Presentation of Background and the Framework Documents for the Broadband for Nigeria (BB4NG) Forum by Titi Omo-Ettu [e-mail] 0802 322 4572

1
Presentation of Background and the Framework
Documents for the Broadband for Nigeria (BB4NG)
ForumbyTiti Omo-Ettutiti_at_cyberschuulnews.com
0802 322 4572

• On the occasion of a
• Stakeholders Forum on Broadband for NIGERIA
• Abuja, July 28, 2010

2
Appreciation

• To Partnership for Higher Education in Africa,
  PHEA, Association for Progressive Communications,
  APC, for providing the support funding for this
  effort.
• To all the supporting Institutions
• ng ICT Forum
• Fantsuam Foundation
• Association of Telecommunications Companies of
  Nigeria, ATCON
• Telecom Answers Associates
• All delegates who are here for this assignment.

3
Why the Subject?

• An interest of .ng ICT Forum in ngREN
• To facilitate collaborative research and
  development and incubate technology
• A study of 1997 vis-à-vis the realities of today
• It is time for CHANGE

4
The 2 Issues

• Objectives of the NGREN
• To facilitate collaborative research and
  development and incubate technology
• The Study of 1997
• Study subject Investment opportunities
  technology options for rural telecommunications
  in Nigeria
• Results
• Investment into rural communications is not
  viable
• No technology that can be appropriate to address
  rural coverage at affordable costs

5
2007!!

• The story is different
• The technologies exist
• The business can be viable
• The people can be mobilized and empowered for
  national development
• 69 of us are in the rural communities
• They have to be empowered and mobilized

6
TWO Documents

• The BACKGROUND Document
• The FRAMEWORK Document

7
The Background Document

• Background to key elements in the Framework
  document
• Basis on which decisions were made
• Facts, not general knowledge, on which the
  recommendations of the Framework document were
  made
• Extent of accessibility, affordability and
  dependability

8
Our MODUS Operandi here today

• We shall present the Case
• We shall present the Background Document
• We shall present the Framework Document
• We shall request that
• We do not get emotional about our deficiencies
  but seek to discuss the solutions rather than our
  frustrations
• We shall not disparage any of our public
  institutions (FG, N/A, Agencies, Universities,
  Students, traders and job seekers etc)

9
What is Broadband?

• broadband is a descriptive term for evolving
  digital technologies that provide consumers a
  signal switched facility offering integrated
  access to voice, high-speed data service,
  video-demand services, and interactive delivery
  services.

10
Why Broadband

• Access to information is capable of promoting
  accelerating development of the country
• ...in a typical developing country, a rise of
  ten mobile phones per 100 people boosts GDP
  growth by 0.6 percentage points
• ... for every 10 percentage point increase in
  penetrations of broadband services, there is an
  increase in economic growth of 1.3 percentage
  points. (Qiang 2009)

11
Economic Value/Social Value

• What do our people want?
• Bread or broadband
• They want bread
• Broadband makes bread but bread does not make
  broadband
• If we have a choice to make let us choose
  Broadband because bread will follow

12
Existing Initiatives in Broadband

• 3 submarine cables now available
• SAT-3, Glo 1, MainONE
• WIN, SABI
• Both still under implementation.

13
The Background Document

• How we arrived here and what next
• A study of other countries approach and
  documentation
• Engagement of a Consultant to prepare the
  documents
• Review of the Consultants work
• Presentation of Review to stakeholders
• Ratification by Stakeholders
• Presentation Stakeholders Framework Document to
  Federal Government

14
Ultimate Goal

• Broadband internet access with speed of at least
  4Mbps that is accessible, affordable and
  dependable to all citizens regardless of their
  status, station or location.

15
5 Key objectives

• To enhance the equitable distribution of the
  value and/or benefits of telecoms infrastructure
  (in general) and broadband (in particular)
  amongst the Nigerian population.
• Addressing network Infrastructure and end user
  devises
• To enhance the capabilities of the Nigerian
  population to make use of and contribute to
  broadband, and in so doing increase its relevance
  to the social development of the
  country/populace.
• Awareness and ability to use. Closure of the
  literacy gap.

16
Awareness Abilities

• To mainstream broadband by enhancing
  understanding of its contribution to social
  development objectives and thereby enhance
  collaboration between relevant public agencies.
• Awareness and ability to use within government
  and public agencies

17
Investments by Federal Government

• Liberalization yes
• Abdication of responsibility, No
• Recoup investment
• Private sector is in business to make profit
• Investment by Government
• Empower the people for productivity
• Deliver social good
• Protect critical investment
• Ensure equity
• Public services are critical and requiring
  intervention of government

18
Monitor Delivery

• To establish a methodology for assessing the
  progress of broadband development in Nigeria in a
  structured way that (i) highlights and (ii) seeks
  to address bottle-necks along/across all layers.
• Awareness of people
• Accountability of public servants

19
The Private Sector is Key

• To maintain an enabling environment for the
  continued (key) role of the private sector in the
  deployment of broadband in Nigeria.
• To avoid waste
• To ensure sustainability
• To promote investment
• To facilitate accountability

20
Background Document The Facts

• Nigeria can be categorized as emerging or
  developing
• The economy is growing fast comparatively within
  Africa
• There is uneven distribution of benefits
• Access to health, education, literary, water,
  shelter all poor
• Poverty rate 74 in 2009
• Populous at 155million
• Large at 909,890 square km
• Access to telephone confined to urban communities
  with less than 30 million users
• Internet access is poor.

21
Plugging the GAPS

• Haves and have-nots
• Rich Poor
• Literate and illiterate
• Urban and rural
• e-literate and illiterate
• Access and no access
• Narrowband Broadband

22
Coverage

• Existing networks cover some
• Market Forces cover some
• Some are not covered and may never be covered
  until there is deliberate intervention
• Expanding access coverage beyond what is
  economically feasible requires direct
  intervention of government.

23
Thank You

• titi omo-ettu
• titi_at_cyberschuulnews.com
• 0802 322 4572