With an aim to provide mobile services to world’s 3 billion population who reside in rural and remote areas, telecom gear manufacturer, Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) and the International Telecom Union (ITU) signed an agreement at the ongoing ITU Telecom event in Geneva promising to set up mobile connectivity in such areas starting with remote areas of the Pacific region.

About the project:

NSN will offer its solutions absolutely free for the initiative. The project is part of ITU’s Connecting Villages initiative and NSN will offer its Village Connection platform with thirty Village Connection platforms ready for shipment. Mobile services under the project are meant to be offered within $ 2 per month.

 “We share a common understanding of the importance - and challenges - of connecting the next billion people to each other and to the world of information,” said Rajeev Suri, chief executive officer, Nokia Siemens Networks. ”Our Village Connection is aimed specifically at meeting that challenge: a low-cost, energy-efficient platform that can help spur socio-economic development in previously unconnected areas.”

“We look forward to working with Nokia Siemens Networks for the benefit of rural and remote communities,” said Sami Al-Basheer, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau. “This project is a great example of how partners can leverage the potential of information and communication technologies to improve people’s daily lives.”

Offering employment:

The project not only aims to connect the remote areas but also offers an opportunity for the rural people to turn up as entrepreneurs and thereby earn employment. The Village access points will be offered to locals as source of employment. The same access point can also be used to offer other basic services such as healthcare, market microfinance and agricultural services.