Paris, June 30, 2005 — Alcatel (CGEP: PA and NYSE: ALA) today announced in cooperation with Manobi, an operator of mobile and Internet business services in developing countries and Vodacom, the main telecom operator in South Africa, the launch of a groundbreaking pilot project to connect rural farmers to real time market information. The purpose of this innovative service is to enable producers, intermediaries, wholesalers to use a GSM mobile phone in order to know in real time the price of their products traded on the major South African markets as well as sell their harvest by making proposals through SMS to all other Manobi's subscribers, including restaurants and lodges. In this pilot phase, the service will be available for a maximum of 200 farmers, who will be trained to use it.
The Makuleke Project is a three-way collaboration, in line with the Department of Communication's e-Strategy Framework,
Ø Alcatel pre-financed Manobi hardware required for the building of its platform, hosted it and provided communication links as well as 200 mobile handsets to support the Manobi service provision
Ø Manobi built locally its platform, connected it to the Vodacom network.
Ø Vodacom extended the GSM coverage by completing construction of a base station at Ndlaveni (near Makuleke. It also introduced GPRS within the Makuleke area as well as provided 360 starter packs and airtime vouchers.
Says Mthobi Tyamzashe, Chief Communications Officer, Vodacom: "The Makuleke area was chosen as a pilot project because it is remote, with no access to information infrastructure or market information via newspapers or radio broadcast. After this pilot phase, the expansion of the project to various remote areas of South Africa is likely to be swift, and the impact great." Tyamzashe added, "Communication is central to human interaction and greatly influences the way in which markets function. The spread of telecommunications to disadvantaged areas in South Africa is a challenging task, one that has the potential to improve growth and social well being. Although South Africa is the market leader in almost all industries on the African continent, the digital divide between those with access to technology and those without is still great. In many areas of South Africa where infrastructure such as roads and fixed telecommunications do not function as optimally as they could, mobile communication can play a vital and significant role in economic and social development. "
Daniel Annerose, the founder and General Manager of Manobi added, ". Since it's creation in 2000 Manobi has transformed the mobile phone into a genuine working tool to connect usually distant economic worlds. The ecosystem that we created here with the Makuleke community, market places, some lodges, restaurants, and retailers is the beginning of our mission to develop access to value-added services in all South African areas and communities".
"The Makuleke project is part of Alcatel Digital Bridge initiative launched in 2001" says Thierry Albrand, Vice-President of Digital Bridge for Alcatel . "Following our successful attempts in Senegal, it is the second step in our partnership with Manobi at aiming to provide value added services to farmers in rural areas. We are convinced that to be associated with Vodacom, a GSM operator leader in Africa will ensure the success of this project and will pave the way for the future expansion within South Africa.
This joint project is tangible proof that sustainable Internet access within rural communities can be used to bridge the digital divide between the traditionally urban environment and the under-developed rural areas of South Africa.
About Manobi
Manobi (http://www.manobi.net) is an operator of mobile and Internet business services in developing countries. Manobi's carrier-class MCSP platform (Multi Channel Services Platform) combines mobile phone and internet technology and services to respond to both the specific information technology (IT) needs of millions of active professionals in rural areas and those of telecommunication operators who wish to develop their traffic and coverage. Through the services it offers, Manobi synthesizes the needs of the end-user living in the rural context of developing countries and those of the telecommunications operator. In this way Manobi reduces the "digital technology gap" with developed countries by making the development of telecommunications in rural areas of developing countries highly profitable for all players. Manobi is present in Senegal, in a joint venture with Sonatel, and South Africa.
About Alcatel
Alcatel provides communications solutions to telecommunication carriers, Internet service providers and enterprises for delivery of voice, data and video applications to their customers or employees. Alcatel brings its leading position in fixed and mobile broadband networks; applications and services, to help its partners and customers build a user-centric broadband world. With sales of EURO 12.3 billion and 56,000 employees in 2004, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. | |
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