FINAL REPORT EAST AFRICA REGIONAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE – Volume I
EAC-Cross-boarder-connectivity
FOREWORD
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Executive Summary
1 Introduction
2 Problem statement and study objectives
2.1 Background
2.2 Effect of liberalization on the Communications Sector in East Africa
2.3 Some persistent challenges to the Communications Sector in East Africa
2.4 Some of the implementation and operational challenges
2.5 Study objectives
3 Methodology of the study
4 Situational analysis
4.1 Overview
4.2 Indicative statistics
4.3 Selected major projects
4.3.1 East African Sub-marine Cable System (EASSy)
4.3.2 East Africa Backhaul System (EABs)
4.3.3 The East African Marine System (TEAMS)
4.3.4 The East African Carrier Project
4.3.5 Lake Victoria Maritime Communications Project
4.3.6 The Regional Communications Infrastructure Project (RCIP)
4.3.7 The Regional ICT Support Program (RICTSP)
4.3.8 The East African digital transmission network project
4.3.9 The East Africa trade and transport facilitation project
4.3.10 Private sector initiatives
4.3.11 Wireless broadband networks
4.4 Selected regional (continental) projects
4.4.1 The African Regional Action Plan on the Knowledge Economy (ARAPKE)
4.4.2 The Indian/Pan-African Satellite (e-network) Project
4.4.3 NEPAD regional broadband ICT infrastructure for Eastern & Southern Africa
4.4.4 COMESA Telecommunication network (COMTEL)
4.4.5 The Southern Africa Regional Information Infrastructure (SRII)
4.4.6 The Pan-African Satellite Project (RASCOM)
4.4.7 Other relevant initiatives
4.5 Policy and regulatory profile
4.6 Institutional framework
4.6.1 Central government level
4.6.2 Regulators
4.6.3 Professional associations
4.6.4 The EAC secretariat
4.6.5 The EAC Summit and Council
4.6.6 The East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA)
4.6.7 Selected best practices
4.6.8 Proposed structure for consideration for the EAC
4.7 Summary
5 Emerging key issues
5.1 Interconnection framework
5.2 East African Submarine Cable System (EASSy)
5.3 East African Backhaul system (EABs)
5.4 TEAMS project
5.5 Under-sea or terrestrial?
5.6 Wireline versus Wireless Broadband Connectivity
5.7 Mobile networks
5.8 Policy, regulatory and legal framework
5.9 Framework for resource sharing
5.10 Institutional arrangements
5.11 Areas needing ITU intervention
5.11.1 Support to EAC Secretariat
5.11.2 Support to EARPTO
5.11.3 Support towards a professional ICT Association
5.12 Summary
6 Recommendations
6.1 Summary of Recommendations
6.2 Short term
6.3 Medium term
6.4 Long term
6.5 Proposed timelines and indicative budget
6.6 Resource mobilization
6.7 Assumptions
6.8 Risks
7 Proposed institutional framework
7.1 Phase I - Strengthened EAC Secretariat and EARPTO
7.2 Phase II - A semi-autonomous Multi-Stakeholder Organization
8 Summary of Responses to Terms of Reference
9 Proposed Further Work
10 Way Forward
11 Conclusions
References
Bibliography
ANNEXES
ANNEX I – Sample list of core ICT indicators (Source: [ITUI’06])
ANNEX II – Terms of reference of study
ANNEX III – Overview of communications infrastructure in East Africa
1 Importance of the communications sector
2 Infrastructure development
3 State of the communications sector
4 Persisting problems of the communications sector
5 Ongoing efforts
6 Way forward
ANNEX IV – EAC WORK PLAN
ANNEX V – ITU, TCRA & ICTS stakeholders’ meeting
1 Meeting agenda
2 Meeting proceedings
List of participants at ITU/TCRA ICT stakeholders workshop
ANNEX VI – Report on ITU/UCC consultative meeting on management and development of connectivity of ICTS in the East...
1 Introduction
1.1 Objectives
2 Agenda
3 Attendance
4 Introductory remarks
5 Tumelo’s presentation
6 Open discussion
6.1 ISP-ITU relationship
6.2 Unsuitable ICT equipment
6.3 ITU role in Internet development
6.4 ICT infrastructure development
6.5 ISP development
6.6 Lake Victoria GSM Project
6.7 ISPs want profit
6.7 IXP development
6.8 Cross-Border Connection
6.9 EARPTO status
6.10 Flexible EASSy Project
6.11 Lack of Sensitisation
6.12 Content development
6.13 ICT sustainability
6.14 Formation of task force
6.15 Holistic national telecommunications policy
6.16 National consultation
6.17 Redefinition of VOIP
7 Any other business
ANNEX VII – Report of the ICT industry stakeholders’ meeting on connectivity
1 Introduction
2 Opening remarks
2.1 Eng. John Waweru - Director General, CCK
2.2 Ms. Chali Tumelo, Senior Advisor for networks management and development, ITU regional office for Africa
2.3 Dr Bitange Ndemo - Permanent Secretary, Ministry of information and communication
3 Stakeholder discussions
3.1 Session I: Government perspective on connectivity
3.2 Deliberations
4 Session II: Operator perspective on connectivity
4.1 Enhancing the capacity of carriers and digital links for cross-border connectivity
4.2 Deliberations
5 Conclusions
ANNEX A – List of participants
ANNEX VIII – The Arusha communiqué on the regional ICT broadband infrastructure
9 Duration and project costs i) Project cost
documentation and publication. ii) Time frame
ANNEX IX – Update on status of the RICTSP within the EAC
1 Objectives
2 Scope
3 Key activities
4 Current status
ANNEX X – Responses and clarifications to some of the questions raisedduring the ITU/TCRA ICT stakeholders workshop
ANNEX XI – Status of policy, regulatory and legislative regimes in the EAC
ANNEX XII – Functions of the EAC Secretariat
ANNEX XIII – Sample Minutes of the EALA Committee on Communications, Trade and Investment
ANNEX XIV – A summary of stated functions, achievements and structures ofAfrican Regional Associations of Regulatory Authorities
ANNEX XV – The Southern Africa Telecommunications Association (SATA) – Its functions, mandate, structure and relationship with SADC
ANNEX XVI – Objectives and principles of NEPAD
NEPAD’S primary objectives
Principles of NEPAD
ANNEX XVII – Project concept for harmonization of regulatory regime
1 Project name
2 Programme / Sector
3 Project objectives
4 Background
5 Justification
6 Intervention strategy
9 Duration and project costs
ANNEX A – Outline of terms of reference for the consultant
ANNEX XVIII – Summary of recommended actions, with benefits,possible impacts and responsible agencies
ANNEX XIX – Summary of recommended actions, with timelines and budget
ANNEX XX – Proposed timelines for institutional restructuring
ANNEX XXI – Organization structure of the East African community