IP Symposium 7 th - 9 nd July 2003 Rwanda, Kigali The Gambia Internet Infrastructure Development Ebrima Bandeh Senior Manager, Internet Business Unit Gambia Telecommunications Company Ltd.

Ebrima Bandeh, Snr. Manager IBU Gamtel 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.

Ebrima Bandeh, Snr. Manager IBU Gamtel Slide 3 Technical Facilities Fully fledged Internet Back bone of 12 PoP sites located in Major towns of the country. Fully fledged Internet Back bone of 12 PoP sites located in Major towns of the country. PoPs connected by 2Mbps links mainly by fibre optic cable. PoPs connected by 2Mbps links mainly 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 /19 IPv4 addresses by RIPE Local Internet Registry (LIR) assigned /19 IPv4 addresses by RIPE

Ebrima Bandeh, Snr. Manager IBU Gamtel 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

Ebrima Bandeh, Snr. Manager IBU Gamtel Slide 5 Services Internet access is through dedicated lease lines of 64k, 128k and 256k. Internet access is through dedicated lease lines of 64k, 128k and 256k. Normal dial access of up to 56k and ISDN dial up of 64k & 128k is provided. Normal dial access of up to 56k and ISDN dial up of 64k & 128k is provided. Four ISPs; QuantumNet, Gamtel, Airtip and NetPage are registered and provide all the Internet services required by the customers. Four ISPs; QuantumNet, Gamtel, Airtip and NetPage are registered and provide all the Internet services required by the customers.

Ebrima Bandeh, Snr. Manager IBU Gamtel Slide 6 Services..Cont. Three major Banks; Standard Chartered, Trust Bank and Arab Gambian Islamic Bank provide Web/Internet based Banking. Three major Banks; Standard Chartered, Trust Bank and Arab Gambian Islamic Bank provide Web/Internet based Banking. Internet Cafes are operated by ISPs and other businesses in most parts of the Greater Banjul Area. Internet Cafes are operated by ISPs and other businesses in most parts of the Greater Banjul Area.

Ebrima Bandeh, Snr. Manager IBU Gamtel Slide 7 Cost of Access Direct lease line access: - Direct lease line access: - 256K = US$ per month 128K =US$ per month 64K = per month 64K = per month Dial up access:- Dial up access:- ISDN = US$10.34 per month (unlimited) Normal = US$6.90 per month (unlimited) Telephone access charges - US$0.34 per hour Telephone access charges - US$0.34 per hour Government reduced tariffs on ICT equipment from 36% in 1998 to 0% presently (with effect from January 2001)

Ebrima Bandeh, Snr. Manager IBU Gamtel Slide 8 Policy The National Communication and Information Policy (NACIP) has been formulated with the following objectives:- To create a window of opportunity for private sector participation in the provision of communication and Information services. To create a window of opportunity for private sector participation in the provision of communication and Information services. To Create a wider choice in provision of these services. To Create a wider choice in provision of these services. To facilitate the development of the national information infrastructure and its connectivity global information infrastructure. To facilitate the development of the national information infrastructure and its connectivity global information infrastructure. To set up an independent regulatory body To set up an independent regulatory body

Ebrima Bandeh, Snr. Manager IBU Gamtel Slide 9 Constrains Cost of PCs. Cost of PCs. Saturated telephone network Saturated telephone network Unstable electricity Unstable electricity

Ebrima Bandeh, Snr. Manager IBU Gamtel Slide 10 Future Development Expansion of telephone network to lines within 5 years lines to be completed in the first phase. Expansion of telephone network to lines within 5 years lines to be completed in the first phase. IP network of 34M by December IP network of 34M by December ADSL access. ADSL access. E-Government strategy E-Government strategy

Ebrima Bandeh, Snr. Manager IBU Gamtel Slide 11 Future Dev…cont A pilot Telemedicine project is being envisaged. A pilot Telemedicine project is being envisaged. –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

Ebrima Bandeh, Snr. Manager IBU Gamtel Slide 12 Thank you for listening any questions