Qualcomm Incorporated announced it is working to improve access to education tools and resources through the provision of CDMA2000 1xEV-DO wireless broadband services at the Community Technology and Learning Center (CTLC)/ TOPIC center in Dong Anh, Vietnam on March 24th, 2008.
The CTLC is part of the Training Online Programs and Incubation for Communities (TOPIC64) initiative, which Electricity Vietnam Telecom (EVNTelecom), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, the Center for Research and Consulting on Management (CRC) and Wireless Reach initiative are working together to empower underserved communities in each of Vietnam's 64 provinces by establishing CTLCs with computers, software and Internet connectivity via 3G CDMA wireless technology. Each organization contributed to the project by providing software, equipment, technical support, management fees for implementing and administrating the project and wireless equipment.
“One of my primary goals as the U.S. Ambassador is to actively pursue initiatives for enhancing educational opportunities for Vietnamese citizens,” said Michael Michalak, United States Ambassador to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. “TOPIC64 is an excellent example of the power of public-private partnerships to facilitate education in Vietnam by bringing affordable wireless voice and data services to rural areas and creating learning opportunities for Vietnamese communities. By 2010 I have a goal of doubling Vietnamese students at United States Universities”.
“Wireless Reach is committed to actively support the Vietnamese government in improving Internet penetration rates and the overall educational environment,” said Ming Li, vice-president of business development for Qualcomm. “TOPIC64 cultivates new learning opportunities in Vietnam through the provision of 3G Internet access and Microsoft materials that have been translated into Vietnamese with corresponding training. The TOPIC64s offer an avenue for local people to get trained on practical applications and skills that hopefully can translate into jobs for them.”
“Up to now, approximately 24,000 students have been trained with the centers' basic IT training program, about 840 teachers have been tested and trained about the new curriculum and teaching methodology,” said Dr. Tuan Pham., director of TOPIC64 Program in CRC. “The importance of ICT in Vietnam's education has increased significantly over the past few years, and with the upgrade to EV-DO technology, we hope to promote other online learning opportunities for rural citizens, as well as potentially work with the Vietnamese government to provide government services online.”
“Being well aware of TOPIC64's importance and social benefit and its reliance on our cutting-edge CDMA technology network, EVNTelecom is pleased to be providing high-speed Internet access, free CPE, one-year free services for TOPIC centers and 24/7 technical support for the project,” said Mr Nguyen Manh Bang, CEO of EVNTelecom, a subsidiary of EVN Group now operating a CDMA2000 450Mhz cellular mobile network nationwide, and one of three full-licensed telecom operators in Vietnam.
TOPIC64 implementers and partners believe that Wireless Reach initiative Program and the provision of CDMA technology in TOPIC centers will create new challenges to help people easy to contact, study and get access to customer services systems and reach to global market.
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