IP SymposiumIP Symposium77thth - 9 - 9ndnd July 2003 July 2003

Rwanda, Kigali Rwanda, Kigali

The Gambia Internet Infrastructure DevelopmentThe Gambia Internet Infrastructure Development

Ebrima Bandeh

Senior Manager, Internet Business UnitGambia Telecommunications Company Ltd.

Slide 2 Ebrima Bandeh, Snr. Manager IBU Gamtel

BackgroundBackground First country to benefit from the Internet First country to benefit from the Internet

Initiative for Africa – IIA Project.Initiative for Africa – IIA Project. IIA (three year project) aims to provide IIA (three year project) aims to provide

Internet accessibility or enhance Internet Internet accessibility or enhance Internet facilities for 12 African countries.facilities for 12 African countries.

Gambia Government (Gamtel) & UNDP Gambia Government (Gamtel) & UNDP (Africa Bureau) each provide 50% of US$1M.(Africa Bureau) each provide 50% of US$1M.

Facilities to be available to all sectors of Facilities to be available to all sectors of society(public, private and civil society) and be society(public, private and civil society) and be private sector driven.private sector driven.

Slide 3 Ebrima Bandeh, Snr. Manager IBU Gamtel

Technical FacilitiesTechnical Facilities Fully fledged Internet Back bone of 12 Fully fledged Internet Back bone of 12

PoP sites located in Major towns of the PoP sites located in Major towns of the country.country.

PoPs connected by 2Mbps links mainly PoPs connected by 2Mbps links mainly by fibre optic cable.by fibre optic cable.

Gateway of 7 Mbps ( cumulative)Gateway of 7 Mbps ( cumulative) Multi-Homed (Teleglobe & Sonatel).Multi-Homed (Teleglobe & Sonatel). Local Internet Registry (LIR) assigned Local Internet Registry (LIR) assigned

/19 IPv4 addresses by RIPE/19 IPv4 addresses by RIPE

Slide 4 Ebrima Bandeh, Snr. Manager IBU Gamtel

Internet BackboneInternet BackboneIntelsat

Earth stationTeleglobe CanadaCISCO 4500-M

CISCO 7505

CISCO 2514CISCO 4500-M

Kotu

Bakau

Banjul

KerewanFarafenniYundum

Brikama

Basse Bansang

Serekunda

Soma

Abuko

CISCO 2514

CISCO 2514CISCO 2514

CISCO 2514

CISCO 2514

CISCO 2514

CISCO 2514

CISCO 2514

Slide 5 Ebrima Bandeh, Snr. Manager IBU Gamtel

ServicesServices

Internet access is through dedicated lease Internet access is through dedicated lease lines of 64k, 128k and 256k.lines of 64k, 128k and 256k.

Normal dial access of up to 56k and ISDN Normal dial access of up to 56k and ISDN dial up of 64k & 128k is provided.dial up of 64k & 128k is provided.

Four ISPs; QuantumNet, Gamtel, Airtip and Four ISPs; QuantumNet, Gamtel, Airtip and NetPage are registered and provide all the NetPage are registered and provide all the Internet services required by the customers.Internet services required by the customers.

Slide 6 Ebrima Bandeh, Snr. Manager IBU Gamtel

Services..Cont.Services..Cont. Three major Banks; Standard Chartered, Three major Banks; Standard Chartered,

Trust Bank and Arab Gambian Islamic Bank Trust Bank and Arab Gambian Islamic Bank provide Web/Internet based Banking. provide Web/Internet based Banking.

Internet Cafes are operated by ISPs and Internet Cafes are operated by ISPs and other businesses in most parts of the Greater other businesses in most parts of the Greater Banjul Area. Banjul Area.

Slide 7 Ebrima Bandeh, Snr. Manager IBU Gamtel

Cost of AccessCost of Access Direct lease line access: -Direct lease line access: -

256K = US$1724.00 per month256K = US$1724.00 per month128K =US$1034.00 per month128K =US$1034.00 per month 64K =483.00 per month64K =483.00 per month

Dial up access:-Dial up access:-

ISDN = US$10.34 per month (unlimited)ISDN = US$10.34 per month (unlimited)Normal = US$6.90 per month (unlimited)Normal = US$6.90 per month (unlimited)

Telephone access charges - US$0.34 per hourTelephone access charges - US$0.34 per hour

Government reduced tariffs on ICT equipment from 36% in Government reduced tariffs on ICT equipment from 36% in 1998 to 0% presently (with effect from January 2001)1998 to 0% presently (with effect from January 2001)

Slide 8 Ebrima Bandeh, Snr. Manager IBU Gamtel

PolicyPolicyThe National Communication and Information The National Communication and Information

Policy (NACIP) has been formulated with the Policy (NACIP) has been formulated with the following objectives:-following objectives:-

To create a window of opportunity for private To create a window of opportunity for private sector participation in the provision of sector participation in the provision of communication and Information services.communication and Information services.

To Create a wider choice in provision of these To Create a wider choice in provision of these services.services.

To facilitate the development of the national To facilitate the development of the national information infrastructure and its connectivity information infrastructure and its connectivity global information infrastructure.global information infrastructure.

To set up an independent regulatory body To set up an independent regulatory body

Slide 9 Ebrima Bandeh, Snr. Manager IBU Gamtel

ConstrainsConstrains Cost of PCs.Cost of PCs.

Saturated telephone networkSaturated telephone network

Unstable electricityUnstable electricity

Slide 10

Ebrima Bandeh, Snr. Manager IBU Gamtel

Future DevelopmentFuture Development Expansion of telephone network to 230000 Expansion of telephone network to 230000

lines within 5 years. 190000 lines to be lines within 5 years. 190000 lines to be completed in the first phase.completed in the first phase.

IP network of 34M by December 2003.IP network of 34M by December 2003. ADSL access.ADSL access. E-Government strategyE-Government strategy

Slide 11

Ebrima Bandeh, Snr. Manager IBU Gamtel

Future Dev…contFuture Dev…cont A pilot Telemedicine project is being A pilot Telemedicine project is being

envisaged.envisaged.

– IP to be used for transmissionIP to be used for transmission– Connectivity between two rural hospitals and the Connectivity between two rural hospitals and the

main referral hospital in Capital, Banjulmain referral hospital in Capital, Banjul– real time interactive facilities to be providedreal time interactive facilities to be provided– a range of telemedicine equipmenta range of telemedicine equipment

» video-conferencing workstationsvideo-conferencing workstations» patient cameraspatient cameras» document cameras document cameras » electronic stethoscopeelectronic stethoscope

Slide 12

Ebrima Bandeh, Snr. Manager IBU Gamtel

Thank you for Thank you for listening any listening any questionsquestions