ITU to adopt Dominican rural broadband project model

Indotel, the Dominican telecoms regulator, has announced that the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is to use its Broadband Rural Connectivity scheme as a model for other countries looking to enhance rural internet coverage. According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms database, Indotel awarded fixed line operator the contract to install broadband infrastructure in rural areas Codetel in February 2008; the project will provide telephony and internet access to approximately 1.5 million inhabitants and around 500 communities, mostly in the poorest areas of the country. As part of the agreement Codetel, owned by Mexico’s America Movil, was offered a state subsidy of USD4.65 million, although turned it down, stating it would finance the project independently.