Rather than any particular technology, GTR explored on new criteria and evolution trends of rural networks, like the proposed concept of Unrestricted Expansion or massive expansion (1994). Case studies involving demand behavior, socio-economic impact, tariff reforms and experiences on the introduction of IT services in rural zones have been performed in pilot areas of Latin America.

The R&D program is not oriented to the design of equipment or software, but rather to the optimal selection and application of advanced technologies in rural areas -digital/cellular/WLL last mile systems/LEOS platforms, wireless data transmission and optical links-. Studies address not only expansion strategies, but also regulatory, operation and insertion problems of networks within rural environments.

1.- Rural Community Telecentres pilot project (TCR Project)

2.- Telematics connection for Rural Schools and Paramedical Service pilot project (COTEPSA Project)

3.- Province of Chaco Optical Route (ROCHA Project)

Studies on this issue started in 1995 in pilot areas of Brazil, in cooperation with brazilian institutions. Since 1998, GTR is performing field search in rural regions of Suriname, Argentina and other countries. The R&D plan addresses strategic aspects of multipurpose community telecentres in relation to three aspects:

Phase 1) The demand profile of the services offered at the community telecentre.

Phase 2) The underlying behavior and long-run dynamics of MCTs.

Phase 3) The marginal socioeconomic impact of telecentres and their evaluation methodology.

In addition, the project aims at enlighten the characteristics and conditions for the development of national plans of community telecentres in small/medium-size towns in South America and the world, and the preparation of baseline analysis for whole national or regional plans. Phases 1 & 2 of the research plan have been carried out in 1995-1997. Current activities involve real case studies of pilot projects and the design of a comprehensive evaluation methodology (Phase 3).

COTEPSA involves the evaluation of design and model options for prototyping rural WANs, aiming to provide at least, basic data connections for rural schools and paramedical service scattered in large pilot areas (over 500 locations). Such project was envisaged to tackle huge needs of distance learning, telemedicine and first aid applications in South America and the world. GTR studies aim at assessing operational and technical behavior of wireless data transmission, including Low Earth Orbit satellites (LEOS), Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD-GPRS-HSCSD-CDMA) and other technologies not primarily conceived for rural networks. The research plan would enable as well identification/recording of usage patterns of IT services required for first-priority rural applications. Depending on resources and funding availability, COTEPSA studies are scheduled to begin by 2000 or 2001.

ROCHA is a high-capacity, medium-haul terrestrial optical backbone (SDH-DWDM) originally devoted to link villages and towns of northern Argentina, with reliable voice/high speed data chanels for multimedia applications along a 30-year life-cycle. This trunk platform, intended to be built and operated by private investment consortia is regarded as a witness case for testing new planning criteria like the concept of "Bandwidth flooding" in rural areas.

Telephone and CATV carriers, government agencies, university campuses and even community telecentres (MCT) would be able to get trunk access through a common, reliable broadband ring, with capacity large enough to derive as well bulk traffic from Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Bolivia. The research plan of this project has been approved by UNNE on December, 1998, and the group is now looking for external funding to defray expenses (bibliography, hardware, field work and information gathering).