INTERNET FOR DEVELOPMENT

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INTERNET FOR DEVELOPMENT

• By Sankung Sawo
• May 2000

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Presentation Framework

• Brief background of ICT in the Gambia
• Achievements ICT infrastructure, services
• Key Players issues ICT based economy
• Constraints Education and SBCs
• Way Forward strategic Deployment
• Conclusion and Recommendations

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Brief background Data Services

• 1992-1993 GAMTEL rolled out X.25 network in
  GBA and introduced BT information
  services
• 1993 BICI pioneered X.25 WAN in GBA
• 1995 GAMTEL introduced CompuServe Services with
  limited internet access.
• 1996 Delphi Internet services introduced
• Oct. 1998 2MBps Full Internet backbone
  nationwide , with 2 ISPs operational.

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What has been Achieved

• Basic Inftrastructure Countrywide Internet
  backbone with 12 PoPs. No. 3 in Africa, after
  S.Africa and Eqypt.
• All News papers hosted but none has a website.
• DialUp USERs 1997 lt150, 2000 2000 (lt20 in
  rural). Total may be 3000 - 5000 people with
  access.
• Schools with access 4 to 6 in GBA, 1 provinces
• Academic centers with Full connection 2, GTMI
  MDI .
• Research Centers 1 (MRC, Fajara Farafenni)

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What has been Achieved (cont.)

• NGOs virtually all on dialup, UNDP on full link.
• Hotels and Travel agents All, on dialup.
• ISPs 2, Quantum GAMTEL
• Gov. Mins Depts. All in GBA, on dialup.
• CyberCafes about 8 in 18 months!
• Total Invest probably gtUS2M , mainly by GAMTEL
  Quantum.

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Africa Internet Map (AISI 1999)
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Key Players Issues

• KEY PLAYERS
• Gov. DOS WC
• GAMTEL
• UN NGOs
• Private Sector - small businesses especially
• EDU sector, include research institutions

• KEY ISSUES
• Policy and Regulation
• Connectivity Costing
• PARTNERSHIP Advocacy.
• Innovation good choice of ICT deployment.
• ICT Curriculum and Fast Track programs.

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CONSTRAINTS Blocks BottleNecks!

• Very Low PC penetration figure not known
• Low telephone density provinces especially
• High dialup tariff fixed pay at 17 unlimited
  and connection charge US1/hr.
• Very low Computer literacy level determined by
  school literacy.
• Electricity problems especially outside GBA
  many fear to install PC.

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CONSTRAINTS Blocks BottleNecks!

• ISP operational cost too high 64k connection at
  16,000 pa and Registration US4,000 one time.
• Free Web Mail competition less user registration
• High PC costs due to import tax, etc.
• Non-ISP Host Connection too high Gamtel charges
  same rate applied to ISP at 16,000 pa, However
  EDU connection at 50 through UNDP up to Oct
  2001..
• Congestion on dialup lines happen often now.
• Low Digital resources little online data.

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THE WAY FORWARD Strategies Focus

• Gov DOS WC revise policy and regulation on ICT,
  more conducive.
• Tariffs slice all by Jan 2001.
• Advocacy more for internet on public media
• Technology Deployment affordable Internet
  packages

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STRATEGIES on key issues 1 -Policy Regulation

• DOS WC set clear-cut deliberate policies to
  achieve dream goals.
• DOS WC institute different boards and working
  groups for ICT development.
• Policy on digitalization of Gov. offices and
  public data in key institutions health, finance,
  etc
• Academic institutions be empowered to take charge
  of Internet administration
• 0 tax on IT imports for EDU purposes

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STRATEGIES on key issues2 - Connectivity
Costing

• Differential tariff structure, to encourage more
  host connection and thus demand.
• Deploy inexpensive sharing technologies eg Proxy
  routers, Domain Mail software for schools and
  training centers, etc. all free with Linux and
  other packages.
• ISPs implement local Roaming , to reduce
  congestion effect.
• ISDN connection alternative, can be cheaper for
  Small businesses.

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STRATEGIES on key issues3 - Partnership
Advocacy

• Our current facility came as a result of UNDP
  GoG. Partnership in IIA project,
• ISPs work in partnership with NGOs to deliver
  services in rural areas, both benefit.
• Technology Programs on GRTS
• Creation of an academic research group who can
  co-ordinate this kind of activities.
• GPO with Gamtel can deliver datagram Email and
  sound files to rural users.

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STRATEGIES on key issues4- Innovation good
choice of ICT

• Low Cost PCsNetPCs at lt700, recycled PCs.
• Network rather than Standalone to use low cost
  sharing technologies, like Proxy routers, free
  Linux PC software, etc.
• CDROM media 650MB readily available CD-RW
  writers cost lt1000, whole library!
• Streaming Audio for schools and radio stations
• Laptop PC on Car battery DC power possible.

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STRATEGIES on key issues5- ICT Curriculum and
Fast Track programs.

• Internet was created by academic community but
  developed by commercial enterprise into what it
  is today.
• Immediate in all Schools introduce IT in all
  schools and use recycled PCs , etc.
• Vocational and Other Training Institutes develop
  programs to train en masse, especially Quantum
  and Gamtel GTMI..

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Conclusion Recommendations

• The Internet Society Mission Statement reads To
  ensure the open development, evolution and use of
  the Internet for the benefit of all people
  throughout the world.
• Internet is for information access and sharing IT
  resources - including human capacity. Its success
  is therefore dependent on CONTENT and thus we
  must develop it.

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Conclusion Recommendations

• All of us must be committed and dedicated to make
  the Internet more affordable and resourceful,
  especially for 2020 initiative.
• We owe it to our children and humankind to ensure
  that our culture, values, and everything achieved
  here goes into digital record.
• Play a vital role in the African Internet Society
  Initiative (AISI) signed at the Conference of
  African Ministers in May 1996.

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Conclusion Recommendations

• GOG and Gamtel revamp the current Internet tariff
  structure - make it affordable and open.
• GOG launch a Situation Analysis of ICT and
  Internet services in the Gambia - business tool.
• DOS WC launch a campaign for Partnership in
  Internet development in the Gambia.
• GOG embark on ambitious digitalization now.
• Launch an all Schools connection initiative -
  using recycled PCs, local international.

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Thank YOU All