e-Readiness in Africa: Opportunities,

Challenges & ProgressDr Adesina Iluyemi

NEPAD Council

About NEPAD Council

• An independent, non-political and not for profit organization with majority of members in the Diaspora

• Membership is voluntary, not paid for• Fully endorsed by the NEPAD Heads of state and

government implementation committee in Maputo 2004• Main objectives are to support the NEPAD objectives• Main offices are in New York State and in Germany• Activities are joint projects with other entities, awareness

campaigns, and free consulting for AU missions abroad

NEPAD Council: Action

• Activities – ICT – Education– Global Health– Agriculture– Trade & Investments– Renewable Energy– Diaspora

Engagement– Transport

Infrastructure

• Recent events – Novatech ICT Africa

Marketplace 2008- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

– Europe-Africa Business Summit 2008-Hamburg, Germany

– SWANSAT Broadband Satellite Project

• Upcoming Events– NEPAD Council TV– National Chapters– Asia & Middle East

Commissions

SUPPORT & COLLABORATION REQUIRED! Website: www.nepadcouncil.org

Introduction• e-Readiness is measure ……. country’s ability to leverage

“digital channels” (not the infrastructure) for communication, commerce & government

(not e-Government only) …….to further social & economic development (EIU 2008)

• Defined by national & global economic, political, environmental & ICT infrastructure richness with e-Services adoption

• Extent of using communication devices & Internet services for creating efficiencies (better services) by:

– Business ( Public & Private sector)– Citizens/ Populations/ Households– For developing ICTs industries)

E-readiness measures• There are different measures

– Strengths & weaknesses– Infrastructure/Telecom vs. Societal or Human views

• Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) 2008- Balanced view & assumed weights– Connectivity & technology infrastructure- 20%

• Telecom markets, Broadband, Internet

– Business Environment-15%– Social & cultural environment-15%

• Affordability, Economic outlook

– Legal environment-10%– Government policy and vision-15%– Consumer & business adoption-25%

• Users’ skills & education, firm absorptive capacity

e-Readiness from Digital Divide view

• Digital divide is lack of access to:– Internet (beyond voice & SMS)– ICT experience– Hardware, Software, Network– ICT skills & basic education– ICT opportunities

• ……is also about economic, political & cultural divide• It reflects on Human & Societal Development &Poverty

Reduction Capabilities• e-Readiness is to enable ICT for Development

– For meeting MDGs goals & targets

e-Readiness to e-Government readinessUnited Nations 2008

• Africa’s businesses are mostly Public Government– Europe- 0.6490– Americas-0.4936– Asia-0.4470– Oceania-0.4338– Africa-0.2739

• Measured as:– e-infrastructure index (Broadband important!)– e-participation index (Employees’ & users’ inclusion)

• ICTs for Government business transformation• From e-Government to Connected Governance

– Holistic approach services, people & technology transformation

The Digital Divide & Economic Growth: Where we are?

•e-Readiness is measuring…. depth & degree of “Digital Divide”•Digital Divide is also Economic Divide

70 Biggest World EconomiesSouth Africa (#39), Egypt (#57), Nigeria (#62), Algeria (#66)

Digital Divide: Connectivity & technology infrastructure

•Verdict: Not too good

Digital Divide: International Bandwidth

43 Gbps of Bandwidth- 1% of Global UsageLandlocked vs. Coastal countries

Digital Divide: ICT Devices•Household/Personal devices•Important for access & uptake

Partnerships on Measuring ICT for Development 2008

e-Readiness Opportunities for Socio-economic Development: 5Ps

Challenges to e-Readiness in Africa: 5Ps

PROGRESS: e-Readiness in Africa

Government leadership, visions and policies & ICT infrastructure development and provision are major drivers of e-Readiness (EIU 2008)

• Continental Policy drivers & initiatives– UNECA-ADF 1999 (Policy development & Capacity

building• AISI/PICTA/NICI

– NEPAD 2001 (Infrastructure implementation)• e-Africa Commission

– AU/NEPAD 2005• Consolidated Action Plan 2006

PROGRESS: NICI • National Information and Communication

Infrastructure e-Strategies– integrated with Poverty Reduction Strategies– stimulate & enable national ICT policies development &

ICT4D– monitor progress (SCAN-ICT) – reduce digital divide & promote partnerships– Scope

• Regional Economic ICT infrastructure integration• Sectoral sub-focus (Health, Agriculture etc)• Village/Community/City/Municipal sub-focus• Geoinformation (Data gathering)

PROGRESS: NICI

•Marked improvement in National e-Strategies•Policy to Actions & Results needed!

PROGRESS: Infrastructure• Implementation & diffusion of:

– mobile/wireless ICTs– Broadband diffusion – Devices ……

affects e-Readiness scores (EIU 2008)

• Mobile/wireless the way for Africa (ITU 2008) • NEPAD e-Africa Commission fibre-optics projects

– Uhurunet & Umojanet

• AU/NEPAD CPA – Free & Open source software for:

• eHealth, e-Learning, e-Science

– ICTs innovations, Science & Technology– Education & Skills

PROGRESS: Mobile Infrastructure

• Estimated 300 million SIM cards in Africa•Mobile services-m-Health, m-Banking•World first “free” regional network •Regional variations!•Not yet uhuru!

•49 % of Geography covered•50 % of population (ITU 2008)•Expensive: High taxes & Tariffs

PROGRESS: Broadband

•W-CDMA/3G/HSDPA – 8 countries•CDMA EDV0- 5 countries•Wimax-Wireless City- Algeria•DSL- South Africa & Mauritius•WiFi- community projects

PROGRESS: International Bandwidth

•Satellite Broadband too! •NigComSat 1•RASCOM 1

•3 low-cost broadband satellite projects@ ConnectAfrica Summit

•Fibre broadband beyond urban areas doubtful

•Projects in East (TEAMS ) & West Africa•Massive cost reduction predicted•Education sector driving intra-Africa fibre expansion (Ubuntunet)

PROGRESS: International Bandwidth

• Global Broadband Satellite System• Innovative W-BAND Technology &

Business model• To deliver 2 Mbps/Month @ 1 Euro per

household in Africa• Free video channels• Launch procurement secured but…..• Political support from Africa required 12 billion Euros required• Investments from Africa is NEPAD

Council objectives• ROI of 1 billion Euros fro 20 years after

launch• Profound economic opportunity for

Africa

NEPAD Council/SWANSAT

•Collaborate with existing providers:•bandwidth distribution•infrastructure development

SWANsat

Existing Infrastructure

Newly Enabled Infrastructure

Repeaters

Urban Areas

Industry

Offices

Homes

Villages

Personal

Coverage CellsUbiquitous Broadband Access

SWANSat © Not for Duplication

PROGRESS: Affordable Devices & Networks

Digital World Forum Initiative

• Two African Partners

•Climate change & Global trend supports mobiles, laptops & wireless

•Long distance WiFi •Powerline Broadband•eHealth, eLearning etc

Meraka In

stitute

PROGRESS: Commitments Up 20 project commitments worth USD $50 billion

Infrastructure; Satellite, fibre-optics, Wireless/ Mobile Broadband

USD $30 Billions by Mobile Operators•

• Goal 1: Provide ICT broadband intra & inter continental connectivity by 2012

• Goal 2: Provide ICT Broadband services to all villages by 2015

• Goal 3: Adopt affordable, widespread access to a full range of broadband ICT services

• Goal 4: Develop critical mass of ICT skills required by the knowledge economy by 2015.

• Goal 5: Adopt national e-strategy and deploy at least one e-government service , e-education, e-commerce and e-health services using accessible technologies in each country in Africa by 2012

•  

PROGRESS: Investments & Trade• AfDB• African Finance

Corporation (AFC)• G8 Infrastructure

Consortium for Africa• World Bank/IFC• EU-Africa Infrastructure

Trust Fund• FDI• Global & National

Sovereign Funds (Nigeria)

• Banks

•Industry & Manufacturing•PC, Laptops R&D-Nigeria•Mobile phones -Zambia

Ensuring e-Readiness: Government Roles• Educate & empower

your citizens• Encourage & enable

Citizens & SMEs uptake & usage

• Provide leadership• Build partnerships• Let the private build the

infrastructure • But, intervene when

required• Dynamic policies• Be diligent & pro-active(EIU 2008)

• Encourage liberalization, privatization & regulation

• Pursue cost reductions & affordability

• Promote wireless broadband & technology convergence (NGNs)

• Promote sustainable energy

• Incorporate mobile into universal access policies

• Build public access points & encourage citizen usage

AFRICAN ICT INDICATORS, ITU 2008

Ensuring e-Readiness: Policy Suggestions• Home Grown innovation, inducements investments &

industrialization for Africa’s e-Readiness through:– Pro-active/people-focussed policies– Education &Skills – Research & Development– Pro/Para/Per-People Initiatives (Heeks 2008)– Open source hardware & software development– Entrepreneurship (SMEs)– Supportive Technology Transfer– Engage with Diaspora

• Infrastructure development including ICT ones are required for meeting the MDGs-

Africa Progress Report & MDG Africa Steering Group 2008

FINAL WORDS• Lets move beyond SMS and voice!

– e-Readiness is about the Internet

• Mobile vs. Internet dichotomy should stop!– Mobile/wireless broadband is available

• Private investors should practice “Empathetic& Creative Capitalism”

• People Public Private Partnerships (4Ps)• National e-Readiness = Connected & Prosperous Africa• e-Readiness for meeting MDGs by 2015 • Lets joins hands to make AFRICA GREAT!

Thank UoP, UK Thank you SITAThank You All!

Dr Adesina IluyemiNEPAD Council