GTT announces free internet for all primary schools

Mar 06, 2018 News

– Google, Microsoft experts for major tech show, summit this month

At the launching of GTT’s expo and business summit yesterday.

The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), is insisting that it is here for the long haul, is gearing up for a major tech show and business summit later this month.

The three-day event, starting on March 24 and ending March 27 with a break in between, is geared to bring more consciousness to the role of technology in the country’s development, officials said yesterday.

The US-owned telephone company, currently in liberalisation negotiations with Government following the passage of new telecoms laws allowing for more competition, also announced that it is moving to provide free internet to all of the country’s primary schools.

GTT is also moving to establish a special fund of up to $200M, targeting technological development.

The details were revealed yesterday at the Marriott Hotel.

At the launching of the Innov8 Summit and Expo were several players in the industry, including Gizmos and Gadgets and representatives of the University of Guyana (UG).

According to GTT’s Chief Executive Officer, Justin Nedd, the company is establishing a special fund of $18M with $8M of that earmarked for the promotion and development of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

Some $3M of that Innov8 Initiative Fund will also be going to the University of Guyana for funding in initiatives.

The business summit and expo is being hyped by GTT as the first and largest event of its kind in Guyana.

Nedd said that the $8M of the Innov8 Initiative Fund will be dedicated to STEM Guyana, in order to boost its continued work of training youth in coding and robotics.

As part of GTT’s initiative, Nedd said, primary schools across Guyana- there are about 300 of them- will all benefit from free internet service. The first three schools are Lusignan, Sophia and Paradise.

The summit will boast of two events- the first titled Innov8 Expo, which will be held on March 24 to 25 while the second- Innov8 Business Forum which will be on March 27.

GTT said that the goal of both events is to showcase the diversity of technology and its impact on all spheres of life in Guyana.

“It is an opportunity to display the innovations and gadgets created by some of the best and brightest players in Guyana’s technology arena. It will also feature international speakers from Google, Microsoft and other industry trailblazers.”

Additionally Innov8 Summit is an “open house’ which will wow visitors as they experience all the innovation GTT has to offer.

GTT will display technology possibilities available in the ways never seen before.

Some exciting features that the Innov8 Expo visitors will experience are hands-on-robotics, online gaming, a gaming tournament, animation, smart gadgets and a smart home.

The Innov8 Business Forum on March 27 will feature GTT’s newest enterprise solutions, host local and international Technology and Business Leaders while charting a path for the development of ICT in the business and finance arena.

“GTT’s, ongoing investment in technology and leadership, is instrumental in the development of the Guyanese ICT (Information, Communication and Technology) sector and has created a platform for innovators to power their innovations”, said CEO Justin Nedd.

GTT strategic partners will have the opportunity to purchase exclusive booth spaces to showcase their products.

Among some of highlights are showpieces of Bravo Arts, a company that specializes in costumes.

Present at the launch also were UG’s Vice Chancellor, Ivelaw Griffith and Professor Paloma Mohamed.

Griffith, who hailed the upcoming events, sees technology in Guyana and UG’s role expanding even more.

Also there was Food For The Poor’s local chief, Kent Vincent, who praised the initiatives of GTT.

STEM Guyana’s Colin Sawh explained that the money will be used for a number of youth projects.

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