Qualcomm helps Vietnam villages connect to 3G

Qualcomm Inc. is working to improve access to education tools and resources for the Community Technology and Learning Center (CTLC) in Dong Anh, Vietnam through the provision of CDMA2000 1xEV-DO wireless broadband services.
The CTLC is part of the Training Online Programs and Incubation for Communities (TOPIC64) initiative, supported by USAID public/private partnership agreement with Qualcomm through its Wireless Reach initiative and other TOPIC64 partners.

Wireless Reach is working with U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Michael Michalak and TOPIC64 partners from Electricity Vietnam Telecom (EVNTelecom), USAID, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard and the Center for Research and Consulting on Management (CRC), to empower underserved communities in each of Vietnam's 64 provinces by establishing CTLCs with computers, software and Internet connectivity via 3G CDMA wireless technology. Each organization contributed to the project by providing software, equipment, technical support, management fees for implementing and administrating the project and wireless equipment.

"Wireless Reach is committed to actively support the Vietnamese government in improving Internet penetration rates and the overall educational environment," said Ming Li, VP of business development for Qualcomm. "TOPIC64 cultivates new learning opportunities in Vietnam through the provision of 3G Internet access and Microsoft materials that have been translated into Vietnamese with corresponding training. The CTLCs offer an avenue for local people to get trained on practical applications and skills that hopefully can translate into jobs for them."

TOPIC64 was launched in April 2006 as one of Qualcomm's first Wireless Reach projects. It seeks to educate Vietnamese citizens in basic IT, management and marketing skills by providing technical expertise via teacher training and technical support at each of the CTLCs. With the project's 64 CTLCs established, Qualcomm and EVNTelecom have invested in upgrading the Dong Anh center to EV-DO to enable additional services and enhanced educational learning opportunities on EVNTelecom's new broadband wireless network.