African Information Society Initiative

an Action Framework to Build Africa’s Information and Communication Infrastructure

Apr 18, 2023

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)

Apr 18, 2023

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

Apr 18, 2023

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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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Concentration on

Policy and enabling environment- National Information and Communication Infrastructure plans and policies (NICIs)

Infrastructure (connectivity) Content development Democratizing access

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Implementation

Through partnership-PICTA, Global Knowledge PartnershipATAC

Major events– 1998- global connectivity for African

conference– 1999- African Development Forum: the

challenge to Africa of globalization and the information age

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ADF themes

Information economy Infrastructure Content Policy Governance Democratizing access Report: www.un.org/depts/eca

/adf99reportintro.htm

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ADF Focus groups

Private sector Diaspora Women Academia Youth

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Post ADF areas of emphasis

Policies and strategies Electronic commerce ICTs and health ICTs and education

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AISI accomplishments

Sensitization Development of national strategies

www.bellanet.org/partners/aisi/nici/index.htm

Promoting connectivity Promoting partnership Stimulating content development: www.

bellanet.org/partners/aisi/adf99docs/docs.htm

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On the ground, 2001

dramatic infrastructure improvements– 5 countries connected to

Internet (1996)– 53 countries connected (2001)

450 ISPs

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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/infrastructure.htm

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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)

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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

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Continuing infrastructure insufficiencies little growth in teledensity no regional backbones

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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

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Universities access limited Mostly senior faculty, high

administration officials connected Virtually no access for students Only 20 African universities with

full Internet connectivity

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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-presentAfrica Online major international ISP

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Current areas of Internet development Online government tender

offerings National e-commerce sites Stock exchanges online Radio stations webcasting Webcams

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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

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Conclusion

Continuing need for push on policy front and creation of enabling environments

– To release national and diaspora entrepreneurial energy

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Contacts for further information

faye@un.orgnhafkin@uneca.orgnhafkin@hotmail.com

http://www.bellanet.org/partners/aisi