1. The RITI Telecentre pilot project RITI (Romanian Information Technology Initiative) Policy – project financed by USAID and implemented by INTERNEWS RITI Policy is designed to assist regulatory and administrative functions necessary to develop the new competitive electronic communication market structure in Romania. The Telecentre pilot project has been implemented jointly by RITI Policy and RITI Access

2. Why did we set up the pilot project ? Citizens in vast areas of Romania are deprived of access to telecommunication services The penetration rate of the fixed telephony is 19% and of the mobile telephony 23% A very rough estimation would indicate that around 30 % of the Romanian population has access to a telecom service

3. Why did we set up the pilot project ? The Universal Service Law was adopted in April 2003 – it gives the right to every Romanian citizen to have “access to the telecom services” The Ministry of IT&C needed to draft the policy on the implementation of the Universal Service Law as soon as possible Telecentres could be a cost- effective solution to implement the Universal Service Law

4. Presentation of the Centres Telecentre is a place where anyone can get access to a full range of telecom and IT services The centre provides telephones, fax, computers, copy machine and printers Special software was installed so that all the cost of the telephony calls may be measured

5. Cross-Sectoral Impact of the Telecentres Information Technology & Communications Business Agriculture Education Social purposes

6. How did we do it ? Partnership USAID ( through RITI Policy –designing and implementing the project and RITI Access –providing the equipment to the Telecentres) Private telecom operators (ensuring the access to the telecom network) Other private companies (Microsoft) Local Authorities (providing the necessary space and personnel for the Telecentre) National Authorities (MCTI and ANRC – supporting the project and using the best practices in a national implementation of the law)

7. How did we do it ? Approaching the relevant Telecom operators and getting their support (Romtelecom, Connex, Orange, Zapp, Radiocomunicatii, Rartel) Applying various technical solutions to solve the problem of connecting the centre to PSTN (Fixed line, fixed wireless link, satellite link)

8. Where did we do it ? Frecăţei - Brăila County – 1470 inhabitants – just one telephone available in the City Hall – often cut off from the world in the winter time due to weather conditions. Bălăşeşti – Galaţi County – 2565 inhabitants, only 240 subscribers to the telephony services. Iana – Vaslui County – 3950 inhabitants, just 2 public payphones available. Rebricea – Vaslui County – 4150 inhabitants in 9 villages, 4 public payphones located in 2 villages

9. Where did we do it ? Project started in June 2003. At the beginning of October 2003 the following centres were opened: Frecăţei - Brăila County - Partnership with Connex – fixed wireless link (4 500 USD investment) Bălăşeşti – Galaţi County – Partnership with Romtelecom – fixed telephony line (3 000 USD investment) Iana – Vaslui County – Partnership with Rartel – satellite link (11 000 USD investment) + subsidy for the tariffs Rebricea – Vaslui County – Partnership with Orange – extension of their mobile network ( approx. 200 000 USD investment – our estimation) – construction work in progress

10. First results Access to telephony services, fax and Internet, photocopying, printing, computers for over 12.000 individuals Good usage of the Telecentre (e.g. 1/3 of the population in Frecatei used at least one of the services provided) Youth training – one of the priorities (special courses for pupils in computer use, in Iana and Balasesti)

11. What is next ? Further promotion of the services Supporting business activities New services for education purposes Starting point for other projects New Telecentres will be developed by RITI Access

12. Thank You ! Bogdan Manolea bogdan@internews.org www.riti-internews.ro