GSMA to Set Up Broadband Training Centre for Latin America

Mobile operators’ association GSMA says that it is collaborating with the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) in the development of The Centre for Advanced Studies in Broadband Development, which is based in Managua, Nicaragua and was officially opened Monday.

The Centre is designed to strengthen the institutional capacity in information and communications technology (ICT) by providing government officials of the Spanish-speaking countries in Central America and the Dominican Republic with intensive and in-depth training services focused on broadband development.

The GSMA, which serves on the Technical Advisory Group for the Broadband Centre, will develop two five-day courses within a 12-course curriculum on the topics of “Spectrum Management” and “Mobile for Socio-Economic Development”.

Mobile broadband has played a key role in Latin America, both in boosting growth and meeting social targets. The region had 234 million mobile broadband connections as of March 2014 and this is forecast to grow by 30 per cent per annum over the next five years.

With fixed broadband in the region limited in terms of its household coverage, and also relatively expensive, mobile will continue to play a major role in bringing internet access to the mass market.

The training courses will be conducted at the Centre, as well as online and off-site at other facilities.

Photo courtesy: GSMA