Evolution of the telecentre networks in a changing socio-economic back drop of a country is quite interesting and insightful. This emerging insight track the evolution that has taken place in Sri Lanka. How have they moved from issues of economic sustainability to innovative adaptation to mobile phone (especially SmartPhone) revolution taking place in a very rapid pace in Sri Lanka. And what are the innovative models emerging at telecentre landscape, especially as social enterprises (i.e. not as donor funded projects any more), the unique initiatives of ground level telecentre leaders.

1. Changing Role of Telecentres
2000 – 2012 and beyond
(Sarvodaya-Fusion, Sri Lanka: a case study)
Harsha Liyanage, Phd, MBA External lecture,
MSc on Practising Sustainable Development (ICT4D
specialism)
Managing Director, (Sarvodaya-Fusion, Sri Lanka), University of London
Principal consultant, (eNovation4D, UK) UK
www.fusion.lk
14 January 2013
email: harsha@enovation4d.co.uk
eNovation4D

2. Who needs telecentres? Why?
Despite the presence of technologies (telecentres,
internet, mobile phones) rural poor are not educated
or skilful to apply IT (Information Technology) to meet
their needs.
• Awareness
• What is Information Technology?
• How it can help me?
• Affordable access
• Closer to where I live
• Not-expensive
•Technical assistance
• Knowledgeable person to teach me how to use
eNovation4D

3. A journey from1997 - 2012
Telecentres Mobile Android
1997 2004 2007 2009 2011 2012
eNovation4D

4. In 1997, rural people did not know what is ‘IT’!
&
why did they need IT?
eNovation4D

5. 1997 - 2000
How to introduce IT to rural poor?
Main challenges were: Country Context 2000
• How to set up telecentres?
• in low infrastructure environments:
• unstable electricity, GDP / capita (US$) 855
• no internet / broadband,
• no support services,
• no security
Poverty head count ratio at 22.7%
national poverty line
Sri Lanka was a ‘Low income Mobile phone 2
subscribers(per 100
country’ people)
with high incidence of poverty,
(by then), with prolonged ethnic conflict Internet users (per 100 0.6
people)
eNovation4D

6. 1997
Birth of a telecentre
Primarily a development objective:
• awareness about IT,
• accessibility and
• skill development
of disadvantaged communities to
bridge the Digital Divide.
Telecentre
PCs + Internet (dial up) + Printer
(Options: Photocopy machine + Laminating equipment)
In a rural location
Owner / Manager (with IT skills)
Location: Sarvodaya District Centre, Kahawatta, Ratnapura, Sri Lanka
eNovation4D

7. How does the local context look like?
Source: www.facebook.com/sarvodaya.fusion eNovation4D

8. 2000 - 2005
Now we got the telecentres , but
why communities are NOT using
them?
eNovation4D

9. Problems kept changing
Time period Problem Solution
1997 - 2000 What is the best telecentre model? Design & develop telecentres as a
development model
2004 Why communities are NOT using Design and develop Subsidy vouchers
telecentres? for telecentres
2005 - 2008 How to sustain them? Telecentre networking and
introducing business models
2007 Where is the content? Design and development of ICT
(Content: what services can help a Education programme for children &
fisherman, a craftsman, a farmer, a youth
youth)
eNovation4D

10. 2005 - 2010
How to sustain a telecentre?
• Majority telecentres started as projects
funded by Donors or Governments
• How to economically sustain them beyond
when the project cycle ends?
620 telecenters (branded as Nenasala) were installed, in Sri Lanka by Government’s
eSriLanka program, with the support of World Bank funding between 2004 – 2008.
Source: www.icta.lk
eNovation4D

11. How to sustain beyond donor support?
Telecentre location Expenses(US$) Income(US$) Deficit (US$)
Hambanthota District 479 35 -444
Madilla 339 32 -307
Andaragasyaya 263 15 -248
Wanduruppuwa 301 35 -266
Ampara District 278 43 -235
Karathiwu 238 5 -233
Kalmunai 214 18 -196
Galle District 393 55 -338
Brahmanawaththa 234 17 -217
Pathegama 257 39 -218
Welhengoda 228 7 -221
Mathara District 308 86 -222
Thallala 191 64 -127
Bathigama 295 13 -282
Palena 324 42 -282
Source: Sustainability First, Liyanage H, 2011
eNovation4D

12. 2005 - 2011
ICT FOR YOUTH
Branded product
ICT Education package
offered through telecentres Country Context 2000 2007
as a fee based service
GDP / capita (US$) 855 1614
• ICT hand book
• National ICT examination
• On line management system Poverty head count ratio 22.7 15.2
at national poverty line
(%)
Affordability improves with the Mobile phone 2 39
subscribers(per 100
improvements in people)
country’s Internet users (per 100 0.6 3.9
poverty profile people)
http://education.fusion.lk/ eNovation4D

13. Positive community take-up!
2009 ~ 2011
Number of students
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
2009 2010 2011
DICA 219 596 723
KIDS 118
Centres
46 108 127
Touched
Continues increasing demand for the paid service
eNovation4D

14. Economic impact? Jaffna
2 Centres [128]
Mannar
1 Centre [75]
Vauniya
1 Centre [18]
Trincomalee
3 Centres [163]
Price advantage to rural youth – 47% cheaper Anuradhapura
than the available options in the market 6 Centres [162]
Puttlam
2 Centres [53]
Batticaloa
1 Centre [17]
Revenue to telecentre network – Rs. 6.2mil Kurunegala
8 Centres [210]
Matale
1 Centres [37] Ampara
Kandy 3 Centres [140]
Revenue to Fusion – Rs. 2.4mil
Gampaha 3 Centres [8]
1 Centre [4] Bibile
2 Centres
Colombo Nuwara Eliya
Badulla
2 Centres [40] 3 Centres [139]
4 Centres [58]
KalutharaRathnapura
1 Centre [2] Centre [42]
1
Hambanthota
Galle 1 Centre [10]
Matara
2 Centres [15]
Dots represent telecentres offering the product
5 Centres [220]
Source: Sarvodaya-Fusion progress reports, 2011 eNovation4D

15. A, eEmpowerment of Rural Children/ Youth
B
Students have
Students will have Increased access to developed their D,
correct attitude and C appropriate marketable ICT skills E
self-discipline to information
continue
programme
Students Skilled Students sit
F Accessibility
engaged in facilitators and pass DICA
of ICT
self learning would provide exam
facilities
training
available
with
minimum 6
4 5
restrictions
7
Children & youth attend the
Social Impact
classes regular basis
Impact mapping – G ICT training and exam facilities
available at local Telecentres
‘Theory of change’
Children received Children are interested Children received
Scholarships about programme parental support and
encouragement
3 2
Source: Social Impact assessment in an ICT4D intervention, Children and parents
hear/learn about
By Liyanage & Edge, eNovation4D. programme
http://bitly.com/enovation-socialimpact
1
eNovation4D

16. Impact measurement
Measuring Indicators
Exposure
100
90
•Exposure 80
70
Qualification Motivation
60
•Motivation 50
40
30
20
•Skill development 10
0
•Self learning Application Skill-Dev.
•Exploration
•Application Exploration Self learn
•Qualification
Time 0 3 months
Source: Social Impact assessment in an ICT4D intervention,
By Liyanage & Edge, eNovation4D.
http://bitly.com/enovation-socialimpact eNovation4D

17. Sri Lanka becomes a
2010 - 2012
Lower Middle Income country
2000 2007 2011
GDP / capita (US$) 855 1614 2835
- End of ethnic conflict
Poverty head 22.7% 15.2% 8.9% - Increased IT literacy
count ratio at - Economic growth
national poverty
line Change
Mobile phone 2 39 87 People’s aspirations
subscribers (per and needs
100 people)
Internet users (per 0.6 3.9 15.1
100 people)
Source: World Bank & Censes and Statistics by Gvt SL, 2012.
eNovation4D

18. Mobile, Smartdevices & Android are
changing the landscape
Telecentres Mobile Android
1997 2004 2007 2009 2011 2012
eNovation4D

19. Data Consumer Developer community IT related companies / Non profits Content Providers (Non IT )
App developer hSenid Mobile
Service Microimage Ltd.
consumer
Customer targeting Supplier support
Supplier support
Subscription or Mobile App dvpt
not? Opportunity App
Benefit vs price? assessment development M.D. Gunasena
Marketing
Marketing effort?
Ltd.
effort?
Content
provision
Etisalat
Resource
Platform operator
Book Hub allocation
Awareness raising
App Zone
Andorid forums (skill
dvt)
Partnership
development
Business model
Rural offline App community Sarvodaya-
consumer Fusion.
Join or not?
What is it? Awareness
Degree of building
engagements Resource
What benefit?
allocation? Case study by eNovation4D published
In ‘IER 2012’ by UNCTAD
http://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/ier2012_en.pdf
Community Business community
eNovation4D

20. Apps are providing the local ‘Content’
User Developer/
App Logo Category Installs Description
Ratings Publisher
SETT Sinhala/Tamil SETT Sinhala/Tamil (Sri Lanka/India)
01 Communication 197 10,000-50,000 web browser is the Only Sinhala/Tamil Bhasha, Inc.
web browser enabled web browser for Android.
SETT Hindi web SETT Hindi comes with an innovative
02 Communication 149 10,000-50,000 rendering engine which renders Hindi Bhasha, Inc.
browser Unicode within the app.
TamilSMS is a sms application which
allows users to send sms in Tamil with Microimage Mobile
03 Tamil SMS Social 46 10,000-50,000
easy Tamil keypad typing Media
mechanism.
Sinhala Tamil Eng The First English to Sinhala / Sinhala to
Sachith
04 Books & Reference 125 5,000-10,000 English dictionary on the Android
Dictionary Dassanayake
Market.
Sinhala Dictionary Offline English to Sinhala / Sinhala to
Sachith
05 Books & Reference 111 5,000-10,000 English Dictionary for Android version
Offline Dassanayake
2.1 and above.
Sri Lanka Radio Live is free simple Manoj
06 Sri Lanka Radio Live Entertainment 25 5,000-10,000 radio with over 10 Sri Lankan Live Prasanna
Radio stations. Handapangoda
Helakuru Sinhala Bhasha Helakuru is the First & Only
07 Tools 54 1,000-5,000 phonetic Sinhala keyboard & IME for Bhasha, Inc.
Keyboard+IME mobile phones.
Sri Lanka Train From this application you can get
08 Travel & Local 49 1,000-5,000 Train Schedule, Train Delays and Dilshya
Schedule Ticket Prices of Sri Lanka Railways.
Bhasha Puvath (Sri Lanka - Sinhala,
09 Bhasha Puvath News & Magazines 44 1,000-5,000 Tamil, English) is a Multi-Channel Bhasha, Inc.
Trilingual Sri Lankan News Reader.
eNovation4D
Sri Lanka's premier Sinhala breaking
Wijeya Newspapers
news website updated 24/7 on your
10 Lankadeepa News & Magazines 36 1,000-5,000
Ltd.
Android Mobile.

21. 2010 - 2012
How do the telecentres
adapt into this shifting landscape?
eNovation4D

22. Shared ownership of
Android
Smart Devices
(Smart Phones & Tabs)
Awareness
Accessibility
Education
Telecentre
Hub
• ICT
• Social Media
Case study: Inforgate telecentre, Kantale, Sri Lanka.
eNovation4D

23. Android Smartphones 4D
SmartVillage project
» Shared
Ownership
models
(community vs
telecentre)
» Development
applications
» Education
» Micro-enterprise
promotion
» Apps vs Social
networking
http://fusionsmartvillage.blogspot.com/
Donor partners – Tag ID and Google
Project started in 2011 Feb.
eNovation4D

24. Hub & spoke model for telecentre scale-up
Hub – the main telecentre Satellite
telecentres
Services:
• training the managers at satellite telecentres
• organize equipment at discounted prices
• organize content and service packages
• carry out large scale promotions
• branding
Satellite telecentres Telecentre
Hub
Services:
• IT training for children (‘IT for Kids’)
• tailor made to local needs (local instructor,
evening classes, serve neighbourhood communities)
Case study: Inforgate telecentre, Kantale, Sri Lanka.
eNovation4D

25. Hub & spoke model for education
Hub – the main telecentre Satellite
Education centres
Services:
• training the managers at satellite centres
• organize locations
• organize educational packages
• carry out large scale promotions
• branding
Satellite education-centres Telecentre
Hub
Services:
• English education for children
• tailor made to local needs (local instructor,
serve neighbourhood communities)
• Introduce latest ICT gadgets (eg. SmartPhones)
Case study: Udubaddawa telecentre, Kurunegala, Sri Lanka.
eNovation4D

26. Telecentres in 2015...?
challenge for innovation continues...!
Telecentres Mobile + Android
eNovation4D

27. 1997 - 2012
About us
eNovation4D

28. Sarvodaya
Sarvodaya-Fusion 15,000 communities
50 year old national NGO
ICT4D arm of Sarvodaya SEEDS
3000 village micro-enterprises
mission : e-Empowerment of communities US$31mn operation
Business model: A not-for-profit social enterprise
Capacity building>> Building partnerships
ICT education and skills Economic to leverage impact
Accessibility >>
sustenance of
Telecentres, mobile, Community +
Smart-Phones
partners + ICTA (Gvt)
620 telecentres
Applications>> Fusion
Education, FarmerNet
Fusion
Corporate telecoms
Microsoft
Social bottom line Economic bottom line HSBC
Donors
www.fusion.lk eNovation4D

29. Sharing knowledge to make ICT4D a
better experience
UK Sri Lanka
eNovation4D

30. Software
companies
Supplier support
App dvt support
App quality
Marketing effort? Book publishers
Content provider
Staff allocation
Resource
Service App allocation
consumer developer
Content quality
Subscription
decision Customer
Price scheme targeting Mobile operator
selection Staff allocation
Book Hub
Awareness raising
App Zone Interactive place
(android Forums)
App Partnership Dev.
Revenue sharing
Community mechanism
Rural offline
consumer Join or not?
Degree of
Subscription engagement
decision
Price scheme
selection
NGO
Awareness
support
Service level
Resource
allocation
Eco-system
Sri Lanka not-for-profit
App We are seeking
developers
partnerships,
eNovation4D collaborations
and opportunities
UK based consultants
to expand our
App developers mission!
Core team
4 Senior
consultants
+ Virtual team
Bottom of the Pyramid communities
eNovation4D

31. eNovation4D
ICT4D & M4D consultants, UK
www.enovation4d.co.uk
Contact: harsha@enovation4d.co.uk
eNovation4D