A pilot takes off: Examining sustainability and scalability in the context of a Sri Lankan public-private partnership telecenter project

Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are being looked to as a promising method for bringing the benefits of information and communications technology (ICT) to the developing world, particularly in the case of shared access (telecenter) models, but questions remain as to how best to pursue sustainability and scalability with such initiatives. This paper provides a "snapshot" of an innovative, franchise-model partnership, captured at a unique point in time: the transition period from completion of pilot stage to project scaling stage. The paper thus identifies both challenges and success factors arising at this pivotal point, often not addressed in the literature on such projects. Going beyond what makes a successful pilot to the question of what is important for scaling, this case provides insight on the critical topics of sustainability and scalability. The project also promotes the development of small and medium sized enterprises, which has been identified as crucial for sustainable development in emerging economies.