The Gambia EXPERIENCE

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The Gambia EXPERIENCE

• AfriNet 2000, Abuja

Hon. Edward D Singhatey Secretary of State for
Works, Communications Information
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Background

• First country to benefit from the Internet
  Initiative for Africa IIA Project.
• IIA (three year project) aims to provide Internet
  accessibility or enhance Internet facilities for
  12 African countries.
• Cost sharing basis
• Guiding principles
• Partnership Government, NGOs, Civil Society
• Capacity building technical, marketing,
  managerial
• Accessibility to all sectors of society
  (private Public)
• Sustainability continue to sustain after end
  project

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MOU Guidelines

• Gambia Government (Gamtel) UNDP (Africa Bureau)
  each provide 50 of US1M.
• Facilities to be available to all sectors of
  society(public, private and civil society) and be
  private sector driven.
• Provide access for educational institutions,
  womens bureau, health facilities, research
  facilities, Government Institutions

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Example of Co-operation

• Approval granted by UNDP - June 1997
• Appraisal Mission in August - September 1997
• Government Contribution November 1997
• Tenders invited December 1997
• Contract awarded February 1998
• Installation began April 1998
• Commissioned September 25th 1998
• 15 MONTHS FROM APPROVAL TO INAUGURATION OF THE
  GATEWAY

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Technical Facilities

• Fully fledged Internet gateway to include
  internal e-mail facilities countrywide
• 512Kbps bandwidth
• Landing point with first level ISP -
  Teleglobe(Canada)
• Points of Presence (PoPs) in Banjul and 11 towns
  (major growth centres)
• PoPs connected by 2Mbps links mainly by fibre
  optic cable.

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Internet Backbone
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Cost of Access

• Unlimited monthly access US13 by private ISP
  and US15 Gamtel (at current rates).
• deliberate Government policy to encourage Private
  Sector participation.
• One-time installation charge US3.50
• no charge for basic customer premises services
• Telephone access charges - US0.75 per hour

Government has reduced tariffs on ICT equipment
from 36 to 10 over past two years (Ultimate
objective is ZERO tariff by 2001)
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Penetration

• Two commercial ISPs
• QaNet private (Quantum Associates) 128kbps
• GamNet Telecommunications Company
• No restrictions on number of private ISPs
• Four major non-commercial ISPs 64kbps (Medical
  Research Centre 128kpbs)
• About 1800 Internet accounts
• 800 GamNet
• 1000 QaNet
• Several Internet cafes (mainly in urban areas)
• Internet Society (ISOC)

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Social Services Provided

• As per requirements of the MOU
• Educational Institutions
• Tertiary GTTI, MDI, RDI, Gambia College access
• 60 of secondary schools computers, dial-up
  access
• Encouraging access for rural primary schools
• National Assembly computer, dial-up access
• Major rural hospital computer, dial-up access
• Womens Bureau dial-up access
• Training on Internet use including above

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Ongoing Developments

• Increase bandwidth to 1Mbps and maintain second
  carrier.
• Negotiating with major carrier for 1Mbps access
  in advanced stage.
• Increase access modems by 100.
• Provide access and equipment to all secondary
  schools (junior and senior).
• Working with DFID to provide access to Primary
  Schools
• Work with development partners and NGOs to
  provide access for rural communities.
• Provide Internet cafés in all major towns.

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Concluding Remarks

• Mr. Chairman,
• I would like to state that Africa has an
  opportunity not only to make a major route into
  IT globally, but also to take our rightful place
  in the global community. However, this will take
  full cooperation between government, the private
  sector, NGOs, African IT professionals and civil
  society as a whole, and I hope that the yearly
  Afrinet meetings will serve as a forum where we
  can learn how to make Africa a better place.