Comunications and information accesible to all

In sociological terms, communication is the process whereby a message, sign or symbol is transmitted (regardless of the medium) from a subject (transmitter, ego) to another (receiver, alter). Communication is fostered when both terms of the interaction share the same standard-axiological framework of reference, because there will be greater understanding of the underlying meaning. As a result, communication involves consideration of the sociocultural environment in which this communicational interaction occurs –or tries to occur.

But communication shall not occur if the message, sign or symbol, translated into language (written, oral, bodily sign, binary) or the information in the process of individual and social incorporation, cannot be incorporated for the message to be understood or for the information to be translated really and positively.

We could refer to binary information theory, where the amount of information transmitted by a message is the binary logarithm of the number of alternatives capable of defining the message without ambiguity; or we could describe information entropy theory in accordance with the laws of thermodynamics, in strict adherence to Umberto Eco’s approach. But we would be sidetracking the purpose of the present article, which is aimed at focusing special attention on the fact that communications and information are not an individual process, but rather a social process involving all individuals of a society.

At present, reference is being made to social integration geared to achieving community integration –along a vertical axis where the local community is integrated into the global community in which it is included-, where the means to produce communication and to transmit information are essential for the development of communities. These means would be provided by digital and multimedia telecommunication infrastructure, which at present is turning out to be more efficient, with low installing and operating costs and with very wide bandwidth and optimal speed.

One way of ensuring that the technical and economic requirements of a sound information and communication infrastructure are met is by choosing the right technology.

That is the key aspect of the matter; communications and transmission of information should take place on the basis of the best and most efficient technical resources available so that the final economic equation can enable the information to reach the largest number of persons possible in all parts of the globe, -there are now more than 30 commercial networks operating worldwide- and thereby achieve the development and vertical social/community integration of peoples.

A clear and evident example of the efficiency and effectiveness of the right choice of state-of-the-art technology to achieve the goals of social integration and development is the adoption of wireless technology based on totally digital infrastructure on the radio spectrum frequency band of 450 MHz to 470 MHz, and with carriers of only 1.25 MHz. Each radio base on the band pf 450 MHz has the capacity to provide coverage under ideal conditions over a surface area of about 7,500 km2.

The advantage of this technology is its great capacity to provide digital communications to remote communities over vast surfaces, with spectrum efficiency and low installing and operating costs. The services that can be promoted efficiently with this technology are wireless fixed telephony, mobile telephony, data transmission and access to high-speed Internet and global positioning.

An important step for the region of the Americas has been adoption of CITEL Recommendation CCP.II/Rec. 10 (V-05), whose title is “Use of the 410-430 MHz and 450-470 MHz Bands for Fixed and Mobile Services for Digital Communication Particularly in Low Population Density Areas”; and among its considering clauses, it is stated that: a) there is an urgency in the Americas towards fulfilling fundamental Universal Service objectives..., b) there are significant propagation advantages in using 410-430 MHz and 450-470 MHz frequency bands.

In this regard, in Latin America there are clear examples of adoption of these bands such as Resolution R.VM No. 268-2005-MTC of May 29, 2005, of Peru’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications, approving allocation of the 452.5–457.5 MHz and 462.5–467.5 MHz bands for public services using wireless fixed access systems, and Resolution SC 161/2005 of July 7, 2005, of Argentina’s Communications Secretariat, approving the channeling of virtually the same bands to provide wireless fixed access digital services. Alongside these two examples, there are studies being conducted by other Latin American countries for the purpose of digitally enabling these bands.

Digital use of the 450 MHz Band has therefore become a highly useful tool for the governments of the Americas to provide universal service and for communications and access to information to reach all communities and become an element for vertical social unity and integration.

Carlos Killian
Director for Latin America and the Caribbean
IA450
Tel.: (5411) 4544-6551 / 4542-0238
E-mail : [email protected]