Project to create public internet access points in villages to be extended

The project to launch 20 public broadband Internet access points in rural areas will be continued so as to cover all the communities across he country, announced Moldovan Communications Minister Alexandru Oleinic and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary General Hamadoun Touré. After visiting an internet cafe a in the village of Lozova, Hamadoun Touré praised the Ministry for the success in implementing the project. “It is amazing how fast people in 20 settlements in the country obtained access to broadband Internet. I can assure you that we will continue supporting the establishment of such broadband access points, including financially”, Hamadoun Touré was quoted as saying by a press release from the Ministry of Information Technology and Communications. Minister Oleinic said ensuring access of people to broadband Internet, especially in rural areas, was one of the ministry's priority. “ Besides access to the Web, these points will offer people access to a vast array of e-government services, which will maximally reduce bureaucracy in the process of obtaining information, authorizations or applying for identity documents”, said Alexandru Oleinic. The pilot project to launch 20 public broadband Internet access points in rural areas is implemented under an agreement with the ITU. The cost of the project is $205,000, including $100,000 contribution from the ITU and $105,000 from the state enterprize Moldova Mail.