L I R N E . N E T

The first billion internet users were connected because of particular privileges of access to infrastructure, the ability to afford use, education and geography, amongst others. The next billions to be connected to information society networks won’t have the same economic and social privileges and will have different reasons for not already being connected. These reasons need to be identified, targeted and built into information society strategies, business plans and partnerships. In this spirit, the GAID Inaugural Meeting (4-5 February 2008) was an opportunity to discuss and prepare proposals for the II Ministerial Conference on the Information Society, taking place directly after the seminar, and hosted by the El Salvadorian government.

The seminar and network initiative is the joint effort of the UN’s Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the International Development Research Centre-Institute for Connectivity in the Americas (IDRC-ICA), and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribean (ECLAC).

Go to the IDRC resource page for links to presentations, podcasts, bios and background documents for this event.

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[29-31 October 2008] The 6th Annual Caribbean Internet Forum will be held in Trinidad at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Port of Spain. The Main theme of the event is Mobile Internet for Development.

Dr. Kim Mallalieu (University of the West Indies and DIRSI member), will chair two sessions, Caribbean Innovations for the Mobile Internet, and Next Generation Policy and Regulation. Dr. Hopeton S. Dunn (Director, TPM Programme, Mona School of Business and DIRSI member), during the latter session will present, Next Generation Policy and Regulation: Key Challenges.

LIRNE.NET founder and advisor, Professor W.H. Melody, will present the conference keynote address.

Click here to go to the CIF 2008 website.

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[4 March 2008] Kim Mallieu of the Regional Dialogue on the Information Society (DIRSI) will facilitate a DIRSI Stakeholder Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago, and will present and lead discussion on “DIRSI: Regional Telecommunications Policy and Regulatory Research Collaborative.” The main objectives of this meeting are:

• Information dissemination on regional research relating to telecommunications policy and regulation
• Identification of needs and gaps in telecommunications policy and regulatory research
• Identification of research priorities
• Recommendations on strategies to meet priority research needs.

Click here for more information from the DIRSI website
or send an email to < info at dirsi dot net >. (more…)

[4 March 2008] Kim Mallieu of the Regional Dialogue on the Information Society (DIRSI) will facilitate a DIRSI Stakeholder Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago, and will present and lead discussion on “DIRSI: Regional Telecommunications Policy and Regulatory Research Collaborative.” The main objectives of this meeting are:

• Information dissemination on regional research relating to telecommunications policy and regulation
• Identification of needs and gaps in telecommunications policy and regulatory research
• Identification of research priorities
• Recommendations on strategies to meet priority research needs.

Click here for more information from the DIRSI website
or send an email to < info at dirsi dot net >. (more…)

[14 - 16 March 2008] Kim Mallieu is presenting on “Network Engineering” at a Seminar for High Court Judges and the Caribbean Competition Commission to be held in Jamaica. The main theme of the event is Telecommunications Competition and Regulatory Matters, with the objective to sensitize the local and regional judiciary to competition and regulatory issues in the telecommunications sector so they are adequately tooled to treat with related matters as the need arises.

Click here for more information from the Jamaican Office of Utilities Regulation website.

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