E-Readiness in Africa:ICT Infrastructures for...
Transcript of E-Readiness in Africa:ICT Infrastructures for...
e-readiness in AfricaICT infrastructures for e-Governance
-o-Joachim TANKOANO
Email : [email protected]
Agenda
Recall of obstacles for e-governmentInventory of the infrastructuresObstacles for their development Perspectives
Recall of obstacles for the e-government
Generalisation of the use of NTIC is perceived today as the most promissing alternative for the stimulation of government and thetransformation of the African society. The concretisation ofopportunities offered by the NTIC necessitates however, a prerequisiteto lift obstacles linked to :
an insufficiency of the sensitivity by the actors involveda low level of adaptation to these technologies by individuals,
administration and businessesresistance to changeexisting infrastructures
Inventory of infrastructures1. Inadequacy of existing infrastructures
In most countries, the networks used, and in particular for data transport, happen to be telephone networks, mainly digitised but badly adapted for high rate :
99.9100.0Oceania
91.499.9World
83.799.9Europe
96.8100.0Asia
92.999.8Americas94.396.7Africa
% digital LP in 2000% automatic LP in 2000
Inventory of infrastructures1. Inadequacy of existing infrastructures
At present, use of alternative technologies (xDSL, local radio loops, optic fibre) susceptible to allow the setting up of high rate is still verylow
The same applies for technologies (RNIS, Voice on IP, unified messaging, VPN) susceptible to allow the development of multi-service networks at reduced access costs
In addition, the non-evolution in most countries towards digital radio and television limitates possible use of these media and runs the risk to make up in time a brake to the development of audio-visual.
Inventory of infrastructures2. Inadequacy of existing infrastructures
In addition to having unsuited infrastructures, Africa is the continent where these infrastructures are also developped in the lowest manner
39.9154.884.97Oceania8.4227.032.77World
17.9452.184.39Europe3.3120.319.83Asia26.5748.061.54Americas1.067.35.56Africa
Computers / 100 hts in 2001
Televisions / 100 hts in 2000
Tel subscribers / 100 hts in 2001 (fixed + cellular)
Inventory of infrastructures3. About access costs not very affordable
Although Africa is the continent where more than half the population still survives on less than $ 1 per day, access costs to infrastructure are amongst the highest :
76.41.400.13Oceania40.90.620.07World
14.10.590.10Europe36.00.470.04Asia26.30.780.07Americas52.30.560.08Africa
ISP Taxes 30h/month in 2001
Mobile 3 mn in 2000
Fixed Tel. local 3 mn in 2000
Obstacles for the development of infrastructuresThe political instability factor, inadequate management and natural
disasters through repetitive coups d’Etat, wars, drought, illnesses, corruption etc. lead towards a tendancy to other priorities or preoccupations
Absence of a global vision for setting up good governance in the NTIC sector
Human factor through a lack of sensitisation of low appropriation level oftechnologies
Regulation factor through low organisation level of the sector that does notfavour through culture competitiveness of excellence and does not lean towards attracting investors
The environment factor through climatic constraints and the very low penetration of electricity, especially in rural areas
Obstacles for the development of infrastructuresThe economic factor through (1) low density in rural areas and low income of the
population in these areas, (2) low development level of activities in the formal sector, (3) access cost to terminal equipment compared with the average income of the households, (4) high level of taxes, (5) difficulty in access to credit
38.3836.7745.9717.8Oceania10.359.2025.257.7World
10.94.8
13.6
12.0
% hts biggesttowns in 2000
31.9830.1948.24Europe7.846.9425.97Asia
13.6511.3921.72Americas
1.991.396.42Africa
National Teledensity in 2000
Teledensity in the rest of thecountry in 2000
Teledensitybiggest town in 2000
Perspectives for the development ofinfrastructures
Comparatively with other continents, Africa is visibly late in setting up a modern infrestructure adapted to the requirements of e-governance.
However, perspectives to install good governance in the NTIC sector and fill up, in a relatively short time, this lateness exist and are highly promising
Perspectives for the development ofinfrastructures
1. An increasingly more adapted regulationMost of the countries are specifically engaged in reform process of the
telecommunication sector with very encouraging results when it concernsdevelopment of cellular telephone system and the Internet
2 618.324 083.923 104.740 257.1
652.0
(k) cellular tel. in 1995
8 505.313 823.0Oceania144 413.1350 172.4Europe156 508.5333 437.8Asia182 514.1220 103.3Americas
6 867.723 830.2Africa
(k) Internet Usersin 2001
(k) cellular tel. in 2001
cellulaires Perspectives for the development ofinfrastructures
2. An increasingly clearer vision
The formulation of NICI plans allows increasingly to place theinfrastructure development in a vision and a clear and realistic strategy taking into consideration the requirements of different sectors of activity
Importance of a regional coopération to allow the continent to have consistent and performing communication infrastructures is beginningto be well perceived and constitutes one of the major axis of NEPAD
In such context, global consensus on the importance of NTIC for development will, without any doubt, easily make the mobilisation of financial resources which are required.
Perspectives for the development ofinfrastructures
3. A technology offer increasingly more accessible
Deployment cost of infrastructures constantly decreases and technologies used (Satellites, optic fibres, local radio loops, WiFi, VPN, VoIP, digital radio and television) allow to offer more diversified services at a lower cost
An increasingly more important utilisation of free software allows, moreover to reduce the cost of computers and to reinforce thedevelopment of local expertise
Finally, important regional projects or on the scale of the planetsusceptible to bring rapid changes in the development of infrastructure on the continent have been initiated (Africa One, SAT 3, RASCOM, INTELCOM II, World Space, etc.)
Perspectives for the development ofinfrastructures
4. Emergence of economically viable models
Economically viable models in the African context that could favour the generalisation of the utilisation of NTIC in all tiers of the society begin to emerge :
the Internet model for the development of networks, shared public access points serving the convergency of
technologies (telecentres, cybercafes, stands in working places, community radios, multi-purpose community telecentres, etc)
establishment of IP administrative networks, voices and data atnational level,
specific funds for a universal service