1 / 20

INTERNET FOR DEVELOPMENT

INTERNET FOR DEVELOPMENT. By: Sankung Sawo May 2000. 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

Jeffrey
Download Presentation

INTERNET FOR DEVELOPMENT

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. INTERNET FOR DEVELOPMENT By: Sankung Sawo May 2000

  2. PresentationFramework • 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

  3. Brief background :DataServices • 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.

  4. Whathas 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 <150, 2000: ~2000 (<20 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)

  5. 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 >US$2M , mainly by GAMTEL & Quantum.

  6. Africa Internet Map (AISI 1999)

  7. KEY PLAYERS: Gov. DOS W&C 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. Key Players & Issues:

  8. 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 ~US$1/hr. • Very low Computer literacy level: determined by school literacy. • Electricity problems: especially outside GBA; many fear to install PC.

  9. CONSTRAINTS :Blocks & BottleNecks! • ISP operational cost too high: 64k connection at ~$16,000 pa and Registration ~US$4,000 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.

  10. THE WAY FORWARD:Strategies & Focus • Gov DOS W&C 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

  11. STRATEGIES on key issues: 1 -Policy & Regulation • DOS W&C set clear-cut deliberate policies: to achieve dream goals. • DOS W&C 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

  12. STRATEGIES on key issues:2 - 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.

  13. STRATEGIES on key issues:3 :- 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.

  14. STRATEGIES on key issues:4:- Innovation & good choice of ICT • Low Cost PCs:NetPCs at <$700, 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 <$1000, whole library! • Streaming Audio : for schools and radio stations • Laptop PC on Car battery: DC power possible.

  15. STRATEGIES on key issues:5:- 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..

  16. Conclusion & Recommendations • The Internet Society Mission Statement reads: “To ensure the open development, evolution and use of the Internet for thebenefit of all people throughout the world”. • Internet is for information access and sharingIT resources - including human capacity. Its success is therefore dependent on CONTENT and thus we must develop it.

  17. 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.

  18. Conclusion & Recommendations • GOG and Gamtel revamp the current Internet tariff structure - make it affordable and open. • GOG launch a Situation Analysisof ICT and Internet services in the Gambia - business tool. • DOS W&C 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.

  19. Thank YOU All

More Related