Living in Peru : your everyday companion

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peru could have 850,000 broadband connections nationwide later this year, which would mean a 10% increase over last year, according to Cisco Peru, a company dedicated to the manufacture, sale, maintenance and consulting on telecommunications technical equipment.

The firm's general manager, Alvaro Merino, said that the goal is to make the Peruvian market reach one million connections by 2010, which would mean more competition.

Cisco Perú presented its Cisco Broadband Barometer for the first half of 2009, which reveals a 6.6% growth in the number of broadband connections in Peru, amounting to 783,000.

However, Cisco Peru's Barometer also shows that penetration of internet in Peru is 2.9% per 100 inhabitants, a figure still way below the countries that lead the broadband penetration in Latin America such as Chile (9.8%), Argentina (9.3 %) and Brazil (5.8%).

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peruvian Gonzalo Begazo appears among most influential Hispanic in the technology world in  the USA, according to a list made known by HITEC (Hispanic IT Executive Council).

Begazo, graduated in Administration and Accounting at University of Pacifico (Lima), was selected by HITEC in its exclusive list of 100 top technology executives of the United States. He is presently working in Mountain View (California) as a  North America and Consolidations Controller for Google.

The criteria for the selection of the most influential Hispanic was the evaluation of his competence in the industry, professional level, responsibility range, positions held at their companies, as well as participation in directories and several initiatives.

HITEC (Hispanic IT Executive Council) was founded in 2006 by a group of Hispanic senior executives who consider there aren't enough Hispanics with leadership roles in the information technologies sector.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

After giving three successful seminars, three digital marketing gurus will arrive from Brazil to teach Peruvians how to develop effective marketing strategies, during the 4th International Digital Marketing Seminar, to be held at Plaza del Bosque Hotel (Lima) on Thursday, November 12th.

The seminar, which is sponsored by Google and hosted by Tendenze Producciones, will present for the first time in Lima Juliana Constantino, Creative Director of Click, a leader interactive advertising agency, along with Patricia Sampaio (international Digital Marketing Consultant, who has worked with Google) and Alexandre Bessa, Yahoo Products Manager for Latin America.

The event is designed for all marketers, advertisers, media, creative writers, interactive agencies and opinion leaders.

For further information call Tendenze Producciones (628 1170, 628 1171, 628 1176, 819*3771, 819*9593, or email seminarios@ingresalmundodigital.com and recepción@tendenzeperu.com.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peruvians living abroad could vote online in the future, and would not need to do long and expensive trips, said todays specialists from Peru's National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE).

According to Jorge Lazo, ONPE's Manager of Electoral Systems and Informatics, if they finally set this system up, then the Peruvians abroad will be able to vote using their own computers at home, from their office, or from any Internet cafe.

"We believe that this would be the best solution to reduce absenteeism, which reached 36% and 38% during 2006 general elections," he said.

He remarked that the process will be fast, easy, transparent, and will enable Peruvians abroad to vote.

In order to start this system, ONPE would open a register for Peruvians abroad, so that they can have a unique PIN with a username and password, which would guarantee the secrecy of their vote.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Labor and Employment Promotion Ministry will launch tomorrow officially a web page to help people with disabilities, which will be accessed also by people with visual disabilities.

This site will offer information on jobs, legislation and other relevant data for the interested ones, said Vice Minister of Employment Promotion, Javier Barreda.

Barreda added that this web page will have a friendly design and will be improved constantly.

The Vice Minister recalled that according to the law, public entities should guarantee at least 3% of jobs to people with physical disabilities; but only a few carry out the norm.

He thinks that the private sector should also be sensible towards workers with physical disabilities.

Barreda said that the percentage of unemployment on people with disabilities is bigger than the one with people who has no disabilities.

Along with the web site, one thousand scholarships will be offered for these people inside the program "Revalora Perú".

Moreover, the program "Pro Joven" will offer 500 scholarships to young people with disabilities, aged 16 through 24.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Fans of Vivian Baella, the captain of the young national volleyball team, have posted a video in Youtube, to highlight the qualities of the young sportswoman: "SuperVivian."

Previously, some time before, Baella had spoken humbly about prizes and recognition: "Having a fan club is too much for somebody my age," she thinks. "I am not a heroine" recalls Vivian, but she says she likes the video.

Baella also appreciates the abilities shown by her fans; in the seven minute video, she is portrayed as Superivian, wearing a red-and-white uniform from the volleyball national team.

In the video, SuperVivian's mission is to save the city of Lima from the threat of a meteorite, and of course, she carries out her duty.

The illustrations in the video on Youtube are Mauricio Céspedez's, Bryan Ascaño wrote the dialogue, and Sheyla & Daniela Paz are responsible for the music.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peru will start next year to make new license plates incorporating top security technology and a built-in electronic chip in order to prevent falsification, informed the Transportation and Communications Minister, Enrique Cornejo.

This process will be conducted by the Automobile Association of Peru (AAP), said the Minister, making clear that the new license plates will cost the same as the ones currently in use.

“The paperwork required to obtain these new license plates will be easier, and they will be delivered in less time. Currently it takes 15 days, but with these new plates it might take only 48 hours for the vehicles in Lima,” he added

The change will take place in 2010, with new vehicles, according to Correo newspaper.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

A high percentage of Limenians do not yet know how to use the Internet, despite its being the most important technological tool of this century, according to a poll run  recently by the Instituto de Opinión Pública (Public Opinion Institute) at the Pontificial Catholic University.

The survey, conducted between September 3rd and 5th, reveals that 46% "do not know how to use internet,” while 22% declared they are "not interested," 19% "do not have time to use it," and 10% "do not need it for private life."

Regarding to their online activities, 93% of the polled said they "seek information," 79% "use email," 72% "chat," 63% "download software, music and videos," amongst other things, as quoted by Radioprogramas del Perú (RPP).

The survey also finds that 78% of those polled have an email account; likewise, 47% said they have an account in Hi5; 22% have a YouTube account, while 20% are in Facebook, 11% have a web page, 7% have a blog and 42% answered “None of the above.”

Finally, 94% agreed that "Internet boosts study and learning" and 92% agreed that "at the present times, the Internet is indispensable."

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peruvian President Alan Garcia smiled when asked if he had been infected with the AH1N1 flu virus, as thousands of spam emails claimed late Wednesday.

This happened because this strange email surprised many Peruvians; its headline said "RPP Noticias – Alan García has got the AH1N1 influenza."

As most phishing emails do, the message encouraged the unaware readers to click on a link in order to access alleged video about the "news;" but clicking on that link would only install malware in the user's computer.

To give credibility to their scam, the hackers used the RPP's (a respectable local news radio) logo.

RPP remarks that they do not deliver news by email, so if anyone receives any email allegedly from them, the best option is deleting it right away, to prevent further damage or even data theft.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peru's Private Investment Promotion Agency (ProInversión) has awarded the concession of public telecommunication services (on two Megahertz bands in Lima and Callao provinces) to Nextel Peru.

Nextel Peru is one of the 3 companies providing mobile network services in Peru, along with Telefonica Moviles and America Movil.

The 20-year concession was awarded for 4.7 million dollars, similar to the base price established by ProInversión, and they expect to attract US $ 50 million dollars in investments.

Peru’s Ministry of Transports and Communications (MTC) and the Supervisory Board for Private Investment in Telecommunications (Osiptel) will monitor and evaluate Nextel's projects for this concession, meant to provide public services of telecommunications in Lima and Callao.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.