satellite communications tool for sustainable development in africa
TRANSCRIPT
Satellite Communications
Tool for Sustainable
Development in Africa
Tihomir DIVJAK
EURO World Network
Current status
Information Society became major domain of human society
Life within IS: daily usage of ICT – an indispensable privilege
Need for daily online communication
Devastating ICT statistic in Africa
Digital gap and how to overcome it in the shortest timeframe
Answer: over satellite
Benefits of satellite solutions
Immediate availability, 24/7, everywhere
High QoS and large transfer of data
Economically feasible system
Two-way connectivity and interactivity
Instant bridging of the digital gap
Modest tariffication - similar to ADSL
Satellite Broadband is the main stream for Africa
Implementation of ICT and the
Information Society
Investments in ICT increase national GDP
WB 2009 study: ICT for economic development and new jobs creation
10% increase of investment in introduction of fast internet causes a 1.3% rise of GDP
Doubling broadband speed upgrades GDP by 0.3%
BB key of economic growth and education development in the world
Actual situation
Modestly developed ICT systems in Africa
Submarine cables are the main transmission systems
Cable cuts disrupt the free flow of information
Africa regional BC and BB
projects via satellite
RASCOM-QAF1R
Nilesat-201
Many national DTH platforms
Kufra, the largest district in Libya, KASAT
Available capacity on satellites over Africa: KASAT, Yahsat, ST2, T11N, Intelsat22, NSS12…
Best case practice of BB via
Satellite
Satellite broadband services for the parliamentary elections in Burkina Faso on December 2, 2012
Connectivity between the 45 electoral district offices with the central election office in Ouagadougou
14,698 polling stations across the country
Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Limited Project
Nigeria NigComSat-1R satellite Ka band coverage
NSS-12 Ku-band capacity linking Europe and West Africa
SatADSL new high-speed satellite broadband ATM networks for banks based in Ghana, Cameroon and Zambia
Satellite broadband brings cash machines to rural areas in Africa
June2012
341 million people in sub-Saharan Africa to travel at least 50 kilometers to the place with BB Internet
Estimated 40% of sub-Saharan Africa will not have access to BB
Greater use of satellites is needed.
Digital Internet Café, Kampala, Uganda
Relevant policy documents
ITU Broadband Commission
UNDP
UNESCO
UNICEF
Millennium Project
WEF - The Global Information Technology Report 2012
UNESCO data for 2010
61 million children not enrolled in primary schools
71 million of lower-secondary school students not included in education system
Most of these children live in sub-Saharan Africa
Need for additional 1.7 million teachers
ITU data end of 2012
Nearly 2.5 billion people using the Internet services
Only 25% live in developing countries
6% in least developed countries
In 17 countries Internet subscription exceeds average monthly salary
Education as pillar for future
development and growth
Broadband satellite systems for sustainable development
"Healing" of the local economy
Introduction of new electronic services and systems
Growing needs in the field of new e-Services: e-Learning, e-Democracy, e-Health, and e-Governance
Advantages and benefits of
implementation
Citizens
Municipalities and cities management
Business persons
Spatial Planers
Governments
Broader and faster implementation
Use of special VPN networks
SITE - Satellite Instructional
Television Experiment
School-year: 1975/76
More than 2400 villages in six Indian states
ATS-6 satellite
SITE was followed by similar experiments in various countries
Important role of satellite TV for education
Importance of e-Learning
For primary, secondary or university education
For SOHO, SME or studying at home
For individual B2C, and business B2B needs
Satisfy the needs of the population in rural areas too
Imperative to bridge the severe digital divide
Actual needs and “Must Be”
program
Particular importance in Africa’s developing countries
ICT must be intensively used in the African region
ICT is the catalyst for sustainable development in the near future
Starting with an e-Learning project No time for further delay in development Lack of funding could be solved with banking
assistance from: WB, EBRD, EIB, EC Fonds and similar financial institutions
Bottom-up proposal (1)
Higher usage of ICT for Africa
Greater application of modern satellite technologies
ICT as a guarantee for sustainable development
Use of Ku and new Ka band satellites
Price of two-way ground equipment an important factor
Bottom-up proposal (2)
Definition and implementation of general development project
Create conditions for the parallel and better development in Africa
ICT improves education
New job creation
Support for local development and democratization
Use of specialized satellite systems on the case by case basis
Strategic conclusions
Recommendation of the Conference to support this initiative
GFS Institute to assist and coordinate the developing of project
Creation of e-Learning Task Force Group
Project as real European aid to Africa
Coordinating potential partners in Africa and abroad
Support of EC - facilitating implementation
Thank you for your attention