Asociación Infocentros de El Salvador

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Community Infocenters, also known as "telecenters" or "public Internet cabins", have emerged over the past several years in many developing countries as an alternative and affordable form of access to communications and information services, especially in low-income and rural areas. In practice, they demonstrate how timely access to information can reduce transaction costs, improve competitiveness, strengthen links with the outside world, and raise education and standards of living of the local population. They also provide an outlet for the creation and dissemination of local knowledge, thereby helping build and strengthen a nation's knowledge base.

An infocenter is a local connectivity center which provides access to information services, different types of communications, distance education and training, suppliers and markets, business skills, and so forth. Services most commonly offered are: telephone, fax, e-mail, Internet access and photocopies. A center may also offer training, meeting space, videoconferencing, and production of information tools and contents.

Infocenters are created on the basis of identified demand for information and services. Some examples of local needs are:

• national and international markets and suppliers for local producers
• relevant training and information on production techniques
• distance education
• medical information, support for diagnostics, prescriptions
• information about appropriate technology
• experiences in environmental management, local administration
• communication with emigrants for personal and productive ends

Conectándonos al Futuro has worked to create a national network of infocentros in El Salvador, in the form of a non-profit membership organization known as Asociación Infocentros.

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