PUNE: Pune-based International Institute of Information Technology (I2IT) will work with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to connect interior Africa with wireless Internet connection as a demonstration model.

Dr Vijay Bhatkar, chief mentor, I2IT, said the wireless network would be first established as a demonstration model in Kenya before extending it all over the African continent. The project is expected to be completed by the year 2006 and will use integrated Wi-Fi and Wi-Max systems to connect rural Africa with the existing urban communication networks.

Bhatkar was speaking at a ceremony held to mark the signing of the MoU between I2IT and Italy's International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) for conducting training workshops for professionals/ students from developing countries.

In the first phase, I2IT and ICTP will set up training workshops in China, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and other developing countries in the area of wireless technologies, networking and telecommunications.

The tie-up also entails exchange of faculty, staff and students between I2IT and ICTP. Besides, as a collaborative professional development program, exchange of publications, reports and other academic information will take place between I2IT and ICTP.

Prof Sandro Radicella of the International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Italy, said ITU was looking towards India for help since it possessed the required expertise.