Tecamac: A City of Hope for Mexico's Future

John Paul — Thu, 27 Oct 2005 11:23:20 -0400

October 24, 2005 - 11:00, Government Technology

Innovative Project Bridges Digital & Housing Divide

Story Link: http://www.govtech.net/magazine/channel_story.php/97059

A dream of bridging the digital divide is coming true in the countryside outside Mexico City. A municipality called Tecamac in the state of Mexico witnessed birth of Real del Sol, a development of 1,800 small but attractive homes surrounded by palm trees, quiet streets and a connection to the world.

Surprisingly it is a pilot project in Mexican low-income housing. Even more surprising, perhaps, is that each home comes equipped with a computer and a high-speed connection to the Internet. A Mexican Texa PC connected to the Internet is included in the house price, and the connectivity is merely $18 per month, including a neighborhood portal, a security system, e-mail account and more. All that for about half the cost of DSL connection service in the region. The homes are available to families earning less than U.S. $700 per month, and according to Adriana Labardini, a telecommunications expert, demand has exceeded all expectations, as about 600 homes are now finished and sold.

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Tecamac: A City of Hope for Mexico's Future