A research study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Engineering, School of Advanced Technologies

Research Studies Project Report (M. Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2005

In this globalization era, communication and access to information is not a luxury. It is a basic right that people must have for achieving human development. But there are inequalities in the use of the Internet and other telecommunication technologies among people due to the uneven global distribution of access to information. This also threatens to deprive millions of people of the benefits that are attainable from having access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). The introduction of a community access telecenter is going to have a major impact on the community - its culture, communication patterns, economy, social structure and future development. Unfortunately, most of the telecenter project shows failure in providing information and related services when it comes to finance. In addition, one of the oddest characteristics of the telecenter movement is the absence of universities in the production and packaging of research-based factual information. This study describes the current approach and existing problem of telecenter in the developing countries, explores the role of university in the telecenter project and investigates the outcomes of telecenter project led by the universities. It also highlights the opportunities and constraints of university involvement in the telecenter project for increased university participation in the future telecenter activity. Finally, recommendations are made in order to bring telecenter into high level of achievement in less developing countries and suggestions for future research or study in this subject is also presented.