e-readiness in AfricaICT infrastructures for e-Governance

-o-Joachim TANKOANO

Email : joachim.tankoano@delgi.gov.bf

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

Thank You.