[WSIS CS-Plenary] Prepcom Costs - Travel and net access....

[Robert Guerra]

Further to my earlier message regarding costs of attending the 
prepcom, i'd like to add the following items :

- Public Transit
- Mobile Phone use
- Internet Access

(see details below)

I hope this proves useful ...

regards

Robert

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Public Transit:

Transports Publics Genevois - http://www.unireso.com

Costs:

- 1 hr ticket - 3 CHF
- 24 hr pass - 10 CHF
- Weekly pass  - 35 CHF (which is most economical)

Mobile Phones:


GSM phones used in North America  can be used in Switzerland as 
roaming agreements are in place, however roaming rates  charge for 
receiving and placing calls. Costs are usually more than 2-3 $ /min! 
Over the course of a two week prepcom - that can add up to a lotŠ

To save costs, it is more economical to switch the SIM card in the 
mobile phone with one from a Swiss provider such as Swisscom. You 
need to make sure that your phone is not only dual or triband, but 
also unlocked (meaning you can place other sim cards in the phone).

Approx costs involved are as follows:

Sim Card (approx. 120 CHF per phone)
   Phone - use your own. make sure it's unlocked and dual or tri-band.
   SIM card & Airtime - approx. 120 CHF (Swisscom natel easy 80 
package is recommended)


Internet Access

It seems that the UN staff are more reluctant to set up wireless 
internet access (wifi) access in the Palais des Nations than was 
available in the past at the International Congress Center (where 
previous PrepComs took place). Apparently, the problem is that it 
would enable other meetings in the building to get wifi access - 
something that is contrary to security norms of UN buildings. 
However, a larger cyber cafe will be set up.

Only room XXII is equipped with wi-fi/WLAN. It is the room that will 
host the civil society plenary and a number of caucus meetings.


Swisscom has wireless (wifi) access points installed throughout the city.

The so called ³wireless² available at many hotels  are likely to be 
the Swisscom service

Costs  - one needs to use a PWLAN value card. How much do they cost you ask?

30 min access - 9 CHF
2h access - 19 CHF
24h access - 48 CHF
7 days access - 198 CHF

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Robert Guerra <rguerra at privaterra.org>
Privaterra - <http://www.privaterra.org>