Peru

Peru's ICT market - problems and potential

Internet user penetration in Peru is about 22% lower than average for Latin America and the Caribbean. It used to be higher than the regional average when access was primarily through dial-up – a remarkable achievement considering Peru's low economic indicators – but while other countries have raced ahead thanks to broadband growth, Peru has fallen behind. Broadband subscriber penetration in Peru is about 49% lower than the Latin American average. The slow development of broadband in Peru can be blamed in large part on the lack of market competition, which has made the ADSL service offered by Telefónica del Perú's (TdP) one of the most costly in Latin America.

Source: http://www.companiesandmarkets.com/Market-Report/perus-ict-market-problems-and-potential-342502.asp

OLPC XO-1.5 HS laptops to reach Peruvian secondary schools in 2011

After extending its "Una laptop por nino" program to reach all primary schools in the next few months - though partially in a seven children per laptop rather than one laptop per child fashion - Peru is now planning to expand the program to its secondary schools. While many of the details are still unknown it looks like Peru is interested in purchasing XO-1.5 HS laptops just like Uruguay recently did for 90,000 of its secondary school students.

Soon to be in secondary school

According to an article by Peruvian's Andina news agency Oscar Becerra, the head of DIGETE (Dirección General de Tecnologías Educativas - General Directorate of Educational Technologies), confirmed that the proposed plan to reach two million secondary school pupils has already been approved by the Ministry of Education. Now the plan is undergoing review by the Ministry of Economy and Finance but seeing that the previous projects were approved I don't expect them to run into any issues there.

In combination with the 260,000 XOs already being on the ground and another 300,000 machines recently having been purchased this new plan would make Peru soon overtake Uruguay (400,000 XOs deployed, 90,000 XO-1.5 HS and 10,000 Classmate PCs arriving soon) as the largest OLPC deployment in the world.

Source: http://www.olpcnews.com/countries/peru/olpc_in_peru_to_reach_secondary_schools_in_2011.html

Raw teacher training observations from Peru

While I was in Peru in the first half of August I had a chance to attend two days of a teacher training session in Huaraz. Particularly the 3 hours on the first day turned out to be very interesting and I spent the evenings typing up my thoughts and experiences. Normally I'd keep these notes to myself but I ended up sending them out to a couple of people. Since at least some of them found them useful I decided that it would be worth publishing them here as well.

As a disclaimer please do note that these are indeed very raw and unfiltered impressions written in a sleep- and oxygen-deprived (Huaraz lies at 3000m and I had just arrived from the coast a day earlier) state of mind. I don't claim for these impressions to be representative of how teacher training is done in Peru, rather these are observations at one place at a particular point in time. Take them or leave them. 'nuff said.

Day 1

School where the training took place

So the setting was that the start of school was postponed by a week here so the teachers have an extra week of vacation. Don't know whether it was the local UGEL (Unidades de Gestión Educativa Local) or someone else who decided that offering an extra training session for teachers who had previously expressed their interest in more training.

So in the end we had 6 teachers and 1 "especialista" (haven't quite figured out what their role is) in a room with a guy who's a "macro-regional" coordinator for 3 departments. The teachers all came from "uni-docente multi-grado" schools which have been the focus of the first implementation phase here. The size of their schools ranged from 6 to approximately 20 pupils whereby the multi-grado component generally seems to go from 1st through 4th grade (while in generally primary school goes until 6th grade if I'm not mistaken).

One of the teachers works in a school where they don't have electricity to just keeping the XOs charged is a massive hassle. He sometimes takes home his pupils' XOs and charges them there or the pupils go to neighbors in other settlements to charge them. More recently that has stopped though as people have started charging 3 Nuevo Soles (~$1) for allowing pupils to charge their XOs.

The schools of these teachers had all received their XOs approximately one year ago. At that time they also received a 5-day training which they all agreed on wasn't nearly enough.

Anyway, the session itself started around 3:30PM and lasted approximately 2 1/2 hours. The first half hour or so was spent demonstrating how to re-flash and re-activate an XO since people often run into issues which require these steps.

The next 45min were dedicated to:

how to change the name from the command-line (via the Terminal Activity) since build 703 which they're using in Peru doesn't have the Control Panel to facilitate that step and with changing pupils this needs to be done quite regularly
set the date via the command-line since (if I remember correctly) an issue causes the XOs to forget it which leads to activation issues and whatnot

Teacher training in session

The next step was a joint Chat session with an associated introduction into the Neighborhood View, networks and Internet (or lack thereof since none of the schools in the region have connectivity at the moment). Of course this ended with the teachers finding themselves on two different Mesh channels and hence in two Chat sessions.

The last 30min were spent with eToys whereby the teachers made a story-book consisting of text, a drawing and an audio recording.

The coordinator did a good job in my opinion and seemed to know his way around the XO and the activities quite well even though he only started working on the project in May.

I happened to have a copy of the "Manual básico de uso de XO" that volunteers in Uruguay had created on me and showed it to the group at the end of the session. They were very excited and ended up going to a copy-shop so everyone could get their copy.

I was also asked whether I knew of more materials that could be of use to them and so I'm currently downloading the things listed on the Recursos en espanol wiki-page so I can pass them on to them on a USB drive tomorrow. I was particularly surprised that none of them had heard about Sdenka Salas' "La Laptop XO en el Aula" given that to me it seems like the Peruvian bible of XO use. (On a related note Sdenka invited me to come to visit her in Puno but unfortunately I won't have time to do that this time 'round.)

Day 2

In the second day's session they spent more than an hour working with Scratch to create and animate a story. Before that they spent an hour playing around with TamTam Mini and TamTam Jam. It was an enjoyable experience and I even got quite good at playing "El condor pasa";-)

Contrary to yesterday today there was also some (superficial IMHO) talk about how to integrate the Activities under discussion in the classroom.

With regard to a discussion about learning and reflection I can only say that it didn't happen in the two days that I attended. 98% of the time was really focused on learning how to use the Activities themselves with the remaining time going towards how they could be used in class.

Source: http://www.olpcnews.com/countries/peru/raw_teacher_training_observations_from_peru.html

America Movil to open broadband service in southern Peru provinces

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

America Movil Peru will be in charge of implementing rural broadband service in Juliaca and Puerto Maldonado, which will provide different communications services to more than 370 villages and towns located in Puno and Madre de Dios regions.

The Mexican company submitted the best bid, requesting for US $8.9 million from the state fund for investment in telecommunications, Fitel, to execute this project.

Telefónica had requested for US $11.3 million and Consorcio TECV asked for US $11.9 million, respectively.

The concessionaire will install a fiber optic network of 471km, and will also provide all the necessary infrastructure for public and residential telephony services, as well as for internet access and public cybercafes.

Rodrigo Arosemena, Director of América Móvil, said that this project will give access to farming communities to these services.

Source: http://www.livinginperu.com/news-13103-communications-america-movil-open-broadband-service-southern-peru-provinces

Inca Gold exhibition to open in Paris

Inca Gold exhibition to be showcased in Paris.
Paris, Sep. 06 (ANDINA). A unique collection of Inca gold treasures will be on display from 10 September 2010 to 6 February 2011 at the Pinacothèque de Paris museum in France.
The Incas worked gold into crowns, diadems, earrings, nose ornaments, ritual vessels and other religious and ornamental objects. Their emperors held themselves to be the sun’s human incarnation, so it is no surprise that they covered themselves in gold.

The Inca Gold exhibition at the Pinacothèque (28, place de la Madeleine; 33-1-42-68-02-01; pinacotheque.com) brings together 253 rare pieces that offer a glimpse into the origins and mysteries of the Inca empire.

On loan from Peruvian museums, they together conjure up the flamboyance and glory of the most remarkable of the pre-Colombian civilizations.

When the Incas established themselves in the Cuzco region of the Andes around the 13th or 14th century, they built on the remains of numerous preceding cultures.

The show includes fine gold and silver pieces from these pre-Incan societies, illustrating the continuity of traditions that came to their finest flowering in the century of Incan dominance that ended in 1533, when the Spanish conquistadors put to death the Inca leader Atahualpa.

But instead of a straight chronology, Marc Restellini, the museum’s artistic director, has arranged the exhibition thematically to give a new reading and understanding of the multifaceted complexity of Incan life — spiritual, funerary, economic, political and military.

The museum, which is owned by a group of private international investors, opened in 2007, and is set to expand early next year into a new gallery, about 3,230 square feet, nearby.

According to the New York Times' In Transit blog, tickets for the show are 11.50 euros (about $14.60).

Source: http://www.andina.com.pe/Ingles/Noticia.aspx?id=NxCaSgiP6Kc=

Mistura Gastronomic Fair opens today in Lima

President Alan García chairs today openning ceremony of Lima’s Third International Gastronomic Fair Mistura 2010. Photo: Andina/ Archive.
Lima, Set. 07 (ANDINA). Peru President Alan García chairs today the openning ceremony of Lima’s Third International Gastronomic Fair Mistura 2010 at Parque de la Exposición in Lima downtown.

Over 30 chefs from the best Peruvian restaurants will serve traditional meals with an innovative twist for the bargain price of 6 to 12 soles alongside international chefs, over 100 food stalls, and 600 farmers.

The event will also be attended by world class chefs such as Martín Berasategui, Pedro Subijana, Ferran Adriá, Eduard Xatruch and Jordi Roca.

Visitors will also be entertained with a long list of keynote speakers discussing various aspects of Peruvian cuisine including sociological and scientific topics.

Cooking classes, competitions, movies, and performers will also be present to entertain visitors as well.

The openning ceenmony will take palce at 11:00 am (16:00 GMT).
Source: http://www.andina.com.pe/Ingles/Noticia.aspx?id=fE0RJrcfqJ8=

CAF to support trout breeding and export microenterprises in Puno

Lake Titicaca in Puno. Photo:ANDINA/Carlos Lezama
Lima, Sep. 05 (ANDINA). A total of 41 microenterprises will benefit from the first phase of the project "Model for competitiveness of trout in the Puno region," initiative promoted jointly by CAF, Swisscontact and Piscifactoras Los Andes (Piscis) in southern Peru's Puno region.
The aim is to provide technical support and build the capacities of small-scale breeders of the species in the localities of Pomata, Santa Lucia and Moho and Huancan on the shores of Titicaca and Lagunillas lakes in Puno.

CAF director representative in Peru Eleonora Silva Pardo said the project executed by the CAF Competitiveness Support Program (PAC), Swisscontact and Piscis has successfully coordinated and strengthened small-scale production using modern methods by providing technical support, accompaniment and training in good aquaculture practices aimed at building capacities in business management and commercial cooperation, and applying health and environmental standards.

Presenting the results of the project, Silva Pardo said 62 technical assistance actions were implemented through 851 visits to producers to improve their aquaculture skills. In addition, a credit for 25 producers was arranged with Agrobanco and for another 16 with Fondopez.

In addition, the project included a consulting process to identify demand from major buyers of trout and select consumption for the tourist area of Cuzco, Valle Sagrado and Machupicchu. Finally, aquaculture producers received training in accounting, tax and labor management for their businesses and specific recommendations for facilitating their process of formalization and business management.

These actions guarantee continuity of the learning process of producers and generate expectation among the institutions that work in the sector because they consider this contribution to be fundamental for following the guidelines and giving continuity to the ongoing work, the CAF director said.

"The project reinforces the training in relation to quality and linkage to the market of trout producers in the Puno region, in a scheme in which the entire chain gains competitiveness. In addition, the initiative is part of the priorities of the public sector, specifically Sierra Export Program and the Technical Standards Program for export of aquaculture species promoted by Promper," Silva Pardo added.

The project also strengthens the economic development activities promoted by CAF in the radius of influence of the Southern Interoceanic Highway (IIRSA South), particularly in the Puno region, the main trout producing area.

The representative of Swisscontact in Peru, Jon Bickel, said that although the project had a direct impact on only 41 small-scale trout breeders, there was potential for scaling up its impact to the target population of 400 companies operating in Puno.

"Achieving standardized production will give the fish farming chains access to developed markets, and raise competitiveness and profitability, which will eventually improve the socioeconomic situation of the population n the Puno districts of Pomata, Santa Lucia, Moho, and Huancan, " the representative said.

Mauricio Gonzalez, general manager of Piscis, the largest exporting company in the sector, said industrial trout cultivation had been growing by 25% a year in Peru with production reaching 5,800 tons, positioning the country as the worlds tenth largest producer.

"The main export markets for Peruvian trout are Europe, USA and Canada. However, the value of Peruvian trout exports is only US$4 million and represents less than 1% of international demand. The Puno region concentrates 42% of domestic production, but only 25% has quality standards for export. For this reason, we feel this project - promoted by CAF and Swisscontact is improving existing levels of profitability and competitiveness," the manager said.

Perus competitive advantages in trout production are its climatic conditions and water bodies which are optimal for achieving commercial size after 8 to 10 months, compared with the norm of 11 to 12 months. The Puno region, in particular, has considerable water resources (Lake Titicaca with 17,400 hectares) suitable for aquaculture which only uses 4.5%. These water resources in Puno are used by almost 400 companies involved in trout production.

Swisscontact (Swiss Foundation for Technical Cooperation) is an apolitical and non-denominational ONG founded in 1959 by personalities from the private and academic sectors of Switzerland. The objective of Swisscontact is to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life of the neediest sectors through projects in four key areas: economic development and SMEs, environment, financial services, and professional training. In all its activities, Swisscontact aims to achieve the greatest possible reach and sustainability of its projects, always involving communities and local institutions by applying the principle of helping others to help themselves.
Source: http://www.andina.com.pe/Ingles/Noticia.aspx?id=nq2NdAyqaNE=

UNCTAD's Empretec to assist Peruvian entrepreneurs

SMEs are the engine of economic growth in most countries. Photo:ANDINA/Archivo/Stephanie Zollner Lima, Sep. 03 (ANDINA). Empretec, a pioneering programme of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), will be launched in Peru's capital Lima on September 16, 2010. With 32 Empretec centres established in Latin America, Africa, Eastern Europe and Middle East, the programme helps promising entrepreneurs build innovative and globally competitive small & medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The Empretec Centre in Peru is hosted by IPAE (Instituto Peruano de Acción Empresarial), a private non-profit organization created by leading entrepreneurs in 1959. Its mission is to promote and strengthen the business and education system to contribute to the sustainable development of the country. The Centre counts with 3 certified Empretec trainers and has trained around 160 entrepreneurs since July 2009. The opening event will take place during the Annual Conference of Entrepreneurs (CADE Emprendedores 2010), bringing together more than 500 businessmen and entrepreneurs from around the country to share business experiences and disseminate models of successful management for SMEs. The event will be launched by Mr. José Nicanor, Minister of Production, will count with the participation of experts on SMEs development and with successful entrepreneurs who started out as SMEs and currently export their products and services internationally. Mrs. Tatiana Krylova, Head of the Enterprise Development Branch, will represent UNCTAD during the event. Source: http://www.andina.com.pe/Ingles/Noticia.aspx?id=strcN2aPBNs=

MTC: Broad band prices expected to fall as Peru sees jump in users

Broad band prices in Peru are expected to see a decrease in 2011 thanks to an increase in competition in the telecommunications sector, Transportation and Communications Minister Enrique Cornejo said.

“Even though we have worked to grow the market and the number of users in the last few years, individual rates are still high,” state news agency Andina reported Cornejo as saying.

The government is aiming to increase connections from 1 million in 2011 to 4 million by 2016, which will help lower costs, the report said.

“The goal for 2016 is to reach 4 million broad band connections at the national level with velocity of 512 kilobits per second,” Cornejo said.

To help finance an increase in the connectivity, Cornejo proposed increasing resources for the ministry’s telecommunications investment fund Fitel.

“The Internet is one of activities for supporting a modern society and one of the conditions for a levels of competitiveness and development in the country, that allows for social inclusion of the population.”

Source: http://www.peruviantimes.com/mtc-broad-band-prices-expected-to-fall-as-peru-sees-jump-in-users/287789#more-7789

E-commerce in Peru to sell US$500 mln by 2011

The accelerated growth of the E-commerce forecasts a 60% rise in the next two years. Photo: ANDINA / Archivo/ Rocío Farfán
Lima, Aug. 31 (ANDINA). E-commerce in Peru would report total sales of US$500 million by the end 2011 becoming more dynamic, Visa’s Head of Emerging Channels Guillermo Rospigliosi.
“Nowadays, e-commerce in Latin America and the Caribbean generates sales for US$21.7 billion per year and Peru represents 1.3% of the total, US$280 million,” told Andina.

E-commerce is expected to grow 60% in the next two years reaching US$35 billion.

“On-line sales will double in Peru representing around US$500 million in 2011,” he said, commenting that credit and debit cards became the driving force of the on-line commerce rise in the last years.

“An 88% of total Internet sales are paid through credit or debit cards”, he said after participating in eCommerce Day, organized by Instituto Latinoamericano de Comercio Electrónico (ILCE), which is held today in Lima.
Source: http://www.andina.com.pe/Ingles/Noticia.aspx?id=2wRL0si4oho=