NEPAD ICT Broadband Infrastructure Programme: Interconnection via Umojanet

Transcription

1 NEPAD ICT Broadband Infrastructure Programme: Interconnection via Umojanet Presentation to the African Peering and Interconnection Forum Nairobi, August 11-12, 2010 By Dr. Edmund Katiti, Policy & Regulatory Advisor, and Dr. Towela Nyirenda Jere Programmes Manager, NEPAD e-africa Commission

2 NEPAD e-africa Commission Established by African Ministers of Communications - in October 2001 In September 2002, the NEPAD Steering Committee adopted the Commission as NEPAD s ICT Task Team The NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC) endorsed the Steering Committee action at its meeting in Abuja in November

3 Mandate of the Commission The mandate of the Commission is to develop a broad ICT strategy and comprehensive action plan with the objective of: Accelerating the development of African inter-country, intra-country and global connectivity Promoting conditions for Africa to be an equal and active participant in the Global Information society 3

4 THE NEPAD ICT BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE OBJECTIVE To ensure that all African countries are connected to one another by a broadband fibre-optic cable network that is, in turn, linked to the rest of the world through submarine cables. In Abuja (2003) the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC) decided to prioritise the establishment of such a broadband network Development of the NEPAD Network started on two tracks: 1. NEPAD ICT Broadband Infrastructure Network covering 23 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa 2. NEPAD ICT Broadband Infrastructure Network for West, Central and North Africa. 4

5 WHERE WE STARTED July A stakeholder workshop held in Johannesburg agreed on a basic broadband network for the region, consisting of a terrestrial segment and a submarine segment. EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA NETWORK The agreed network was meant to bring together a number initiatives in the region, such as COMTEL, SRII, and the EASSy cable, into a unified plan for progressing the development of the basic infrastructure. o submari ne cable system New Terrestrial cables New Submarine cables 5 Existing fibre links

6 July A workshop of stakeholders was held in Dakar, Senegal. It agreed on a basic broadband ICT network for the region, consisting of a terrestrial segment and a submarine segment. WHERE WE STARTED The links in the agreed network were verified during a study conducted in 2007/8. o Regional stakeholder workshops are being held in 2010 to update the network and chart the way forward. 6

7 Developmental Objectives 1. Reduce the Cost of Communication 2. Have Reliable and Secure Communication Disparity in cost of communication: Monthly Cost of E1; Developed Countries $10-20, African average $5,000 Development of a Policy & Regulatory Framework The development of a transparent policy and regulatory environment was needed to remove regulatory barriers to the establishment of the cross-border network and to encourage broad private sector investment in the network. Policy principles developed with aims of: achieving developmental objec9ves and addressing stakeholder concerns 7

8 DEVELOPMENT OF THE POLICY AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK The policy principles were: 1. The application of open, non-discriminatory and affordable access to these networks. 2. Equitable joint ownership of the backbone infrastructure 3. Acceptance that cross-border terrestrial and submarine cable segments of these networks can be developed, owned, and maintained by Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs): Legal entities with shareholders. 4. Basic Broadband Infrastructure be viewed as public good 5. Application of the principle of public private partnerships (PPP) to these networks. These principles were to apply to the submarine as well as the terrestrial segments of the network, and it was proposed that a protocol be signed by countries to underpin their collaboration in developing the network. 8

9 SIGNING OF THE KIGALI PROTOCOL UNDER AU AUSPICES The Protocol was signed in Kigali, on 29 August 2006 By November 30, 2006, 12 countries had signed the protocol. Some have ratified while other are in the process of ratifying it. Botswana Lesotho South Africa Mauritius Rwanda Malawi Zambia Madagascar Uganda Tanzania Zimbabwe DRC Protocol came into force in 2008 after in was ratified by more than half of the countries that signed it. Countries that were unable to sign the protocol within agreed timeframe, may now accede since it is now in force: i.e. it has been ratified by more than half of the signatories. Countries outside Eastern and Southern Africa can also accede to the protocol. 9

10 Resolutions of the Ministerial IGA Meeting on October 15, 2007 Welcomed NEPAD-led collaboration on high capacity submarine cable with potential to connect Africa to Europe, Middle East and India. Named the submarine cable system Uhurunet Named the NEPAD Terrestrial Network Umojanet Recommended name for submarine company to be Baharicom Requested AU Commission to develop modalities to enable any African country to accede to the Kigali Protocol Mar 2008, AUC Legal Counsel confirmed that any African country that wishes, can accede to the Kigali Protocol 10

11 Uhurunet Submarine Cable System To UK 5-11

12 Co-Building of ACE Submarine Cable In Oct 2009, Baharicom signed MoU with ACE Consortium to co-build the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) submarine cable. As co-builder of the ACE/Uhurunet system, Baharicom will reduce the cost of market entry on the West African cost. The ACE/Uhurunet submarine cable system, is led by France Telecom, one of the most experienced submarine cable developers. It will stretch 14,000 km from France to South Africa, connecting every country along the West coast of Africa. Supply contract for ACE/Uhurunet was signed in Paris on June 5, ACE/Uhurunet will be operational in mid 2012.

13 ACE/UHURUNET SUBMARINE CABLE SYSTEM

14 The Way Forward for Uhurunet in East and North Africa Discussions are on-going with cable developers (Seacom, TEAMS, EASSy, and LION) for Uhurunet collaboration on the Eastern and Northern Coast of Africa. Biz Plan for Uhurunet East & North is available and is being shared with interested Parties Investment in Uhurunet being aggressively sought, and several MoUs have been signed with interested Parties Uhurunet will be achieved in segments Segments will be completed at different times Segments may have different specifications and capacities but will operate seamlessly 14

15 The study focussed on the following: Identifying all broadband optical fibre infrastructure in region. UMOJANET: Terrestrial Cross-Border Network Detailed Feasibility Study for Eastern & Southern Africa. Identifying gaps in existing fibre optic infrastructure along the routes of the proposed NEPAD network. Identifying plans to close such gaps. Determining cost of leasing fibre optic cable capacity from existing operators / cable owners and building of new fibre optic cable infrastructure where necessary. Estimating the cost of operating a Regional Operations Centre and data centre from which the entire network would be monitored, managed, and controlled. Estimating the costs of establishing and equipping nodal points in each country. Undertaking a detailed study of traffic flow in the network. Proposing an optimum network in terms of network economics, configuration and costs.

16 Available and Required Segments of the Proposed NEPAD Network in Eastern & Southern Africa Status Km % Operational 17,400 60% Under Construction 2,300 8% Planned 6,600 23% Required new build 2,900 9% Total Km required 29,200 Above figures are thought to be typical of what pertains in other regions of Africa.

17 Umojanet Cross-border Terrestrial Network In March 2010 the IGA approved a proposal by a group of African Investors to set up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that will implement Umojanet. The SPV has a provision to accept investments from all African countries. Umojanet Corporation has been incorporated and is currently engaged in discussions with several international operators with view to identifying a technical partner for rolling-out Umojanet. Umojanet Corporation has identified two regions to start rolling-out Umojanet (Eastern and Southern Africa, and West and Central Africa). Umojanet Business Plan for Cluster 1A countries in Eastern and Southern Africa was completed. Umojanet Business Plan for Cluster 1B countries in West and Central Africa will be completed in October It is the intention of Umojanet to collaborate with national IXPs in order to develop one continental IP network. 17

18 Extension of the Policy and Regulatory Framework In order to get as many countries as possible to accede to the Kigali Protocol, the NEPAD e-africa Commission in 2010 embarked on a campaign to present and explain the protocol to stakeholders in all regions of the continent. The campaign will involve a review of the protocol with stakeholders in all regions free to propose amendments to the protocol. Stakeholder workshops have taken place or are planned as follows: ECOWAS region March 15-16, Abuja, Nigeria ECCAS region April 20-22, N Djamena, Chad North Africa region September 21-22, Egypt Regional stakeholder workshops are followed by in-country workshops to obtain country positions regarding review of protocol. Regional Inter-Governmental Working Committee (IGWC) meetings will be held to obtain regional consensus positions on the review of the protocol before the protocol is amended.

19 Contacts: Dr. Edmund Katiti Tel: Fax: Dr. Towela Nyirenda Jere Tel: Fax: Thank You