ITU Arab Regional Internet & Telecom Summit - May 2001 Information Technology Community Telecenters in Egypt Dr. Sherif Hashem Director, Information Society Development Office Ministry of Communications and Information Technology

Outline Internet in Egypt: Status Quo CIT Challenges National CIT Plan Multipurpose Community Telecenters Models The Sharkeya Project The Road Ahead

Internet Access In Egypt Highlights

Internet Access in Egypt 1M users (estimated) compared to 407M WW (NUA Survey – Nov`00) Most access is in the capital & major cities Internet utilization rate of 1 in 65 compared to a WW rate of 1 in ISPs FREE Cost: dialup $25-lifetime FREE Internet

Some Key CIT Challenges Content Culture Language Skills Access to computers Access to the Internet Access to software Access to technical expertise

National CIT Plan (Dec`1999) CIT Industry Development Human Resource Development Communication Infrastructure Development Information Infrastructure Development

Telecenters In Egypt Highlights

Multipurpose Community Telecenters (MCTs): General Services Affordable public access to information services Professional technical and technological support to users from various sectors An enabling environment for the creation of local information content in various sectors

Egyptian MCT Models UNDP-Supported Technology Access Community Centers (3+2 TACCs) IDSC Governorate Program (>1300 centers) 21st Century Kids Clubs (>40 clubs) Technology Clubs (300 clubs by Dec`2001) CIT Community Centers (20 centers by Dec`2001)

Critical Success Factors for MCTs Community involvement Partnership: Government Private sector NGOs International organizations Championship

The Sharkeya TACC Project A UNDP/UNV project established 3 TACCs: 2 in Zagazig, and 1 in 10th of Ramadan City Project partners: Sharkeya Governorate, IDSC, Investors Association of 10th of Ramadan City, Chamber of Commerce Implemented by RITSEC Support from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (Information Society Development Office)

MCTs Impact To-date TACCs: trained 100s of professional users in the SME sector, students, etc. IDSCs: trained more than 200,000 person over the last three years. Kids Clubs: served about 14,000 users in the last year.

The Right Model ?! A model which has to be flexible and adjustable following the changes in community needs and priorities

MCT: The Road Ahead Strategic level: National CIT Plan, International/Regional Partnerships, Private Sector, NGOs, SMEs, others. Implementation level: Specialized MCTs, roadshows and awareness campaigns.

For More Information Visit Ministry of Communications and Information Technology Information Society development Office or Thank You ……