Akshaya wins the PrixArts Digital Communities Award.

Akshaya is a project undertaken by the Kerala state government in India, to bring e-literacy to its people. Malappuram has become India's first e-literate district, with over 600,000 individuals having basic knowledge of computers, including the Internet.

From their website :
"Wiring up Malappuram, 3,550 Sq.KMs spreading from East to West section of Kerala is a huge challenge. Connectivity Requirements:
- Should support data and voice
- Should support Internet browsing
- Voice over IP,Multimedia, Video conferencing (at a later stage)
- E-learning
Minimum Internet bandwidth requirement:
- Maximum Information rate (MIR) : 64kbps & Committed Information Rate (CIR) : 16kbps.
- Should be possible for any of the Akshaya centers to enhance the bandwidth and/or download limit on request."

I also read Villages may get Net, telephony on cable in the Business Standard yesterday, where the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is planning a convergence of voice data services. It is expected to send a proposal to the government for allowing cable operators in rural areas to offer basic telephony and Internet services.

Good to see plans for VOIP and conferencing being integrated into these programs. Access is one part of being connected, communications takes it to a different dimension. And is so integral to really bridging the digital divide.

A great opportunity for Skype!