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QUALCOMM and TELGUA Bring Wireless Connectivity to 15 Rural Schools in Guatemala


WEBWIRE

Guatemalan Children Benefit from the Collaboration of the Guatemalan Ministry of Education, FunSEPA and USAID; President Oscar Berger to Attend Kick-Off Celebration
GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA — QUALCOMM Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), a leading developer and innovator of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA ) and other advanced wireless technologies, in partnership with TELGUA, a subsidiary of America Movil; the Guatemalan Ministry of Education; Fundacion Sergio A. Paiz Andrade (FunSEPA); and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through its public-private partnerships program called Alianzas, today announced it will provide CDMA2000® 1xEV-DO service and devices, enabling high-speed wireless connectivity, to underprivileged schools in Guatemala as part of its global Wireless Reach™ initiative. This project supports the Ministry of Education’s “Schools of the Future” program, which focuses on improving education through intensive teacher training, community involvement, advanced technology integration into a pedagogic model and enhanced school infrastructure.

QUALCOMM and its partners will provide 17 computers with EV-DO wireless modems and training for each of the 15 rural schools within the regions of Alta Verapaz, Escuintla, Peten and San Marcos. In the coming months, the partners will continue to identify additional schools to participate in this project, with the goal of bringing the total number to 20 schools within two years.

To celebrate the launch of this initiative, the President of Guatemala, Oscar Berger, will take part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Escuela Los Lirios in the region of Escuintla, the first school to launch the new technology.

“We are proud to work with our partners and help support the Guatemalan government with their ’Schools of the Future’ program, as we believe access to advanced wireless technology helps improve lives and education,” said Jeff Jacobs, executive vice president and president of global development for QUALCOMM. “Our Wireless Reach initiative in Guatemala will provide much-needed education resources to help strengthen economic and social development in the region and we look forward to seeing the positive results of this partnership.”

“With this donation, TELGUA once again shows its commitment to serve and benefit the general public. This is another example of our support of the Ministry of Education’s policies to increase and enhance education in Guatemala,” said Enrique Castellanos, commercial and public relations director, TELGUA. “We are excited that this project will enable thousands of Guatemalan students to be exposed to advanced wireless technology.”

“A critical element of our ’Schools of the Future’ program is to improve and support education in Guatemala by implementing new innovative teaching models, as well as integrating information technologies and communication into schools. This project is in line with our strategic vision for technology and education for all by the year 2012,” said Maria del Carmen Aceña, minister of education. “We are honored to count on the support of these partners to bring the latest technology and services to Guatemalan students.”

“Our partnership with QUALCOMM, USAID, the Ministry of Education and TELGUA will help make Internet access in the classroom an integral part of the teaching and learning process,” said Salvador Paiz, president and CEO, Fundacion Sergio A. Paiz Andrade. “This not only allows children to learn about the abundant tools available online, but also will help teach them to implement these tools, which will be fundamental in any profession they choose in the future.”

“USAID is dedicated to supporting social investment in Guatemala, specifically in health and education, as the foundation to well-being and peace,” said Wayne Nilsestuen, USAID mission director. “We are excited to help expand access to education and technology though this partnership, furthering our commitment to the people of Guatemala.”



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