International organization IREX to place Internet-kiosks in Azerbaijani regions

IREX, an international non-profit organization, will place Internet-kiosks in Azerbaijani regions, IREX Lawyer Alesker Mammadli told.

He said the initial stage envisions placement of 30 Internet-kiosks in regional centers, villages and settlements advantageously in places with high number of population and respective infrastructure.

"We have already ended project-related preparatory works and currently define places where the kiosks will be installed. One of places where these devices will become available will be post offices so we have been in talks with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies of Azerbaijan and Azerpoct, a post operator. The preliminary deadline for startup of installation of Internet-kiosks is January 2012," Mammadli said.

Government's support to the project is very important so IREX asked the Cabinet of Ministers to provide assistance in work with executive bodies, he noted. Talks over support to the project were also conducted with the mobile link operators. "The project is financed by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

The USAID has financed projects in the country in the total amount of more than $300 million since Azerbaijan regained its independence," Mammadli said.

As for the very Internet-kiosks, Mammadli said choice of supplier will be made depending on value of a supplier's offer. IREX has already been examining offers by KUR, an Azerbaijani computer software producer, and BestComp Group.

The installation of Internet-kiosks in republican regions aims primarily at the provision of people's access to information to allow people to make online payments, send online messages to state organizations, and submit applications and complaints.

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