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A list of national programs aimed at promoting broad access to inexpensive computing technologies
Some of the prominent 'low cost computing devices' and global/regional initiatives to promote the development of low-cost computing devices are linked with government-sponsored or -directed 'low-cost computing' initiatives, which exist in many developing countries.
Notable examples of such initiatives include:
- Programa miPC (Argentina) (program web site)
- PC Conectado & Computador Para Todos (Brazil)
- Gyanotkarsh, Gyanjyoti (India)
- PC Gemilang (Malaysia)
- the Computers for All Nigerians Initiative (CANi) (program web site)
- People’s PC Program (Philippines)
- the Saudi Arabian Home Computing Initiative (SAHCI)
- People’s PC project (Thailand)
- Thanh Giong (Vietnam)
Some of these national programs are linked to Intel's 'Government Assisted PC Programs' (GAPP):
In September 2004 IDC published a market research report assessing Low-Cost PC Programs Spread in Asia.
The One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) initiative is reportedly currently in discussions with several countries to support large scale roll-outs of the '$100 laptop', including Argentina, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Libya, Nigeria, and Thailand. UNDP has expressed its official support for the initiative globally; the Inter-american Development Bank has also signed an agreement with OLPC.
Microsoft's 'Flex-Go' program aims to assist with the financing of PC purchases, using 'pay-as-you-go' model similar to that of pre-paid cellular models. This program is supported by the IFC, the private sector arm of the World Bank. The first target country is Brazil.
Related briefing sheets:
- Quick guide to low-cost computing devices and initiatives for the developing world
- Quick guide to prominent initiatives promoting the development of low-cost computing devices for developing countries
- Quick guide to some alternative models to provide connectivity in low- and no-bandwidth environments
Suggested citation:
Trucano, Michael. 2006. Quick guide to government-sponsored "Cheap PC" Programs. An infoDev briefing sheet. Washington, DC: infoDev / World Bank.
By M. Trucano.