In Paraguay, the LMI program involved providing Internet access to 100 organizations throughout the country as a stepping stone towards broadband penetration by the private sector. Paraguay's legal and regulatory framework privileged the state-owned incumbent telco in certain telecommunications services, making it almost impossible the private sector to provide broadband Internet at affordable prices in rural Paraguay. LMI held a competition among schools, NGOs, health centers and other non-profits to determine who would maximize their Internet access to impact their community. One hundred organizations were given an Internet connection for two years, and a support system was put in place to train the organizations in how to best leverage their connection and how to take over the payment after the subsidy period was over. The organizations built a lively support network among themselves that remains active, sharing opportunities, tips and stories about how the Internet is impacting their communities. By engaging the community, the Last Mile Initiative in Paraguay ensured that the Internet access remains relevant, useful and productive among its users, developing a market and having positive impact through ICTs years before the private sector would target these disanfranchised populations.
