closing the digital gap using universal service funds ... · gifec : universal access to all...
TRANSCRIPT
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Abraham Kofi AsanteAdministrator,GIFEC
December 11, 2018
Closing the Digital Gap using Universal Service Funds
– Key Lessons from Ghana
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Outline
➢ Overview – Ghana’s Universal Service Fund
➢ Our Projects
➢ Innovation in Rural Coverage and Affordability
➢ Our Strengths and Challenges
➢ Opportunities-Lessons Learnt
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GIFEC : Universal Access to all persons
✓The Fund was launched in November, 2004. Operationalized in January 2005.
✓The Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775) provides the legal framework (mandate) for the activities of the Fund.
✓The mission of the Fund is “To facilitate the provision of Universal Access to all persons through the use of affordable
Information Communication Technologies for socio economic development.”
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Our
Our Projects
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Rural Telephony Project
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Satellite Hub
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Reaching unserved schools
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Community Information Centre – Access Hubs
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Smart Community- Architecture
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Our Broadband Technology
Outdoor Indoor
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Digital for Inclusion (D4I) Banking the Unbanked
40% of D4I agents are women
D4I platform is internet enabled
Our solution to address the gender digital divide
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ICT Capacity Building, Awareness and Content Creation
The Women involved are ;DressmakersBeadmakersHairdressers
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Coding for Kids
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Innovation in Rural Coverage and Affordability
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Challenges in Extending Connectivity
• Scattered Settlements and Low RevenuePopulation Coverage
82% 86%
Gold Area
1.2M uncovered
Silver Area Bronze Area
90% 99% 1.2M
uncovered2.1M
uncovered
Town:294
Pop>2000
Town:584
Pop 1000~2000
Town:2,557
Pop 500~1000
Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western
Central, Eastern, Volta
Brong Ahafo, Northern,Upper East, Upper West
• High CAPEX and OPEX
• Lack of Infrastructure(Road, Power, and etc.)
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t
Innovative Partnership Model: More StakeholdersBenefits Sharing
• Site selection and Planning
• Site integration and marketing activities
• Sales and Distribution
• Only 3G or better
• Innovative solution offering
• Site build implementation and telecom works
• Site operations and maintenance
Investor/Tech
Partner GIFEC
• Site Acquisition and permitting
• Joint Site survey based on nominal selection
• Custom’s waiver for equipment clearance
• ECG facilitation for selected sites
• Acquisition of frequency (UMTS 900)
Telco
Tripartite Partnership Model
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Innovative Solution: TCO Savings and Increased Rural Coverage
150,000 USD
59,000USD
12,200 USD
8,400USD
70% TCO Savings
CAPEX
OPEX
PoleTower
Microwave RelayInnovative SolutionVSTraditional Solution
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Rural Connectivity and Broadband Services: Our Achievements✓ The objective of the Rural Telephony Project is to
support telecommunication operators to extend their mobile
broadband services into locations of less commercial viability.
✓ 400+ Rural telephony sites have been constructed in
deprived communities that were without communication
facilities in the country.
✓ A total number of about 1,200,000 new subscribers (voice
and data) in the beneficiary communities can now
communicate and transact business with people in and around
the world using broadband services.
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Our Strengths
• Established by Ghana’s Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775)
• Tax Exempted• A 5-Year strategic plan • Reliable source of funding by industry
players• Regional offices to bring service closer to
the people• Adequate in-house capacity to serve as
technicians and facilitators• Prudent fund managers
Our Challenges
• Insufficient funds – 1% of net revenue from Telcos
• Sustainability of Projects – Community ICT Centers to run as self sustaining entities
• Drive for affordability – special tariffs for unserved and underserved communities
• Categorization – Unserved areas vs. Rural areas
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Opportunities – Lessons Learnt
✓ Adopt more Public, Private, Partnerships (PPPs) in deploying ICT infrastructure
✓ Develop, adopt and monitor sustainability measures and indicators for each project to ensure longevity
✓ Develop relevant content, create awareness and build capacities
✓ USF interventions should be co-created with the involvement of beneficiaries and demand driven
✓ Improve collaboration with key stakeholders - Telcos, Private Sector, Regulatory Agency and the Ministry
✓ Address Policy and Regulatory bottlenecks to improve rural connectivity and affordability.
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THANK YOU