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<a href="http://www.internetsummitafrica.org"><span
style="font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"></span></a><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;text-decoration:none;text-underline:
none"><o:p></o:p></span><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#000028;
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charset=ISO-8859-1">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:
minor-latin;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Dear
Colleagues,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:
minor-latin;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">AFRINC
has
teamed up with numerous organisations and groups in Africa
in attempts to
promote access to affordable broadband in Africa through
television channels.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:
minor-latin;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Under
the ambit of TV
White Spaces, the organisations including Google, Internet
Society, Microsoft,
and the Association for Progressive Communications have
organised a two-day
(30-31 May 2013) forum in Dakar, Senegal, where issues
relating to the
expansion and provision of broadband Internet using
television signals are
being discussed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;text-decoration:
none;text-underline:none">“<i
style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">TVWS have
remarkable prospective in Africa and beyond. This unused
spectrum can be used for the enhancement of access,
business opportunity, and economic growth. By
working together, we can create standards and partnerships
that ensure that
this technology is used to bring broadband to more people
in Africa and beyond</i>”
says Anne Rachel Inne, the Chief Executive Officer of
AFRINIC. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:
minor-latin;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">The
organisers of the
forum recognise the power of television broadcast signals to
expand broadband
to many parts of Africa. Given that Africa suffers from poor
infrastructure,
the use of TV white spaces would the answer to the provision
of affordable and
reliable broadband Internet to millions of people in the
continent especially
those living in remote and rural areas. The low cost
connectivity will also
ensure an expansion of the quality of Wi-Fi hotspots in
densely populated urban
areas. The fact that the television broadcast signals can
penetrate physical
obstacles like trees, buildings, and rugged terrain means
access to the
Internet would be significantly enhanced.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:
minor-latin;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">The
forthcoming Africa
Internet Summit in Lusaka, Zambia, organised by AFRINIC,
will also further
discuss the issue. The AIS’ 13 will be held at the
Intercontinental Hotel
between 9 and 21 June. Substantive issues relating to
the Internet and access will be discussed during the Forum’s
plenary scheduled
for 17-21 June.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;text-decoration:
none;text-underline:none">For more information please visit
our website: </span><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.afrinic.net/en/library/news/917-afrinic-partners-with-the-tv-white-space-africa-forum-2013">http://www.afrinic.net/en/library/news/917-afrinic-partners-with-the-tv-white-space-africa-forum-2013</a><span
style="font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
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and
</span><a href="http://www.internetsummitafrica.org"><span
style="font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">www.internetsummitafrica.org</span></a><br>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Regards,<br>
<span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;text-decoration:none;text-underline:
none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
__________________________
Babusha Radhakissoon
Social Media/Online Engagement Officer, AFRINIC Ltd.
t: +230 403 5100 | f: +230 466 6758 | tt: @afrinic | w: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.afrinic.net">www.afrinic.net</a>
facebook.com/afrinic | flickr.com/afrinic | youtube.com/afrinicmedia
___________________________
Join us at AFRINIC-18 (Africa Internet Summit)
Lusaka, Zambia 9 – 21 June 2013 - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://meeting.afrinic.net/afrinic-18">http://meeting.afrinic.net/afrinic-18</a>
</pre>
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