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THE
ISLAND PROMOTES ITS SOFTWARE INDUSTRY THE 9th International Convention and Informatics Fair 2003 in Havana, March 17-21, proved an excellent opportunity to investigate Cuban developments in this sector, especially in relation to the national software industry. Some 1,500 specialists from 30 nations were able to witness Cuban ingenuity firsthand, including products destined for education, healthcare, national companies and industrial automation on the island; the high quality of Cuban professionals in this field speaks for itself. In a brief conversation with Granma International, Minister of Communications and Informatics Ignacio González Planas commented that the Fair's main objective was to "promote the development of the Cuban software industry." The industry's enormous potential, which in the future could very compare with vital economic sectors such as tourism or biotechnology, was delineated in a presentation at the event by Ministry Advisor Vilma Altet. Meanwhile, the 1st International Software Symposium constituted a forum to discuss production prospects for programs and applications based on domestic creativity, a world apart from the transnational technology monopoly in this sector. THE
DIGITAL GAP: A NEW FORM OF INEQUALITY The digital world, according to Isidro Fernández Aballí, UNESCO regional advisor for Latin America, can be divided into three categories: the A, integrated by the 10% of the world population with access to Internet; B, by the 30% who have access to telephones; and C, by the 60% with no access to either. But the problem isn't that simple. In the final analysis, it's not just a question of the Third World gaining access to computers and basic infrastructure services. There is also a more urgent need for education, culture and health in order to be able to take advantage of modern technology. Commander of the Revolution Ramiro Valdés Menéndez, president of the Electronics Group, emphasized on opening the fair in Cuba, how despite the U.S. blockade, strategies are being drawn up, albeit with few resources, to place both information and communications at the disposition of socialist advances, by seeking an alliance of new technologies with programs to develop the Revolution to the benefit of the population. The PABEXPO Pavilion was the venue for 19 firms from Germany, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Spain, France, Italy and Panama, plus 35 Cuban enterprises, all exhibiting their latest products. Softcal, Softcel, Centersoft, Cubatel, Movitel, CITMATEL, COPEXTEL and Ernesto Che Guevara Combined Electronic Components were some of the national firms present, displaying products that have been successful both domestically and abroad. Among the innovations presented at the Fair, the ATEC-PANDA TV, exhibited by the Cuban Industrial Electronics Enterprise (ATEC), stole the show. Granma International discovered that a module in the television's interior makes it Internet and email accessible, via telephone, in addition to its traditional functions. One module developed especially for the island was displayed by Gran Kaiman Teleco S.A. (GKT), a joint enterprise between the Cuban Electronic Group and the Chinese Great Dragon Company. Li Peihua, vice president of GKT, explained that the module incorporates all central telephone units, benefiting communications in small rural communities, and guaranteeing services to approximately 480 subscribers. González Planas pointed to the "good relations" and "important cooperation" between the island and the Asian giant, centered on "the production and acquisition of televisions." He also said that the island "acquires technology and equipment for ETECSA (Cuba Telecommunications Enterprise S.A.) and RADIOCUBA, through the GKT Company." TELEPHONE
LINES TO DOUBLE THIS YEAR In 1995, there were 352,451 telephone lines installed; at present, this statistic has been doubled, he said, and explained that 94% of clientele pay for phone services in national currency while the rest pay in dollars. In addition to the six national telecommunications service providers, Cuba has a public data transmission network with 51 outlets in every provincial capital and even some of the main municipalities. A national microwave network with connections from the westernmost province of Pinar del Río to its eastern counterpart in Guantánamo, must also be added to the list of investments. Transmissions are emitted through 1,091 kilometers of fiber optic cable, among other modern facets. The 2003 Informatics Fair closed shop after prizes were awarded to the best products and services on display. The 10th edition is scheduled for next year from May 10-15; the fair is to be part of EXPO COMM, an event specializing in high technology telecommunications, electronics, entertainment and informatics products. o
Fair prizes IN the Software category: Education Products and Services Line, from CITMATEL; Galen, from Centersoft; Avila Quid, from Ciego de Avila province's Informatics Services Enterprise; Plataforma SIGTA, from ETECSA; and Press Win. 5.1, from AICROS. In the Electronics Industry: the power amplifiers for television transmission Family, from Lascetel; and in Automatics the TEICO processes control system. ETECSA's Videoconference Service took the Telecommunications award and Vio Server (5x1) from Standard Computers, COPEXTEL won the Hardware prize. Best stand went to three Cuban units: COPEXTEL (free design), AIVCROS (modular) and the Information Technology Group (corporate). (Taken from Granma 27/03/03)
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