Infrastructure Reference Group

ICT Group session

Connectivity and Digital Infrastructure

Monday, 24 April 2017

Trans-Sahara optical fibre backbone (TSB)– Niger &

Chad

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The project aims at diversifying the economies of Niger andChad and integrating them into digital communicationnetworks.

The specific objectives are to:

• Facilitate the access of the population, government servicesand businesses to quality, reliable and affordabletelecommunication /ICT services;

• Enhance the integration of populations in the interior ofboth countries into the digital economy;

• Improve training opportunities and access to ICT inhigher education.

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Objectives

The project builds upon:

• PIDA recommandations;

• the Economic and Social Development Plan (PDES) 2012-2015 (extended to 2016) of Niger under "Information andCommunication Technology" (ICT) sector

• the National Development Plan (PND) 2013-2015 of Chad

• The strategic documents of the EU and AfDB

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Background

Infrastructure component:

• Niger and Chad potentially occupy strategic positions forICT development in Central and West Africa, because oftheir geographic locations bordering four coastalcountries (Algeria, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon and Sudan)

=> laying out of cables linking Niger, Algeria, Nigeria andChad.

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Rationale (1/2)

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Promoting the emergence of a digital economy

• establishing pilot data centres to promote the developmentof communication systems in government servicesthrough joint data storage, processing and disseminationplatforms;

• establishing integrated electronic communication networksbetween the government services of both countries todevelop and operate their online services in order toimprove the quality of public services and ease theiraccess in regions as well as facilitate the implementation ofadministrative reforms (particularly decentralization).

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Rationale (2/2)

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1.000 km opticalfibre in Niger

510 km opticalfibre in Chad

Total : 1.510 km

Creation of a national data centres

Integrated Management System for the Electronic Identification of People (SIGIEP)

TSB-Niger TSB-Chad

Sensitisationon TIC for students, women, etc.

Creation of a national data centres

Implementationof an e-Governmentplatform

Sensitisation on TIC for students, women, etc.

Implementationof an e-Governmentplatform

Integrated Management System for the Electronic Identification of People (SIGIEP)

Financing plan

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Budget:

Total cost: EUR 80 M, out of which:

• AfDB loan: EUR 44,4 M (ie 55,5%)

• EU grant: EUR 29,9 M (ie 37,5%)

• Gvts of Niger and Chad: EUR 5,6 M (ie 7%)

Repartition:

• TSB Niger: EUR 47,2 (Niger + AfDB)

• TSB Chad: EUR 32,8 M (Chad + EU)

AfricaConnect 2

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The project aims at contributing to the reduction of povertyand the digital divide by harnessing the potential of ICTfor sustainable development in Africa.

The specific objective is to facilitate the creation, developmentand use of regional education and researchcommunication networks and high-capacity Internetconnectivity with a gateway to global researchcollaboration.

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Objectives

Higher education and research activities/outputs are key to thedevelopment of a country, but modern global researchenvironment requires:

• easy access to advanced ICT infrastructure and applications;

• easy access to the intellectual property generated around theworld;

• collaborative work with teams that are often transnational.

Digital connectivity divide isolate Africa-based researchers from theglobal research and education community. What is needed:

e-infrastructure (high-speed low cost connectivity and e-applications) to enable research collaboration and access tointellectual resources

human resources (engineering and related expertise)

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Problem analysis

• To process and exchange big amounts of data in a fast, secure, cost-effective and reliable way.

• To participate in international collaborations.

=> This is what National Research and Education Networks(NREN) offer:

• NRENs provide advanced congestion-free internet connectivityand services dedicated to support the work of universitiesand research institutes in a country;

• Vital to progress local and global education and research byproviding e-learning and e-science applications (eg.telemedicine);

• Over 100 NRENs worldwide, 33 in Africa.

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Why do researchers and students need tailor-made internet networks?

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NREN B

Universities

Research centres

Hospitals

Laboratories

NREN A

NREN C

Regional REN

Regional REN

How do NRENs connect students and researchers?

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Regional Research and Education Networks

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• 2011 – 2015 (total cost: EUR 14,75M incl. EU contribution

EUR 11,8M): AfricaConnect project brought to life the 1st

sustainable regional research and education network in

Sub-Saharan Africa, interconnecting 7 NRENs and

connecting the region to the rest of the world via the

European regional network.

• June 2015- December 2018 (total cost: EUR 26,6M incl. EU

contribution EUR 20M): AfricaConnect2 aims to build other

sustainable regional networks in Africa to create a pan-

African research and education network fully

connected to other world regions

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AfricaConnect 1 &2

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Network under

construction

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Source: NRENs

NRENs (countries)

Capacity growth

Cost drop (per Mb)

ZAMREN, (Zambia)2011 / 2015

X60 -94%

RENU (Uganda)2012 / 2015

X8 -77%

ARN (Algeria)2003 / 2015

X55 -97%

Before/after AfricaConnect

Connected countries share high economies of scale

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Connected Countries (NRENs)

Institutions(Higher Ed &

Research)

ASREN North Africa 154

Algeria (ARN) 124

Egypt (EUN) 30

Ubuntunet Alliance 513

Kenya (KENET) 180

South Africa (TENET) 86

Mozambique (MoRENet) 83

Uganda (RENU) 42

Zambia (ZAMREN) 75

Tanzania (TERNET) 27

Rwanda (RwEdNet) 20WACREN

Network under construction na

TOTAL 2016 667

Out of 33 existing African NRENs, 10 NRENs are connecting over 650 institutions to the global research and education network:

• helping to connect remote users• training, developing and retaining

local talents• allowing international researchers

and students to gain valuable input from their colleagues in Africa

All three regional networks are still being developed or consolidated

Connecting research and education communities

• Challenge: Agriculture a key driver ofSub-Saharan economy and at the heart ofthe food security challenge. One difficultyis identifying soils that are suitable foragriculture.

• Solution: Use the AfricaConnect networkto access, process and modelize satellitemaps to identify soil properties andclassify lands.

• Benefit: Provide input to sustainable landmanagement in Zambia.

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AfricaConnect 2 – Research example

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• 1st online-only university in Sub-Saharan Africa, created in 2011

• Enabled and supported by the NREN of Uganda (RENU)

• 4 diploma and master programmes in key subjects (Public Health,ICT for Development, International Development, and BusinessAdministration)

• Students from Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Burundi, and otherAfrican & European countries.

AfricaConnect 2 – Higher Education example

Access to Digital Dividend in Africa

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Project proposal on

a) affordable broadband is a vital building block to unlockthe ICT benefits;

b) low level of broadband penetration inhibiting thedeployment of internet based services, mainly due to lackof investments;

c) need for enabling environment (legally safe and non-discriminatory markets, balanced and predictable policyand regulatory environment) to fully leverage ICT uptaketo boost economic and social impacts;

d) African continent not duly reflected in the global internetgovernance debate

=> harmonisation at regional and Pan-African levels play acrucial role for laying the foundations across the continent fora truly integrated market for ICT services.

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Problem analysis

The project aims to foster universally accessible andaffordable broadband across the continent to unlockfuture benefits of internet based services

The specific objective is to create a more harmonized andenabling legal and regulatory framework for the use ofICT for social and economic development, with an emphasis onboosting the spectrum market across Africa.

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Objectives (1/2)

The project is based on three pillars:

a) efficient and harmonised spectrum utilisation, toorient private operators towards the best solutions for thesystem’s long-term cost-effectiveness, quality, andsustainability

b) Harmonisation of measurable policy, legal andregulatory frameworks to prepare an environmentsupportive of internet based services

c) strengthening the ability of African decision makers toactively participate in the global internet governancedebate.

=> will complement the infrastructure-focused efforts towardsincreased ICT use across the continent

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Objectives (2/2)

The Action builds upon:

• the "Harmonisation of ICT Policies in Sub Saharan Africa"programme (HIPSSA) (2008-2013) implemented by the ITU upona request from African RECs for assistance in harmonising ICTpolicies and legislations in Sub-Saharan Africa.

• "Euro-Mediterranean Regulators Group’"(EMERG) (2009-2013):inter-regional cooperation platform for EU and non-EU regulatorsto discuss best practice and exchange experiences on marketliberalisation and harmonised telecoms regulations.

• "African Internet Exchange System" with EU and Luxembourg tosupport the establishment of Internet exchange points (IXP) inAU countries, Regional Internet Hubs and Regional InternetCarriers; and to establish a real-time and historical traffic dataaccessible via web-based visualization system, and to develop acertificate curriculum on Internet Exchange technologies.

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Lessons learned

Infrastructure

• Several initiatives under the Infrastructure Trust Fund (ITF): AXIS(African Internet Exchange system) project, the satellite-enhancedtelemedicine and e-health for sub-Saharan Africa managed by theEuropean Space Agency, the East African Submarine Cable System(EASSy) operated by an African and European Consortium.

• AfricaConnect project to fund improved connectivity for research andhigher education

In the field of cybercrime

• Global Action on Cybercrime (GLACY) (IfS, 2013-2016) for theimplementation of the Budapest Convention

• Cybercrime@Octopus on data protection and rule of law safeguards

• New IcSP programme unde rformulatuion

Horizon 2020

Initiatives in a number of areas including eHealth, Big Data and internet ofthings.

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Complementarity with other EU initiatives

• AUC: Department of Infrastructure and Energy (DIE)has the mandate to develop and implement Pan-AfricanICT policy. Within the DIE, the coordination of theimplementation of the Pan-Africa ICT policy lies with theInformation Society Division (ISD);

• African RECs will be important stakeholders as theyare responsible for coordinating and validating regionalpolicy which is translated into national law. They willbenefit of the capacity building activities;

• African and European regulators shall benefit fromexchanges of best practices for technical and legalissues including on harmonisation.

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Stakeholders

Action under formulation :

• Tentative EU contribution: EUR 10M

• Adoption of the decision: Summer 2017

• Expected start of activities: 2018

• Implementing partners:

• Spectrum: International TelecommunicationsUnion (ITU)

• Regulatory frameworks/internet governance: AUC

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Next steps