The ICT-4D is being held in Hall 4 of the PalExpo (massively huge convention complex near the Geneva airport). It is the show and tell part of the WSIS with exhibits by NGOs, countries, small businesses & entrepreneurs as well as some manufacturers. In a way, it is the step-child of the WSIS. The intent is to focus attention on the ICT efforts being made in support of economic development in lesser developed countries. The ICT-4D is not well attended, most of the exhibits being visited by other exhibitors rather than non-participant visitors or WSIS participants.
Oddly, there is little public internet access despite the huge amount of internet connectivity in the hall. Why just yesterday I (Lena) got kicked out of the CERN exhibit where I had logged in to check email. Free public wireless was supposed to have been made available by CERN but has been down most of the time. Instead there is very expensive SWISSCOM wireless access - for a mere several hundred dollars US for the length of the show.
Given that one of the main themes of the ICT-4D is low cost access, it's ironic that it's essentially unavailable here!
njce blog!!
Posted by: chongkie | July 01, 2006 at 05:49 PM