Enhancing ICT development and connectivity in Africa

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Enhancing ICT development and connectivity in
Africa
Erik Habers Head of Cooperation EU Delegation
Nairobi
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Background

• ICT are proven drivers of innovation for
  sustainable development, since
• They allow for a rapid and free flow of
  information, increasing economic efficiency,
  ensuring decisions
• They offer solutions to employment, health,
  education, protection, environment, governance,
  commerce...
• A 10 increase in internet access has been shown
  to lead to an 1.2 increase in several countries
  GDP

MDG 8 'In cooperation with the private sector,
make available benefits of new technologies,
especially information and communications' (Plus
indirect effect in MDGs 2, 4, 5 and 6)
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Challenges

• Growing Digital Divide
• Great disparity among countries
• Access limited in many parts of Africa
• Main reasons
• Low collaboration South-South
• Intra-African communications often routed through
  Europe
• High prices
• Little competition
• Lack of political and economic stability and
  coherent policies hampering private investments

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EU Response Strategy

• Enhance the bilateral policy dialogue
• Assist to the development of an inclusive
  information society in Africa
• Focus on preparing the enabling environment
  (regulation, interconnections) for private
  sector investments
• (ICT is not a focal sector in EU development
  policy, but a cross-cutting modality with
  applications in several other sectors)

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EU priorities for ICT development in Africa

• 1. Harmonisation and alignment of
  e-communications policies and regulations with EU
  framework
• 2. Enabling the transition from analogue to
  digital broadcasting and the regulation of the
  Digital Dividend
• 3. Establishment and interconnection of research
  and education networks and connection to the
  European network GÉANT
• 4. Enhancement of ICT capacity building (for ALL,
  i.e. citizens, governments, private sector etc.)

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Priority 1 Harmonisation and aligment of
e-communications policies and
regulations in
developing countries with EU framework

• Objective Improved regulations promoting
  fairness, transparency, human rights and freedom
  of expression
• Result A fair and transparent enabling
  environment, improving ICT access for citizens,
  business and organisations

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Priority 2 Enabling the transition from analogue
to digital broadcasting in Africa and the
regulation of the Digital Dividend.

• Objective Creation a new huge market of online
  applications and services contributing in this
  way to inclusive growth, employment and
  sustainable development in Africa
• Results Development/convergence of relevant
  policies and regulations in domains defining the
  digital dividend regulation/management challenge,
  like radio spectrum policy and management,
  cross-border radio frequency management, digital
  media/broadcasting policy, broadband policy etc.

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Priority 3 Establishment and interconnection of
research and education networks and connection to
European network GÉANT

• Objective Increase in research cooperation and
  regional computing capacity, generate scientific
  excellence, bridge the digital divide, reduce
  'brain drain', contribute to economic and social
  well-being
• Results Strenghtening of cooperation between
  research communities. Provide capacity to meet
  high-volume needs of other not-for-profit
  sectors. Influence the development of a telecom
  market and regulatory environment reducing the
  costs and enabling cross-border traffic

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Example AfricaConnect project

• Establishes a high capacity internet network for
  research and education in Southern and Eastern
  Africa
• Improves connectivity and collaboration within
  the region and with the rest of the world through
  the interconnection with the pan-European
  research network GÉANT
• Contributes to the development of education and
  research in Sub-Saharan Africa

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Priority 4 Enhancement of ICT capacity building
(for ALL, citizens,
governments, private sector etc.)

• Objective To reduce the digital divide, through
  a better understanding of the new technologies,
  the roll-out of broadband, the deployment of
  efficient ICT systems adapted to local needs and
  the promotion of free and open access to the
  internet
• Results Roll-out of broadband connectivity,
  deployment of efficient and resilient ICT systems
  and promotion of free and open access to the
  internet

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Increasing engagement

• Scaling-up of ongoing initiatives
• Exploiting synergies between the EU Digital
  Agenda and the AU ICT development frameworks
• Fostering deployment of innovative e-services to
  enhance interconnections

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• THANK YOU
• for
• Your Attention!