Mexican Village Creates Its Own Mobile Phone Service

Dave_Minsky writes "The small indigenous village of Villa Talea de Castro (pop. 2,500) in the state of Oaxaca is showing the world that it doesn't have to rely on major cellular telecommunications providers for service. With the help from indigenous groups, civil organizations and universities, village residents put up an antenna on a rooftop, installed radio and computer equipment, and created its own micro provider called Red Celular de Talea. Service costs only 15 pesos ($1.2) per month and a few pennies per minute to make calls to the United States. However, there is one catch: calls are limited to a maximum of five minutes to prevent saturation of lines."

Comments

Max 5min on calls

[Qazimov]

Is it bad that I would pay extra to have this 5min rule on voice calls?

Re:Max 5min on calls

[AliasMarlowe]

A whole bunch of my extended family should move there... Maybe make the call limit 3 minutes or less.

Re:Other private Mexican mobile phone services

[gstoddart]

While I have no doubt that TFA describes a fine public service built by those of the highest integrity, I must confess that my first thought was quite the opposite, given recent history.

It is just as unfair to assume everyone in Mexico is involved in the drug cartels as it is to assume everyone in America is a spy for the NSA and supports what they do.

Re:Other private Mexican mobile phone services

[thaylin]

(I would move to Canada if it were warmer). .

Just give it a few years..