network connectivity in africa status and current trends developing countries access to scientific...
TRANSCRIPT
Network Connectivity in Africa
Status and Current Trends
Developing Countries Access to Scientific
Knowledge Quantifying the Digital Divide
----------------------------------------------------- Trieste, Italy, 23-24 October 2003.
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 200
- 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 8 000 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
http://www.idrc.ca/acacia
GSM Coverage 2002
Internet Points of Presence In Africa
ICT Trends in Africa
>10Mbps International B/W
EGYPT
SOUTH AFRICA
MOROCCO
ALGERIA
TUNISIA
SENEGAL
KENYA
GABON
NIGERIA
BOTSWANA
TANZANIA
ZIMBABWE
SUDAN
Remaining 40 nations
Countries with more than 30K Internet Users
SOUTH AFRICA
EGYPT
MOROCCO
ALGERIA
TUNISIA
NIGERIA
REUNION
KENYA
MAURITIUS
TANZANIA
Remaining 44 nations
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 www.sown.org.uk
- Narrowband HF/UHF
- Digital powerline - www.powerlineworld.com
- Low-cost equipment
- Recycled PCs
- Thin clients
- Handhelds/PDAs
- Open Source Software
VSAT/ SatelliteC-band for providersLow-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 (4.8-56kbps) – e.g MwebNigeria, WorldSpace
- GSM/SMS/WAP <-> Email/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
