at the forefront of the WiMAX promise, with close involvement in over 20 commercial WiMAX deployments in 2005 alone in locations as far flung as the Caribbean, Central America, Europe and Asia/Antipodes.
Trials conducted in Egypt by Intel and Orascom were operated out of Oseem Village, making use of the Intel chipset. Oseem village is one of the most remote inhabited places on Earth, on the outskirts of Cairo. Intel Corporation has created a wireless, high-speed Internet network for residents to access vast resources of medical, educational and government related services through computers and WIMAX. Through WIMAX technology, renowned for its ability to maintain wireless connectivity over a broad area, Intel has provided students, health care practitioners and government officials with access to the Internet throughout the village. This pilot program has connected 9 schools, one municipal building, one clinic and an e-government services kiosk.
Another example where Intel has implemented WiMAX is in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In collaboration with the Saudi Communication and Information Technology Commission (CITC) and Intel, the Riyadh Development Authority (RDA) has gone live with the first stage of its ‘Smart City’ program by switching on WiFi and WiMax transceivers on Tahlia Street - Riyadh’s “hottest” spot. The move follows a recent visit to the city by Intel Chairman Dr. Craig Barrett who announced the company’s involvement in the project and its intention to lead efforts in creating digital communities that will harness information and communication technology development across the world.
WiMAX’s benefits are numerous: It can be deployed quickly; it allows service providers to plan and set-up hotspots to maximise reception and optimise number of hotspots, covering the greatest possible area, and allowing for a greater spread of worldwide Internet use. Because WiMAX is not restricted by geographic location, all citizens, no matter how remote their location, can participate in e-government. Through WiMAX, broadband connectivity can at last start mending the bridge across the digital divide.
E-Learning to Fly
Another initiative close to Intel’s heart is education. With Intel’s direct involvement in the Nepad e-school initiative designed to provide schools in 17 countries with connectivity and PCs; Intel is shaping the future of the African continent. Additionally, through Intel’s ICT for Education program, Intel has donated 8000 PCs to Egypt, 5000 to South Africa and 3000 to Nigeria to be used to equip classrooms with latest technologies enabling improved opportunities for student in education.
The Intel World Ahead Program aims to enhance lives by accelerating access to uncompromised technology for everyone, anywhere in the world through accessibility, connectivity, content and education. Intel also invests in local companies and works with industry partners to further expand the use of technology in order to support social and economic advancement.
In the next five years, Intel plans to invest more than $1 billion to support this endeavour. The main five-year goals of the Intel World Ahead Program are to extend wireless broadband PC access to the world's next billion users while training 10 million more teachers on the use of technology in education, with the possibility of reaching another 1 billion students.
Intel’s focus is not simply on what it manufactures and develops, but on what people around the world can accomplish when they have access to uncompromised technology and the means to use it. By creating opportunities for widespread ownership and use of technology through education, access, connectivity and content, we anticipate that the beneficiaries of Intel’s products, experience, expertise and initiatives will be the world’s citizenry.
Posted by ROOT Technologies
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