Sustainable Telecentres ? Two Cases from

The telecentre movement is gaining momentum in the developing world as governments and donor agencies turn their attention to the digital divide. Telecentres are seen as community resources that offer access to information and communication technologies for inducing development among marginalised populations with little hope of otherwise participating in the benefits of the information revolution that the developed world is now enjoying. Whilst promising outcomes are emerging, most telecentre initiatives in Asia are still experimental and are supported by agencies external to the communities they serve. Stakeholders and observers frequently question the sustainability of telecentres, especially those in rural areas where telecommunications and electricity are problematic and expensive. With the vast majority of Asians living in rural communities, telecentre sustainability becomes a critical concern for connecting them to the wired world. Yet sustainability in development has multiple dimensions. This paper briefly examines the concept of sustainability and highlights the key aspect of financial sustainability for telecentres in the context of two case studies from India. Conclusions indicate that financial sustainability for development oriented telecentres appears possible under specified conditions.