Intel and the US State Department have announced an initiative to provide training for Indian secondary school teachers.

Almuni who were active in previous programmes offered by the US State Department Educational and Cultural Affairs Bureau (ECA) will be invited to participate in "Intel Teach" programme activities by conducting online teaching courses and sharing curriculum items. The State Department and Intel will further expand their collaboration in India by transforming education into a "foundation for economic and social development".

In addition, the two have confirmed plans to establish internet educational projects in 20 secondary schools throughout Azerbaijan. The "Global Connections and Exchange" programme will train participants on new curriculum techniques and encourage interactive links between US and Azerbaijani schools. Intel expects to focus on the instruction of Web 2.0 technologies, with the goal of supporting computer literacy and international student networking.

Intel has significantly increased its activity in India over the past year. Indeed, the latest educational initiative follows an announcement by the company to collaborate with local manufacturers and providers to promote the distribution of Wimax-ready devices by mid-2009.

The corporation will initially promote a range of 2.3 and 2.5GHz devices. Indian companies are slated to be assisted by the Open Patent Alliance, amongst others, to determine device requirements, timelines, testing and interoperability plans.

"This is a very exciting time for India and Wimax," said Sriram Viswanathan, Intel VP and general manager of the Wimax Program Office. "Wimax has the ability to help bridge the digital divide with the most cost effective and highest-performing wireless broadband technology available today. The availability of low cost devices for end users forms an essential part of the promise and capability of Wimax."

Viswanathan also noted that the company's efforts were congruent with its focus of connecting Indians to the Internet and allowing individuals to leverage the "unlimited potential" of fast connectivity.

The Wimax forum projects that there will be more than 27.5 million broadband internet users in India by 2012. However, the number of users could expand faster than anticipated following the auction of the 2.3 and 2.5GHz frequency bands. X

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