Infrastructure Reference Group

Transcription

1 Infrastructure Reference Group ICT Group session Connectivity and Digital Infrastructure Monday, 24 April 2017

2 Trans-Sahara optical fibre backbone (TSB) Niger & Chad 2

3 Objectives The project aims at diversifying the economies of Niger and Chad and integrating them into digital communication networks. The specific objectives are to: Facilitate the access of the population, government services and businesses to quality, reliable and affordable telecommunication /ICT services; Enhance the integration of populations in the interior of both countries into the digital economy; Improve training opportunities and access to ICT in higher education. 3

4 The project builds upon: PIDA recommandations; Background the Economic and Social Development Plan (PDES) (extended to 2016) of Niger under "Information and Communication Technology" (ICT) sector the National Development Plan (PND) of Chad The strategic documents of the EU and AfDB 4

5 Infrastructure component: Rationale (1/2) Niger and Chad potentially occupy strategic positions for ICT development in Central and West Africa, because of their geographic locations bordering four coastal countries (Algeria, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon and Sudan) => laying out of cables linking Niger, Algeria, Nigeria and Chad. 5

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7 Rationale (2/2) Promoting the emergence of a digital economy establishing pilot data centres to promote the development of communication systems in government services through joint data storage, processing and dissemination platforms; establishing integrated electronic communication networks between the government services of both countries to develop and operate their online services in order to improve the quality of public services and ease their access in regions as well as facilitate the implementation of administrative reforms (particularly decentralization). 7

8 TSB-Niger TSB-Chad km optical fibre in Niger Creation of a national data centres Creation of a national data centres Total 510 km optical fibre in Chad : km Implementation of an e- Government platform Integrated Management System for the Electronic Identification of People (SIGIEP) Sensitisation on TIC for students, women, etc. Implementation of an e- Government platform Integrated Management System for the Electronic Identification of People (SIGIEP) Sensitisation on TIC for students, women, etc. 8

9 Budget: Financing plan 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) 9

10 AfricaConnect 2 10

11 Objectives The project aims at contributing to the reduction of poverty and the digital divide by harnessing the potential of ICT for sustainable development in Africa. The specific objective is to facilitate the creation, development and use of regional education and research communication networks and high-capacity Internet connectivity with a gateway to global research collaboration. 11

12 Problem analysis Higher education and research activities/outputs are key to the development of a country, but modern global research environment requires: easy access to advanced ICT infrastructure and applications; easy access to the intellectual property generated around the world; collaborative work with teams that are often transnational. Digital connectivity divide isolate Africa-based researchers from the global research and education community. What is needed: e-infrastructure (high-speed low cost connectivity and e- applications) to enable research collaboration and access to intellectual resources human resources (engineering and related expertise) 12

13 Why do researchers and students need tailor-made internet networks? 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 connectivity and services dedicated to support the work of universities and research institutes in a country; Vital to progress local and global education and research by providing e-learning and e-science applications (eg. telemedicine); Over 100 NRENs worldwide, 33 in Africa. 13

14 How do NRENs connect students and researchers? Regiona l REN Regional REN NREN A NREN B NREN C Univers ities Hospi tals Labora tories Research centres 14

15 Regional Research and Education Networks 15

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17 AfricaConnect 1 & (total cost: EUR 14,75M incl. EU contribution EUR 11,8M): AfricaConnect project brought to life the 1 st 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 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 17

18 Network under construction 18

19 Connected countries share high economies of scale NRENs (countries) ZAMREN, (Zambia) 2011 / 2015 RENU (Uganda) 2012 / 2015 ARN (Algeria) 2003 / 2015 Capacity growth Cost drop (per Mb) X60-94% X8-77% X55-97% Source: NRENs Before/after AfricaConnect 19

20 Connecting research and education communities 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) 20 WACREN Network under construction na TOTAL 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 20

21 AfricaConnect 2 Research example Challenge: Agriculture a key driver of Sub-Saharan economy and at the heart of the food security challenge. One difficulty is identifying soils that are suitable for agriculture. Solution: Use the AfricaConnect network to access, process and modelize satellite maps to identify soil properties and classify lands. Benefit: Provide input to sustainable land management in Zambia. 21

22 AfricaConnect 2 Higher Education example 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 Business Administration) Students from Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Burundi, and other African & European countries. 22

23 Project proposal on Access to Digital Dividend in Africa 23

24 Problem analysis a) affordable broadband is a vital building block to unlock the ICT benefits; b) low level of broadband penetration inhibiting the deployment of internet based services, mainly due to lack of investments; c) need for enabling environment (legally safe and nondiscriminatory markets, balanced and predictable policy and regulatory environment) to fully leverage ICT uptake to boost economic and social impacts; d) African continent not duly reflected in the global internet governance debate => harmonisation at regional and Pan-African levels play a crucial role for laying the foundations across the continent for a truly integrated market for ICT services. 24

25 Objectives (1/2) The project aims to foster universally accessible and affordable broadband across the continent to unlock future benefits of internet based services The specific objective is to create a more harmonized and enabling legal and regulatory framework for the use of ICT for social and economic development, with an emphasis on boosting the spectrum market across Africa. 25

26 Objectives (2/2) The project is based on three pillars: a) efficient and harmonised spectrum utilisation, to orient private operators towards the best solutions for the system s long-term cost-effectiveness, quality, and sustainability b) Harmonisation of measurable policy, legal and regulatory frameworks to prepare an environment supportive of internet based services c) strengthening the ability of African decision makers to actively participate in the global internet governance debate. => will complement the infrastructure-focused efforts towards increased ICT use across the continent 26

27 The Action builds upon: Lessons learned the "Harmonisation of ICT Policies in Sub Saharan Africa" programme (HIPSSA) ( ) implemented by the ITU upon a request from African RECs for assistance in harmonising ICT policies and legislations in Sub-Saharan Africa. "Euro-Mediterranean Regulators Group "(EMERG) ( ): inter-regional cooperation platform for EU and non-eu regulators to discuss best practice and exchange experiences on market liberalisation and harmonised telecoms regulations. "African Internet Exchange System" with EU and Luxembourg to support the establishment of Internet exchange points (IXP) in AU countries, Regional Internet Hubs and Regional Internet Carriers; and to establish a real-time and historical traffic data accessible via web-based visualization system, and to develop a certificate curriculum on Internet Exchange technologies. 27

28 Infrastructure Several initiatives under the Infrastructure Trust Fund (ITF): AXIS (African Internet Exchange system) project, the satellite-enhanced telemedicine and e-health for sub-saharan Africa managed by the European Space Agency, the East African Submarine Cable System (EASSy) operated by an African and European Consortium. AfricaConnect project to fund improved connectivity for research and higher education In the field of cybercrime Global Action on Cybercrime (GLACY) (IfS, ) for the implementation of the Budapest Convention on data protection and rule of law safeguards New IcSP programme unde rformulatuion Horizon 2020 Complementarity with other EU initiatives Initiatives in a number of areas including ehealth, Big Data and internet of things. 28

29 Stakeholders AUC: Department of Infrastructure and Energy (DIE) has the mandate to develop and implement Pan-African ICT policy. Within the DIE, the coordination of the implementation of the Pan-Africa ICT policy lies with the Information Society Division (ISD); African RECs will be important stakeholders as they are responsible for coordinating and validating regional policy which is translated into national law. They will benefit of the capacity building activities; African and European regulators shall benefit from exchanges of best practices for technical and legal issues including on harmonisation. 29

30 Next steps Action under formulation : Tentative EU contribution: EUR 10M Adoption of the decision: Summer 2017 Expected start of activities: 2018 Implementing partners: Spectrum: International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Regulatory frameworks/internet governance: AUC 30