ICT Forum 21 th - 22 nd May 2002 Kairaba Beach Hotel The Gambia Internet Infrastructure Development Alh. Lamin Jagne Director, Internet Business Unit Gambia Telecommunications Company Ltd.

Alh. Lamin Jagne,Director, IBU Gamtel ICTY Forum – Kairaba Beach Hotel Slide 2 Background First country to benefit from the Internet Initiative for Africa – IIA Project. First country to benefit from the Internet Initiative for Africa – IIA Project. IIA (three year project) aims to provide Internet accessibility or enhance Internet facilities for 12 African countries. IIA (three year project) aims to provide Internet accessibility or enhance Internet facilities for 12 African countries. Gambia Government (Gamtel) & UNDP (Africa Bureau) each provide 50% of US$1M. Gambia Government (Gamtel) & UNDP (Africa Bureau) each provide 50% of US$1M. Facilities to be available to all sectors of society(public, private and civil society) and be private sector driven. Facilities to be available to all sectors of society(public, private and civil society) and be private sector driven.

Alh. Lamin Jagne,Director, IBU Gamtel ICTY Forum – Kairaba Beach Hotel Slide 3 Technical Facilities Fully fledged Internet gateway to include internal facilities countrywide Fully fledged Internet gateway to include internal facilities countrywide 512Kbps bandwidth 512Kbps bandwidth Landing point with first level ISP - Teleglobe(Canada) Landing point with first level ISP - Teleglobe(Canada) Points of Presence (PoPs) in Banjul and 11 towns (major growth centres) Points of Presence (PoPs) in Banjul and 11 towns (major growth centres) PoPs connected by 2Mbps links mainly by fibre optic cable. PoPs connected by 2Mbps links mainly by fibre optic cable.

Alh. Lamin Jagne,Director, IBU Gamtel ICTY Forum – Kairaba Beach Hotel Slide 4 Internet Backbone Intelsat Earth station Teleglobe Canada CISCO 4500-M CISCO 7505 CISCO 2514 CISCO 4500-M Kotu Bakau Banjul KerewanFarafenni Yundum Brikama BasseBansang Serekunda Soma Abuko CISCO 2514

Alh. Lamin Jagne,Director, IBU Gamtel ICTY Forum – Kairaba Beach Hotel Slide 5 Implementation April Gambian delegation, led by the Secretary of State, attended Abuja Internet Awareness Seminar. April Gambian delegation, led by the Secretary of State, attended Abuja Internet Awareness Seminar. May The Gambia became the first beneficiary of the UNDP Internet Initiative for Africa (IIA). May The Gambia became the first beneficiary of the UNDP Internet Initiative for Africa (IIA). July UNDP appraisal team sent to Banjul. July UNDP appraisal team sent to Banjul. 25 July MOU between The Government of The Gambia and UNDP signed. 25 July MOU between The Government of The Gambia and UNDP signed.

Alh. Lamin Jagne,Director, IBU Gamtel ICTY Forum – Kairaba Beach Hotel Slide 6 Implementation December, Bid proposals sent out by UNOPS (seven bidders from the US, UK, Africa). December, Bid proposals sent out by UNOPS (seven bidders from the US, UK, Africa). January 1998 – Contractor selected by UNOPS and the Government of The Gambia (Gamtel). January 1998 – Contractor selected by UNOPS and the Government of The Gambia (Gamtel). March 1998 – Installation and training commenced. March 1998 – Installation and training commenced. August 1998 – Acceptance tests completed and handing over. August 1998 – Acceptance tests completed and handing over. September 25th 1998 – Official inauguration of gateway by the Head of State. September 25th 1998 – Official inauguration of gateway by the Head of State.

Alh. Lamin Jagne,Director, IBU Gamtel ICTY Forum – Kairaba Beach Hotel Slide 7 Cost of Access Unlimited monthly access – US$11 ( at current rates ). Unlimited monthly access – US$11 ( at current rates ). –deliberate Government policy to encourage Private Sector participation. One-time installation charge – US$2.50 One-time installation charge – US$2.50 –no charge for basic customer premises services Telephone access charges - US$0.60 (60 ¢) per hour Telephone access charges - US$0.60 (60 ¢) per hour Government reduced tariffs on ICT equipment from 36% in 1998 to 0% presently (with effect from January 2001)

Alh. Lamin Jagne,Director, IBU Gamtel ICTY Forum – Kairaba Beach Hotel Slide 8 ` Three commercial ISPs Three commercial ISPs –QaNet – (Quantum Associates) – 128kbps –GamNet – Telecommunications Company –Womy - 128kbps Four major non-commercial ISPs(64kbps Four major non-commercial ISPs(64kbps –MRC, Maersk Line, America Embassy, Action Aid About 3000 Internet accounts About 3000 Internet accounts –1500 GamNet –1500 QaNet –Womy (just commenced operation)

Alh. Lamin Jagne,Director, IBU Gamtel ICTY Forum – Kairaba Beach Hotel Slide 9 Internet Cafés in operation by Gamtel Cafés in operation by Gamtel –Brikama –Senegambia –Kairaba –Churchillstown Cafés in development Cafés in development –Dippakunda, Kanifing, Bakoteh Housing Estate, Barra, Lamin, Janjanbureh, Bansang, Bwiam farafenni, Kaur, Kanikla (Sindola), Kerewan

Alh. Lamin Jagne,Director, IBU Gamtel ICTY Forum – Kairaba Beach Hotel Slide 10 Social Services Provided As per requirements of the MOU Educational Institutions Educational Institutions –Tertiary :GTTI, MDI, RDI, GTMI, Gambia College, University of The Gambia –60% of secondary schools – computers, dial-up access Encouraging access for rural primary schools Encouraging access for rural primary schools National Assembly – computer, dial-up access National Assembly – computer, dial-up access Major rural hospital – computer, dial-up access Major rural hospital – computer, dial-up access Women’s Bureau – dial-up access Women’s Bureau – dial-up access Training on Internet provided for all above

Alh. Lamin Jagne,Director, IBU Gamtel ICTY Forum – Kairaba Beach Hotel Slide 11 Further Developments Increase bandwidth to 1Mbps with Teleglobe Increase bandwidth to 1Mbps with Teleglobe Provided alternate access through Senegal at 2Mbps. Provided alternate access through Senegal at 2Mbps. Increase access modems by 100%. Increase access modems by 100%. Provide access and equipment to all secondary schools (junior and senior). Provide access and equipment to all secondary schools (junior and senior). Working with DFID to provide access to Primary Schools Working with DFID to provide access to Primary Schools Work with development partners and NGOs to provide access for rural communities. Work with development partners and NGOs to provide access for rural communities. Provide IP-VPN and ISDN services. Provide IP-VPN and ISDN services.

Alh. Lamin Jagne,Director, IBU Gamtel ICTY Forum – Kairaba Beach Hotel Slide 12 Telemedicine Pilot A pilot Telemedicine project is being financed by Gamtel (equipment on order). A pilot Telemedicine project is being financed by Gamtel (equipment on order). –IP to be used for transmission –Connectivity between two rural hospitals and the main referral hospital in Capital, Banjul –real time interactive facilities to be provided –a range of telemedicine equipment »video-conferencing workstations »patient cameras »document cameras »electronic stethoscope

Alh. Lamin Jagne,Director, IBU Gamtel ICTY Forum – Kairaba Beach Hotel Slide 13 Concluding Remarks Mr. Chairman, I would like to state that The Gambia has an opportunity not only to make a major route into ICT, but also to take our rightful place in the global community. Due to the ardent desire for Gambians to attain full connectivity through new technologies, the Government’s participation in this process cannot be over-emphasised. I hope this forum will serve as a beginning to the process of developing a framework for the use of ICT that will help make The Gambia a better place.