Network Connectivity in Africa Status and Current Trends Developing Countries Access to Scientific Knowledge Quantifying the Digital Divide Trieste, Italy, October Mike Jensen

Lack of fixed Lines - the Major Internet Barrier - In 2002 there were about 22 million lines for the 800 million people in Africa. - In Sub Sahara outside South Africa, there were only about 4 million lines - 1 in High levels of unmet demand in rural areas - 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 fixed lines for the 10 million people living outside the 4 major towns: 1 line for every 1250  Universal Service/Rural access programmes, e.g in SA, Nigeria, Uganda, Malawi.

Sources: ESRI, GSM Association/Coversoft, ITU, Mike Jensen Teledensity in Africa

GSM Coverage 2002

Internet Points of Presence In Africa

ICT Trends in Africa

Internet access costs are high - Telecoms costs up to half of an ISPs operating costs - International leased line tariffs can be up to 10 times higher than rates available from alternative satellite providers, broadband connections up to 100 times North American/European tariffs - High tariffs for leased lines discourage ISPs from establishing multiple links - restricted national peering and few regional links between neighbouring countries, only from Senegal to Gambia, Mali, Cameroun, & links from South Africa to 3 neighbours - Local call tariffs average $2.5/hr, in 10 countries charges are more than $4/hr and some are $6/hr - Trend in Africa is local call charges are increasing, although Seychelles has adopted a 70% discount for IP calls

Infrastructure & Technologies - Wireless Data - WiFi/broadband – point to point, Hotspots => User-financed Infrastructure & Mesh Networks e.g - Narrowband HF/UHF - Digital powerline Low-cost equipment - Recycled PCs - Thin clients - Handhelds/PDAs - Open Source Software

VSAT/ Satellite C-band for providers Low-cost Ku-band for end users Geolink Telkom SA Transtel Africa Telecom Sentech IwayAfrica IP Direct Web-Sat

African Satellite Footprints

Telecom Fibre Outlook

Mixed technologies - Broadcast Data – Satellite, Radio, TV carrier signals - Satellite download (64-400kbps) with PSTN telephone or narrowband wireless upload ( kbps) – e.g MwebNigeria, WorldSpace - GSM/SMS/WAP /Web - Mobile / roving models – access on a cyber bus, 4WD wireless drop-off/pickup - Epost Snail mail - Digital powerline (PLC technologies) => All options need effective bandwidth management strategies – spam / virus cops, proxy/cache, firewalls and b/w monitoring  Regulatory restrictions limit use of independent connectivity

Alternate Power Sources  Photovoltaic/Solar cells

Solar / photovoltaic details  $6000 setup will power 10 PCs or 20 Laptops, plus neon lights  Expected 12 Year Life  Even on-grid can make sense – 3-4yr payback period  Independent Power Producer policy assists sustainability - excess power sold to grid  Limited number of PV cell manufacturers - BP/Shell -> solar cell costs could be lower - cells cost $0.70/watt, sell for $3/watt.  Import duties in many countries, recently exempt in SACU

Other Off-grid Power Options - Diesel/petrol generators - - PDA/GSM solar rechargers - Village biomass generators - Windmills - Human energy – bicycle powered WiFi & laptops, wind-up radio/laptop/cellphone charger - Thailand - Small scale hydro – pioneered in Vietnam - Fuel Cells

Institutional Strategies - Promote liberalisation & competition in telecoms, especially equal access to International optic fibre and open market in International Internet gateways - Encourage peering & Internet Exchange Points – National and regional – SA, KE, MZ, NG, TZ, EG, DRC - Push for elimination of regulatory restrictions that limit use of independent connectivity - Use effective bandwidth management strategies – spam / virus cops, proxy/cache, firewalls, broadcast data and bandwidth monitoring

Internet Access Centre, Mbeya, Tanzania

‘Fixed mobile’ public call kiosks, Yaounde

Govt sponsored Centre Publinet, Bizerte, Tunisia

Key International Initiatives – Connectivity Africa & IDRC Acacia – CATIA – UK DfID – IFC/World Bank ICT investment programme, small ICT fund – DotForce – Enablis ICT fund – Microsoft – Schools, Telecentres – Open Society Institute (OSI) /Soros Foundation – IICD – Netherlands/ Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, Mali – Italian E-govt programme – Nigeria, Mozam, Tunisia – UNIDO /GEF rural ICTs & renewable energy in Zambia & Malawi – NEPAD

Thank You Questions?