1. African Information Society Initiative an Action Framework to Build Africa’s Information and Communication Infrastructure

2. 2-Jun-15 What is AISI? African Information Society Initiative: an action Framework to Build Africa’s Information and Communication Infrastructure Adopted by ECA Conference of Ministers of Economic Planning and Development in 1996 Implemented by United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (Addis Ababa)

3. 2-Jun-15 Role of Regional Conference on Access to Telematics (1995) 1995 Conference of Ministers requested plan to put Africa on the Information Superhighway Drafted by High Level Working Group of African Experts on Information and Communication Technologies www.bellanet.org.partners/aisi/more/aisi.htm AISI

4. 2-Jun-15 Why was AISI needed? African delay in entering information age Mbeki (Brussels, 1996)- more telephone lines in Manhattan than all of sub-Saharan Africa Need for an African direction to AII Need to wake up African policy makers

5. 2-Jun-15 African information and communication needs One minute calls from African capitals to Europe or the U.S.- $3-$7/minute Post: Letters from Niger to Ethiopia can take 8 years Libraries: few or no public libraries accessible to students in many African countries; where there are, immense paucity of books and journals In sub-Saharan African, one fixed line telephone for every 635 people One computer for every 500 people

6. 2-Jun-15 AISI vision Every man, woman, child, village, public and private sector office with secure access to information and knowledge through ICTs by 2010 Information and communication technologies not a luxury for the elite but an absolute necessity for the masses

7. 2-Jun-15 Working with African countries on... Developing national plans for building information and communication infrastructure Eliminating legal and regulatory barriers to the use of information and communication technologies Establishing an enabling environment to foster the free flow and development of information and communication in society Developing policies and implementing plans for using information and communication technologies in the public sector

8. 2-Jun-15 Identifying information and communication applications in areas of highest impact on socio-economic development Facilitating the establishment of locally based, low-cost and widely accessible Internet services and information content Preparing plans to develop human resources in information and communication technologies Adopting policies and strategies to increase access to information and communication facilities with priorities for rural areas, grassroots society, women and youth Raising awareness of the potential benefits of information and communication infrastructure.

9. 2-Jun-15 Concentration on Policy and enabling environment- National Information and Communication Infrastructure plans and policies (NICIs) Infrastructure (connectivity) Content development Democratizing access

10. 2-Jun-15 Implementation Through partnership- PICTA, Global Knowledge Partnership ATAC Major events –1998- global connectivity for African conference –1999- African Development Forum: the challenge to Africa of globalization and the information age

11. 2-Jun-15 ADF themes Information economy Infrastructure Content Policy Governance Democratizing access Report: www.un.org/depts/eca/adf99reportintro.htmwww.un.org/depts/eca/adf99reportintro.htm

12. 2-Jun-15 ADF Focus groups Private sector Diaspora Women Academia Youth

13. 2-Jun-15 Post ADF areas of emphasis Policies and strategies Electronic commerce ICTs and health ICTs and education

14. 2-Jun-15 AISI accomplishments Sensitization Development of national strategies www.bellanet.org/partners/aisi/nici/index.htm www.bellanet.org/partners/aisi/nici/index.htm Promoting connectivity Promoting partnership Stimulating content development: www.bellanet.org/partners/aisi/adf99docs/docs.htm www.bellanet.org/partners/aisi/adf99docs/docs.htm

15. 2-Jun-15 On the ground, 2001 dramatic infrastructure improvements –5 countries connected to Internet (1996) –53 countries connected (2001) 450 ISPs

16. 2-Jun-15 Current situation Internet local call system in 15 countries 20,000 hosts connected to Internet opening of Nigerian and Eritrean markets content growing, particularly in diaspora niches, francophone areas www.bellanet.org/partners/aisi/adf99docs/infras tructure.htm www.bellanet.org/partners/aisi/adf99docs/infras tructure.htm

17. 2-Jun-15 but... most connections in capital cities long distance calls from secondary cities 0.06% connected in SSA only 11 countries with more than 5000 users low total bandwidth (55Mbps) high costs ($50/mo. for 5 hours)

18. 2-Jun-15 trend toward telecommunication liberalization movement from state-controlled centralized domestic monopolies to market-driven, decentralized with foreign participation underway in all but 11 countries most separated posts and telegraph lower computer import duties establishment separate regulatory authorities most liberalization in cellular and broadcasting least in basic telephony

19. 2-Jun-15 Continuing infrastructure insufficiencies little growth in teledensity no regional backbones

20. 2-Jun-15 Demographics of African Internet usage Highly educated, predominantly male users in capital city Communication between Africa and developed world Great emphasis on public access Major institutional users: NGOs, private companies, universities, international organizations

21. 2-Jun-15 Universities access limited Mostly senior faculty, high administration officials connected Virtually no access for students Only 20 African universities with full Internet connectivity

22. 2-Jun-15 History of Internet growth Period of NGO-led Fidonet connectivity (1987-1993) Entry of bi-lateral and multi-lateral projects (1995-2000) –USAID Leland Initiative –UNDP African Internet Initiative and Sustainable Development Network Program –UNESCO RINAF –World Bank InfoDev Private sector led, 1998-present Africa Online major international ISP

23. 2-Jun-15 Current areas of Internet development Online government tender offerings National e-commerce sites Stock exchanges online Radio stations webcasting Webcams

24. 2-Jun-15 Overall situation Spectacular growth in African terms But, falling further behind in relation to rest of world Low investment levels in telecommunications Rapid growth where foreign direct investment permitted

25. 2-Jun-15 Conclusion Continuing need for push on policy front and creation of enabling environments –To release national and diaspora entrepreneurial energy

26. 2-Jun-15 Contacts for further information faye@un.org nhafkin@uneca.org nhafkin@hotmail.com faye@un.org nhafkin@uneca.org nhafkin@hotmail.com http://www.bellanet.org/partners/aisi