The Telekiosk is an area within a post office with 4 computers connected to the Internet for public use and with two trained staff persons, one male and one female (Animators) to assist any users. There is basic computer training offered by the Animators which will facilitate the access of new technologies for all members of the communities.
The Telekiosks will be connected to the Ministry of Communications’ satellite data access; having a backbone of 1.5 Mbps, via an IP-compliant 802.11a wireless LAN that will provide a maximum throughput of 11 Mbps between the Ministry and Post Office Telekiosks at the ISM license-free 5.8 GHz band. This is a cost-effective way to provide a quick and easy connection to the Ministry’s Internet backbone while avoiding any infrastructure problems that may face a landline implementation. There will be a base station installed at the Ministry, the tallest building in Kabul, that gives 360 degree coverage of Kabul city with a range of 10KM without a repeater. The wireless network will have the capacity to add more Telekiosk locations in the future.
The Telekiosks will enable people in Kabul, in particular school teachers and children, government employees, health workers and anyone else to access information and make links to other government ministries. The Telekiosk project staff has visited local schools in order to make them aware of the new service and to invite them to visit their nearest Telekiosk. Head teacher Khaliqdat Khaliqi – Asheqan Arefan Elementary school cited “For 20 years we have not been able to access training and resources and seeing other countries having such services. For many years we have been a nation disliked or feared and isolated from the rest of the world. The young generation will be responsible for running the new Afghanistan. They need every type of training and access to technologies to find out about the world and connect Afghanistan to other countries and take big steps forward.”
The post office will become a key entry point for the public and acts as an interface of information and dialogue exchange. The aim is that if this project is successful then it has the potential to be expanded all over Afghanistan furthering unity amongst provincial communities and authorities. There are limited methods of communication between the capital of Kabul and the outlying provinces. The Telekiosks could help bridge that gap even to the district and village levels of society in Afghanistan
The Minister Mr. Masoom Stanekzai stated on the Telekiosk Project “As a project it will enable the community to access information and to communicate to the external world through the use of new technology like e-mail. It should be expanded to other areas in order to make people benefit from these kinds of services and it will enhance the partnership image of this cooperation amongst Afghan people”
The Telekiosk website http://telekiosk.moc.gov.af is based on free software called Postnuke Content Management System (CMS). The website contains links to government services, health information, job postings and business opportunities, and also local guides on Kabul and Afghanistan. In addition there are interactive discussion forums on various topics where ideas can be exchanged between Telekiosk visitors and the rest of the world. The website supports both Dari and English.
Ercan Murat UNDP Afghanistan’s Country Director says “The more ICT access that is made available and used in all works of life then the more benefits the country will reap towards progression in their development endeavors”.
This tripartite cooperation is with the Afghanistan Ministry of Communication (MoC) with program management and cost sharing provided by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and funded by the French Government of which they have contributed $300,000 to this pilot project.
Mr. Eric Lavertu The French Embassy’s Cooperation Advisor stressed “It is important to work with the Afghan administration to deliver a better and more efficient postal service and to enhance IT diffusion for the country and Afghan people”
UNDP helps countries draw on expertise and best practices from around the world to develop strategies that expand access to ICT and harness it for development. Working in 166 countries, UNDP also relies on ICT solutions to make the most effective use of its own global network
For more information please contact:
For a full vesrion see www.undp.org.af 28/07/03
In Kabul, Atia Jeewa or Karen Gray
Tel: (93) 070279520 or (93) 070283459
atia.jeewa@undp.org karen.gray@undp.org”
Link: undp.org.af
