News

Kiosks highlighted at African conference

February 21, 2004

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - Using kiosks as a means of linking remote rural areas to the rest of Africa was one of the themes presented at the International Telecommunication Union(ICU) Telecom Africa 2001 summit, which took place Nov. 12-16 at the Gallagher Estate outside Johannesburg, South Africa.

As part of its booth, the ICU exhibited a kiosk communications center, featuring phone, Internet, and e-mail services. Conference organizers said the kiosk could provide medical, health, and training services to areas of the continent that are not served by traditional telecommunications means.

Speaking at the opening of the conference, ICU secretary general Yoshio Utsumi said world leaders had an obligation to create a wired planet.

"Giving everyone access to the wealth of information available online will be beneficial to us all and is not merely a matter of moral justice," Utsumi said. "The move from an agricultural economy to an industrial economy generated enormous wealth and raised our standard of living throughout the world.