Wireless internet vans, a boost to shrink digital divide
Smart's Public Access Department Head,
Tina Mariano, give's Antique
Congressman Exequiel Javier, a walk
through Smart Click's services. Javier
was guest of Honor during the mobile
internet's inauguration.
San Jose, Antique -- Setting up high speed wireless mobile internet vans in uncharted territories could well be the boost to shrink the digital divide. And if Smart Communications remains true to its commitment of rolling out about 1,000 of these in the country's most remote areas then it is likely that even the small fisherfolk in the less developed communities of the Philippines would soon be clicking into the worldwide web.
Last week, amid a brownout that went for days, Smart inaugurated here, what it called "Smart Click,"an internet café housed in a 40-foot container van. It is the first mobile internet van set up in Western Visayas and the 14th that the company installed in the country since it begun its roll out April 1.
According to Tina Mariano, head of Smart's Public Access Department , Smart click will venture into what they call "uncharted territories" as these are the underserved or hardly served areas. "Our initial roll out spells that out," says Mariano. "Basco in Batanes, Ipil in Zamboanga, Bantayan in Cebu, Balangiga in Eastern Samar, Tandag in Surigao del Sur, etc. We want those even in the remotest area to be benefited by modern technology," she said.
The installation of mobile internet cafés in far flung areas is made possible even without the conventional cable connection because of wireless technology. According to Mariano, Smart uses its WiFi technology in enabling the mobile internet van to connect with the internet of up to 1 mega-bits per second (1MBps). By such speed, one can download a digital photo in about 2 seconds. Thus, one can do more in an hour compared to conventional dial up internet connections.
Mariano says "Smart click" is more than a business model. It encourages entrepreneurship through local franchisees at the same time endeavors to fill in the gaps in the digital divide."
Here in Antique, Mariano says they hope to see muscovado millers and other traders transact business through the internet. "We want to see seafarers chat with their families here or talk to each other via the webcam and even if students here are yet to get a full grasp of internet use beyond on line gaming, then this facility will help them develop their research capabilities and have access to a plethora of information with just one click."
The internet café will also serve as distribution hub for Smart's other value added services as well as "smart padala", the company's money transfer service.
(Photo by Jo Martinez-Clemente)