ICT in development programmer

E-Bario




As a key component of the Malaysian Government’s vision for modernization, the e-Bario development project utilizes computers, telephones, and VSATs to connect villagers in the remote village of Bario to the Internet. This highland settlement of about 1,000 people has so far been shielded from the modern world by the jungle and mountains that cover the interior of the East Malaysian state of Sarawak, Borneo. E-Bario is breaking the isolation, harnessing the power of ICTs to help the district develop socially, culturally and economically. Initially, two computer labs in local schools were set up, as well as a publicly accessible telecentre.



By systematically introducing computers into society, project administrators Universiti of Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) hoped to improve information flows to and from Bario, thus helping to better the living conditions of the entire community. Connected via four VSATs provided by Telekom Malaysia powered by diesel fuel and solar power, e-Bario has allowed hundreds of Malaysians to learn how to use ICTs to better their socio-economic position. Even at this early stage, the project has been deemed such a success that the United Nations and the Malaysian government are planning to replicate it elsewhere. Indeed, E-Bario serves as a model of best practice for sustainable ICT-focused development, demonstrating how ICTs need to be accompanied by training and education for a project to be successful and sustainable.

Development of Information communication technology

ICT can become a revolutionary vehicle in developing countries, provided technological innovations emerge on the following lines.

Local content in local languages The need of the hour is to enable the intelligentsia to develop information sources that are exclusively for fulfilling the needs of local communities. The content on the Internet that can fulfil these conditions is minuscule at present. Conditions have to emerge in which people are enthused to contribute towards the development of information databases that is exclusively disseminated through local networks, in languages/dialects that are popular in the region. The various modes of ICT may need to be integrated with one another, so that a meaningful volume of information can be generated in the minimum possible time.

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