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Policy Strategies for Improved Access to ICTs in Africa –
Current Developments and Future Challenges
Mike Jensen, International Development Research Centre (IDRC), South Africa
African Preparatory Meeting for The Internet Governance Forum: Africa: On the Road to Athens
Theme II: ACCESS18th – 21st September 2006
Mövenpick Cairo Media City, EgyptOrganized by
The National Telecom Regulatory Authority, Egypt
Lack of Telecom Infrastructure: Still the Major Barrier
- In 2005 there were about 26 million fixed lines for the 900 million people in Africa
- In Sub Sahara outside South Africa, there were only about 4.5 million lines - 1 in 150
- In many countries more than 90% of these lines are in the capital city and secondary towns, while 70-80% of the people live outside these areas:
E.g. Malawi has 8 000 fixed lines for the 10 million people living outside the 4 major towns: 1 line for every 1250
Sources: ESRI, GSM Association/Coversoft , ITU, Mike Jensen
Teledensity in Africa
http://www.idrc.ca/acacia
GSM Coverage
Cost of calls are high, and data speeds low
Current Backbones and
Demand Centres in Africa
The Access challenge• Bandwidth costs 100s of times more than EU/NA
– Carnegie Melon found that cross-Atlantic transit prices dropped $20/Mbps/month in mid 2005. African international prices are at least $2000/Mbps/month ==>
• Bandwidth is extremely limited and insufficient to meet demand - Internet links are usually congested/running at maximum capacity
• Decision-makers are inundated with demands for more bandwidth
• Under-utilisation of national ICT and economic resources - expensive investments are wasted
• Only 20-24 million Internet users (2.5% penetration)
Bandwidth Trends
Many systemic factors:- Economics- Electricity-Transport
-Taxes- Education
Restrictive Regulatory Environment - The Key Barrier
Lack of telecom competition creates high costs and low investment in infrastructure: ● State owned monopolies still v common● Some foreign investment in monopolies in return for continued exclusivity● Limited introduction of competition - 1 or 2 new fixed line players in a few countries● The limited number of GSM operators (2-3 in
each country) making big profits while fixed line operators increasingly redundant & other new technologies prohibited (VOIP, VSAT, WiFi etc)
Other Issues
- No benefit in Africa from Dot-Com bubble burst
- So far little use of alternative infrastructure, e.g rail/electricity/gas lines
- Operators do not want to provide to dark fibre
- Few national peering points, no regional IXs
- E-Rate (discount for education) only present in a few countries, e.g Senegal, South Africa
NEPAD’s ICT STRATEGY FOR AFRICA:
Ensure affordable access to international communications by assisting African countries to connect to one another by broadband fibre-optic cable systems that in turn link them to the rest of the world through existing or planned submarine cable systems. The strategy should promote: – Collaboration amongst African countries – African ownership and leadership – Regional and continental integration – UN Millennium Development Goals and other
targets for the upliftment of African Society – Building competitiveness of African economies
NEPAD MODALITIES- Submarine cable systems must form integral part of regional networks- All land-locked countries to have an alternative connection to a submarine cable system- All in place and operational by 2010
Principles:- Equality of ownership and participation by
countries of the region- Cooperation in technology transfer and skills
development among countries - New international infrastructure to be built according to Open Access policies
Open Access Networks: Key Features
- Any registered service provider is free to deliver services over the Open Access Network- The OAN operator does not compete with its customers (service providers) by offering services directly to end users ==> Separation of wholesale from retail- All service providers are offered services on fair and non-discriminatory terms and conditions- Consumers are free to choose any service provider Also: Capacity pricing is independent of distance and amount of capacity purchased
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FIBRE NETWORKS & PLANS
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Addressing the Last Mile Challenges
•User Financed Infrastructure
• Low cost Internet appliances – Thin clients, Mobile Phones & Handhelds
•Wireless - Local loop / WiFi/WiMax => Mesh networks
•New low cost VSAT systems
•Data Broadcasting, e.g WorldSpace, DSTV
•Using electric power grid infrastructure for voice and data
•VOIP
Alternate Power Sources- Promote knowledge of Solar, Wind, Biogas
alternatives
- Need for financing, plus IPP policies
- Incentives, carbon credits?
- Elimination of Import duties
- Reduced power consumption
Increasing Demand
• Public access facilities – Telecentres, Cybercafes => Universal Service Objectives
• Build more relevant content – Electronic Funds Transfer, Agricultural/market info, e-govt
• Voucher systems• Access to credit for purchasing ICT equipment• Capacity building
• To use and manage comms & information facilities
• To use be aware of and to use new technologies – VOIP, WiFi, VSAT etc..
❐ Exploit potential of offshoring/ outsourcing from the North (esp via diaspora & African-Americans)
Human Resource Development
• Capacity building for Policy Makers and National Regulators
• Creation of Regional Centres of Excellence
• National Internet Training Centres – e.g. CITI
• Standards for User Training in Computer Applications - Computer Drivers License – ICDL
• Improved ICT Training programmes at schools, universities, research networks, workplace and informal environment
- Accelerated liberalisation and expanded universal service goals
- Support for Public Participation in Policy Development ==>
- Integrated National Information & Communications Infrastructure (NICI) planning
- State support for Telecentres & Multipurpose Community Access, and Community Radio Stations
- Universal Smart Cards & E-Commerce policies- Government Content and Applications
Development- Access to credit for purchase of ICTs- Adopt a phased approach which priorises
activities – infrastructure, connectivity of key decision makers in government
National Strategies
Key Barriers To Be Addressed
•Lift restrictions on numbers of licenses for telecom operators, ISPs and broadcasters
•Drop high license fees and speed processes for licensing
•Allow data-only private wireless and VSAT
•Eliminate import duties on ICT equipment
•Reduce the high cost of international Internet transit in Africa
Other Priority Actions
• Ensure more resources given to transport and power supply networks, alternative energy sources, and smoothing cross-border links
• Promote other demand building strategies: voucher systems, access to credit for SME ICT businesses
• Use an agreed set of progress benchmarks• Stay technology neutral – let market decide• Encourage infrastructure sharing (eg. Masts, rights
of way, pylons, gas pipelines etc)• Encourage (in interim) price capping for monopoly
supplied bandwidth• Do not use developed country models
