communications

31.12.2007 In a recently held conference in India, participants from eleven countries deliberated upon the emerging trend in public service delivery system through mobiles. There is an immense potential to make government services more accessible to everyone with mobile networks covering 70% of world’s population.

27.12.2007 A new book, Communicating Disasters: An Asia Pacific Resource Book released during Third Global Knowledge Conference held in Kuala Lumpur in mid December takes a critical look at the communication lessons of the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004, and explores the role of good communications before, during and after disasters.

26.12.2007 The Planning Commission of India has made a provision of Rs 100 crores for setting up 20 Indian Institute of Information Technology in various parts of the country. The government also promises to ensure broadband accessibility to almost every citizen in countryside, covering 97% of its geographical area by 2012.

26.12.2007 The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO has signed an agreement with Inmarsat to further improve and enhance the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System. Once upgraded, there will be minute-by-minute transmission of sea level observation providing more time to sounding alert.

20.12.2007 The first set of global standards for providing television services over the Internet by the UN Agency for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) have been announced. This move is expected to fuel innovation and competition in the field of Internet Protocol Television.

08.12.2007 Indian government plans to bring e-Governance at the doorstep of every citizen in the country. Once implemented, it will be one of its kind with such a geographical spread. It is for the first time in the world that such a scheme is being implemented in a public private partnership framework.

04.12.2007 Women in Nepal villages who hitherto remained confined to the four walls of their houses are breaking the shackles and coming out to take up issues that affect them most. It is community radio, which is helping them in their endeavour to spread awareness about their rights.