WSIS, Internet, Global: The global mobile phone industry’s massive investment in cellular networks represents the most cost-effective and efficient way to deliver Internet access to rural areas.

WSIS, IT, Global: Western officials have so far been reluctant to contribute to the Digital Solidarity Fund (DSF), set up three months ago to bring the benefits of the IT revolution to the world’s poorest countries.

WSIS, Teledensity, Africa: Nokia (www.nokia.com) and the Grameen Foundation USA (www.gfusa.org) (GFUSA) are to collaborate to bring “affordable, accessible telecommunications to rural villages in Africa through microfinance.”

The recent World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis has provided exceptional food for thought on the future pattern of developing world telecoms.

Africa, Cameroun:  Cameroun will soon enjoy the benefits of a telecoms spinal cord carried in a backbone stretching right down the country.

News, China, Mobiles:  Cell phone ownership figures for China grow and grow. As of 30 September China boasted 377 million mobile phone subscribers, or a teledensity of 29%.

Finance, India:  Network equipment manufacturer Cisco is set to make its largest investment to date outside the United States.

Broadband, Slovakia: Twenty cities in Slovakia, including parts of the capital city Bratislava, have become the first anywhere in the world to switch on Flash-ODM. The wireless broadband variant has been introduced into Slovakia by T-Mobile Slovakia and Siemens.

Mobiles, Global:  Despite successful efforts to provide low-cost cell phones to citizens of developing countries, taxes in many countries render cell phones too expensive for residents.

Finance, China:  China’s phenomenal growth in telecoms has long been praised but some of the early promise expected by investors in the 1990s does not seem to have materialised.

GSM Technology, Global:  Nokia is underlining its interest in GSM technology on the 450MHz frequency band. The company believes GSM450 frequency is a viable solution in providing affordable handsets and mobile voice-centred services to new growth areas with a low teledensity.