Every opportunity counts - Community Information Center
The Grameenphone Community Information Center (CIC) is a shared premise where rural people may access a wide range of state of the art services such as Internet, voice communications, video conferencing and other information services.
It aims to bridge the "digital divide" by providing access to information-based services to under-served and underprivileged rural people, as well as to build local entrepreneurships and create employment opportunities for the unemployed youth.
Launch Date:
February 2006
How it Works:
It is designed to be run independently as small businesses by local entrepreneurs. Each CIC is equipped with a computer, a printer, a scanner, a webcam and a modem to provide internet-based services. CIC entrepreneurs are trained and are provided with continuous support from Grameenphone so that they can extend their knowledge and service to the communities they serve. CICs also provide other GP services, such as payphones and electronic recharge for pre-paid and post-paid mobile accounts.
In order to achieve its vision, Grameenphone has united with NGOs and development organizations as strategic partners. The rollout partners are Grameen Telecom, Society for Economic and Basic Advancement (SEBA), and Eagle for nationwide implementation, and Kalikapur Daridro Kallan Sangsta (KDKS), Socio-Economic Development Association (SEDA), Karmakutir, Goriber Asroy, and SSTD Communication for divisional implementation.
Project Milestone:
→ 506 Community Information Centers in 417 Upazillas.