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LIRNEasia CEO among top three contenders for Bastiat Prize for Online Journalism
Rohan Samarajiva is among three finalists for the the first Bastiat Prize for Online Journalism. samarajiva was nominated for his Lanka Business Online column “Choices” The Bastiat Prize is awarded by the International Policy Network, a London-based think tank that seeks to improve public understanding of the role of the institutions of the free society.
The [...]
Teleuse@BOP migrant study findings released in Dhaka
LIRNEasia’s recent research on ICT use and remittances among migrant workers was released in Dhaka on 28 June 2009.
The study of over 1,500 domestic and overseas migrant workers in six Asian countries (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand and Sri Lanka) has yielded some interesting insights in Bangladesh, with important policy implications.
Demand for communication among [...]
LIRNEasia Lead Economist appointed to scientific advisory committee eARN Africa
LIRNEasia Lead Economist Harsha de Silva was recently appointed to a five-member Scientific Advisory committee for a two-year multi-country African research project, eAgriculture Network for Africa (eARN Africa): Effectiveness of Electronic-Based Interventions in Linking African Farmers to Markets. The project aims study the effectiveness of ICT-based intervention in linking African farmers to markets so as [...]
LIRNEasia Chair and CEO awarded ICA 2009 “Communication Research as an Agent of Change Award”

Rohan Samarajiva, Chair and CEO of LIRNEasia was awarded the prestigious 2009 “Communication Research as an Agent of Change Award” by the International Communication Association (ICA) at the 59th Annual conference of the ICA on 23 May 2009, in Chicago, USA.
The award honors one person each year whose work has had a demonstrable impact on [...]
Research Influences Public Policy and Decision-Making – Book Launch
Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 21, 2009 – H.E. Ms Angela Bogdan, High Commissioner for Canada, will be officially launching the book on “Knowledge to Policy: Making the Most of Development Research, copublished by Sage and Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC). The book is authored by Fred Carden, Director of Evaluation at IDRC. The launch [...]
Inclusive growth with mobiles: Findings from the BOP

Just five years ago, the Indian telecom industry’s massive momentum barely included the poor. The country had slightly over seven access paths (fixed and mobile connections) per 100 people, but in rural India 100 people were served by only 1.5 access paths. Even in urban India, the poor were unconnected.
But now, the picture is different. [...]
India’s urban-rural telecom gap?
An AFP story published today talks about the Indian boom in mobile connections, despite all round economic gloom: a record 15m new connections were added in India in January 2009 according to the article.
India’s “mobile revolution” is still mainly seen in the cities, but the real prize for phone companies is the vast rural market, [...]
DoT, BSNL in MoU for rural reach
The Business Standard, 27 January 2009
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with state-owned telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) to provide wireless broadband in rural areas.
Under the MoU, BSNL will provide wireless broadband at 29,000 rural exchanges throughout the country. Each exchange will have 31 connections along with [...]
Mobile 2.0: Beyond Voice? Draft program available
Preconference workshop at the 2009 conference of the International Communication Association (ICA) | 20-21 May 2009, Chicago, Illinois, USA
The draft program for this one-and-a-half day preconference is now available. Twenty five papers were selected through a peer-reviewed process; papers based on research in 15 countries in five continents in on various aspects of mobile usage [...]







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