IROKO PROJECT IROKO Project

What is African? What Do We Know?How Do We Know It?

Film Screening and Panel DiscussionDecember 10, 2008, New York*

*Sponsored in association with New York Regional Association of Grantmakers and Grantmakers in Film + Electronic Media.

What is African? What Do We Know?

How Do We Know It? IROKO Project

This program examines who generates information about Africa and how it impacts funding.

Film Screening of Movement (R)evolution AfricaThis film examines modern African dance and challenges views about what is “African.” Visit www.movementrevolutionafrica.com.

Panel Discussion with Eric Osiakwan & David KobiaA discussion of how technology tools are used to address the challenges facing African communities.

IROKO PROJECT

The IROKO project carries out a series of

activities to promote learning among

funders about the knowledge they have

gained from supporting development

efforts in Africa.

IROKO Project

Presentation: ICT Policy & Technology Innovation in Africa

Description: Eric Osiakwan discusses the evolution of the telecommunications sector since the 1990s

IROKO Project

What is African? What Do We Know?

How Do We Know It?

Presenter: Eric Osiakwan

•Executive Secretary African Internet Service Providers Association (AfrISPA) & Ghana Internet Service Providers Association (GISPA)

•Visiting Fellow and Scholar at Stanford University and Reuters Foundation Digital Vision Program

IROKO Project

What is African? What Do We Know?

How Do We Know It?

ICT Policy & Technology

Innovation in Africa

To view the full text, go to

www.africagrantmakers.org

Eric OsiakwanEric Osiakwan(Still from Webcast)(Still from Webcast)

•Internet growth

•Successes & obstacles

•Development & investment by Africans

•Mobile & Internet technology

Eric OsiakwanEric Osiakwan(Still from Webcast)(Still from Webcast)

Key Points

Impact of World Bank’s Structural Adjustment Program

• De-monopolization of the telecommunications industry in the 1990s

• Creation of Second National Operators (SNOs)

Consequences of Deregulation

• Faliure of SNOs

• Creation of National-level regulatory institutions

• Creation of Internet sector

• Establishment of private media

In Africa

• Mobile penetration = 30%

• Web penetration = 5%

Dynamic Mobile Content

M-Pesa - air time as money for transfer and purchasing www.safaricom.co.ke/index.php?id=745

Ushahidi - combination of sms and web for indentification of “troubled areas” during the Kenya elections www.ushahidi.com

Content Continued

Tradenet - combination of sms and web for farmers and market information exchange. www.tradenet.biz

African Election Portal -combination of sms and web for election information and certified results. www.africanelections.org

Broadband/High Speed Internet Delivered by

•Mobile

•Wireless connectivity

•Wifi

Connectivity Costs More

•Africa pays 400% times more th than developed world for broadband

• Intracontinent communication is delivered through 3rd parties resulting in higher costs

•2002 estimates = “Capital flight” of US$500m

Efforts to Create More IXPs

•Internet eXchange Points (IXPs) ensure local communication is kept local.

•22 IXPs currently exist

•African Internet Service Providers Association (AfrISPA) is working with countries to establish IXP’s

More IXPs Continued

•AFrISPA’s African Internet eXchange System (AXIS) seeks to build a IXP in each country and to connect countries through cross-border land connectivity

High Cost of External Connection

•Africa’s international connectivity is via satellite (VSAT

• 2MB connection via VSAT costs between $5 to $7K monthly

•Efforts underway to build fiber connectionsfor more broadband connectivity to lower costs.

Broadband Costs Expected to Decrease Over Next 3 Years

WHY?

•TEAMS (cable provider) is proposing 2MB at $500 per month

•Other cable providers indicatethey can provide broadband at same or cheaper costs

3 to 5 Year Growth in Internet Subscribers

WHY?

•Cheaper broadband developments

•Lower PC prices increase access

•Entry of low priced laptops i.e. One Laptop per child

Telecommunications in Africa

A FORECAST!

• Combines with innovations in digital technology

• Creates SMEs

• Creates the enterprises oftomorrow