Africa ’ s new voice Exposing old myths, Establishing new targets Yoshio UTSUMI, Secretary-General, Forum Opening 12 November 2001

International Telecommunication Union 2 Agenda Africa ’ s new voice  Rise of mobile communications  Emergence of new companies Exposing old myths  The “ no market ” myth  The “ no money ” myth Establishing new targets  Celebrating Africa ’ s achievements  New definitions of universal service  New concepts of the information society

International Telecommunication Union 3 Africa ’ s new voice network Subscribers, in millions Fixed Mobile ActualForecast Source: ITU, African Telecommunication Indicators, 2001.

International Telecommunication Union 4 Africa ’ s new voices

International Telecommunication Union 5 Exposing the “ no market ” myth 33% 7% 49% 11% 44% 56% % 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Competition No competition # of mobile operators No mobile network Source: ITU, African Telecommunication Indicators, 2001.

International Telecommunication Union 6 Exposing the “ no money ” myth Pre-paid as % of mobile subscribers 8% 29% 43% 63% 79% 81% 85% 100% USA Asia-Pacific World Europe Vodacom Africa ClickGSM Safaricom Egypt South Africa Kenya Source: ITU, African Telecommunication Indicators, 2001.

International Telecommunication Union 7 Africa ’ s recent ICT achievements Feb 2000: Sub-Saharan Africa passed teledensity mark of one line per 100 inhabs. November 2000: Eritrea becomes the final African economy connected to the Internet May 2001: 100 th Mobile company licensed September 2001: More mobile subscribers than fixed-line, Africa-wide December 2001: Two-thirds of African states have independent telecom regulatory agencies Note: Dates are only approximate.

International Telecommunication Union 8 Establishing new targets New definitions of universal access Old definitions >>>>>> Universal access: >>>  A telephone within walking distance  Telecentres in every community Universal service: >>>>  A telephone in every home  A computer in every school Affordability: >>>>>>>>  Subsidised access (high usage charges subsidise low line rental) New definitions Universal access:  Mobile coverage of all main population centres  Internet cafés in every community Universal service:  A mobilephone for everyone who wants one  An address for every citizen Affordability:  Pre-paid access (pre-paid usage charges include line rental)

International Telecommunication Union 9 African priorities “The telecommunications market has changed, perhaps forever. A new model is emerging for African telecommunications. It is wireless and pre-paid, competitive and shared. “ ITU African Telecommunication indicators, 2001.

International Telecommunication Union 10 Creating the African Information Society Moving beyond the digital divide Celebrating African content Converging carriage and content Joining Africa to the global information network Participating in the World Summit on the Information Society, Geneva 2003 and Tunis 2005