ARTICLE - RECONSTRUCTING ICT INFRASTRUCTURE

ITU TO RECONSTRUCT HAITI'S ICT INFRASTRUCTURE
(Nigeria Daily Independent) - By Ajibola Abayomi

International Telecommunications Union is leading an international effort to reconstruct ICT infrastructure in Haiti after the 12 January 2010 earthquake in that country.

At a high-level meeting held in Barbados, participants pledged support to a Trust Fund for Haiti to be set up within ITU.

The ITU is working to re-establish basic communication links with solutions ranging from satellite terminals and WiMAX broadband to a mobile base station for wireless communications.

ITU Secretary General Hamadoun Touré said, “Let’s do everything we can to ensure that Haiti gets state-of-the-art 21st century infrastructure, instead of simply replacing outdated 20th century equipment,” Touré said.

“And let’s build in resilient features which will help to reduce network vulnerability in the future. Let’s make sure that Haiti gets broadband infrastructure, giving the country communications networks which are worthy of such an indomitable nation.”

Haiti identified 40 projects as a priority in the reconstruction of its telecommunications and ICT Sector, ranging from infrastructure development and emergency telecommunications to ICT applications and services and the establishment of appropriate regulatory and legal frameworks.

The Minister of Haiti thanked ITU for the overwhelming support provided to his country in the immediate aftermath of the disaster. He looked forward to continued support from ITU during the reconstruction phase and referred to the Barbados Round Table as testimony of such cooperation and commitment.