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IT/ITES in Rwanda

IT/ITES in Rwanda. South-South Learning Exchange Visit Monday 9 th , February 2009 Mumbai, India Country Team: Wilson MUYENZI Solange MUKAMURENZI Richard NIYONKURU George BARIGYE Jerome GASANA. Structure . Brief Country Profile Introduction Transformation of Rwanda into an ICT Hub

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IT/ITES in Rwanda

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  1. IT/ITES in Rwanda South-South Learning Exchange Visit Monday 9th, February 2009 Mumbai, India Country Team: Wilson MUYENZI Solange MUKAMURENZI Richard NIYONKURU George BARIGYE Jerome GASANA

  2. Structure • Brief Country Profile • Introduction • Transformation of Rwanda into an ICT Hub • e-Government and e-Governance • Conclusion

  3. Brief Country Profile • Location: Central Africa • Population: 9.2 Million • Land area: 26,338 Sq. Km • Literacy Level: 74% (15 yrs and above) • 45.3% of population are < 15 years • Biggest economic activity is in agriculture

  4. Introduction: Rwanda’s Vision • The vision for Rwanda’s future is enshrined in the Vision 2020 for Rwanda which looks towards the achievement of “a modern and prosperous Nation, strong and united, worthy and proud of its fundamental principals” • Science and technology has a key role to play in the achievement of the Vision and the target is to strengthen and integrate science and technology into the countries strategies and policies to underpin the Vision

  5. To transform our currently Agriculture based economy to a knowledge based economy by year 2020. To use science, technology and ICT as a key enabler of this transformation Two key strategies support the adoption of science, technology, innovation and ICT in Rwanda: the National Policy on Science, Technology and Innovation adopted in 2005 and the NICI Plan (National Information and Communications Infrastructure), a 20 year strategy, now in it’s second phase (2006 –2010). Rwanda’s Vision and the Role of ICT

  6. Transformation into an ICT Hub Growth of economic activities around ICT and Growth of ICT businesses with significant financial turnover World Class Telecom and IT Infrastructure Highly Skilled Work Force Enabling Business / Legal / Regulatory Environment

  7. World Class Telecom / IT Infrastructure • National Backbone Network (Fibre Optic Broadband) • A voice and data backbone network linking all 30 Districts including expansion of the Metropolitan Network in Kigali • Connecting 319 Government Agencies, Schools, hospitals, border posts • A network security system for all Kigali sites and district Headquarters • Wibro Network

  8. Physical Network Design – Backbone Network

  9. World Class Telecom / IT Infrastructure 2. Vibrant Mobile Telecom market - 2 Telecom Operators (Voice and Data) - More than 85% Network Coverage - 13% Mobile penetration rate - 3% Internet penetration rate - Third License awarded in Dec 2008

  10. Telecoms usage in Rwanda compared with region and with Sub-Saharan Africa Total penetration (fixed and mobile) Average for Sub-Saharan Africa (excl. South Africa): 13.7% (Predicted Mobile growth 2009) 20-23% (Predicted Mobile growth 2008) 12-15% (Mobile growth 2007) 7.0% 3.6% Definition: (total telecoms subscribers – fixed and mobile)/population Date: Dec 2006 (most recent data available) Source: ITU

  11. World Class Telecom / IT Infrastructure 3. Regional Communications Infrastructure Project (RCIP - Rwanda) • Roll out of broadband connectivity • International connectivity • Enabling establishment of 3rd party virtual landing station

  12. Global Connectivity SEA ME WE 3 20 SAT-3/WASC SAFE 1 2 3 4 16 23 8 7 17 6 5 9 25 10 22 24 21 11 19 15 14 18 13 12

  13. International Connectivity Submarine Cable Options – East Coast of Africa with landing stations in Mombasa and Dar es Salaam Zanzibar Mahajanga Mtunzini

  14. Schematic of Virtual landing Point The World Bank is supporting Rwanda through their Regional Communications Infrastructure Project (RCIP) to a value of 24M USD principally to support roll out of connectivity Rwanda MTN/ Rwandatel Government of Rwanda Submarine cable landing station Virtual landing station Submarine cables Licensed Operators Rwandan ISPs and Operators 3rd party virtual landing station operator Licensed network operators

  15. World Class Telecom / IT Infrastructure 4. Karisimbi Project • Air Traffic Management • Digital Broadcasting • Climate Change Observatory

  16. Karisimbi Project Karisimbi Project • 50m Mast installed on top of Mount Karisimbi • Electrical power connection direct to summit from Rwanda’s National Electricity system with 200KVA Generator back up • Microwave Transmitters and Receivers – signaling from Karisimbi to Kigali (radio and tv broadcast) • Fibre Optic run from summit to main road to access future national fibre network

  17. Broadcasting Applications for Karisimbi Mt. Karisimbi with its high altitude, presents immense opportunity for easy deployment of broadcasting services and other ICT Technologies to reach many beneficiaries A study is ongoing with Harris Communications to develop a detailed plan to increase national broadcast coverage for television and radio based around Mount Jali, Karisimbi and other transmitter sites Broadcasting Services Under Development FM Radio: Increase Range to 700 km radius by enhancing antennae orientation (vertical as well as horizontal polarisation) Digital Video Broadcast Terrestrial (DVB-T): following pilot phase increase to ten channels with high power transmitter 250 km radius. (Phase out Analogue tv in line with ITU directive by 2015) Other Services Internet – following trial phase of DVB-RCT increase power to achieve 50km radius for rural connectivity

  18. Communications Navigation Surveillance / Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) Rationale: No high altitude control in Central Africa now; Air safety in Africa is serious issue; Central location of Rwanda big advantage; Improved Air traffic Services; Economic Benefits

  19. “Climate Change Observatory and Weather Center” The Rwandan Government is in discussions with MIT for partnership in building and operating a world class “Climate Change Observatory and Weather Center” at the Mountain Karisimbi: The center would take advantage of Rwanda's unique geographic location in the epicenter of central Africa and the Albertine Rift. Global warming in particular, as a major force in climate change, is anticipated to have its major impact on the African continent, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. The center would offer scientists and researchers from around the world an opportunity to gather critical meteorological, seismic and climate change data critical to implementing appropriate international policies to combat climate change.    Rwanda sits on the head waters of both the Nile and Congo River basins and a locating a Climate Change Observatory here offers scientists a front row seat at ground zero for climate change.

  20. Enabling Business, Legal and Regulatory Environment • Enabling telecom regulatory environment • Telecom market liberalization • Facilitating market entry • Institutional and sector reforms • Growth-conducive telecom laws • Licenses that provide all telecom services

  21. Enabling Business, Legal and Regulatory Environment 2. Enabling business growth environment • Tax exemption or relief on ICT related equipment • Consumer protection laws • Policies that promote fair competition • Conducive labour law for skilled professionals

  22. Enabling Business, Legal and Regulatory Environment 3. IT/ITES Sector development • ICT Park to promote and encourage IT business development • Business Process Outsourcing • Call Centers • Remote Process Outsourcing

  23. ICT Park and Incubation Facility Established May 2006 ICT Park Tenant Community April 2008 – 13 companies: 3 local established 3 Foreign Established 6 Local incubators 1 Joint Venture GoR and Foreign Company being incubated  Company Names: A-Link Technologies Family Christian Network Radio and TV Africa BCS Call One Centre E-Tools Gasabo 3D Design Company Dash-S Technlogies Voxiva Inc. INS Rwanda Ltd MIT Rwanda Development Gateway CGISD-NUR Demo Centre ARAVINDSOFT Altech Stream Rwanda

  24. Kigali ICT Park 1

  25. Kigali ICT Park 2

  26. . Design Ltd • Example of Start-Up Company in ICT Park “ENGINEERING SERVICES COMPANY” “ 2D to 3D Conversion Experts” 26

  27. GASABO 3D 2D drawing 3D drawing Computer Aided Manufacturing

  28. GASABO 3D: Individual component & Assembly Design and Manufacture

  29. Gasabo 3D Design e-commerce website: 2D-to-3D CAD file conversion

  30. SKILLS DEVELOPMENT Implementation of NICI has allowed to address the issue of skills scarcity • Govt Ministries and Public Sector Organization organized extensive training programs within the framework of the NICI-2005: Network Technicians, Computers technicians, Software engineers, system managers, etc • Nations Universities and colleges introduced new IT training programs in academic and professional areas: • Between 2002 and 2005: KIST and NUR produced close to 2,000 professionals in Engineering, Technology and Computer Science (Bsc Level) • Emergence of Private ICT training institutions: eg, E-ICT

  31. SKILLS DEVELOPMENT REFORM OF THE EDUCATION SYTSEM: ICT BASED EDUCATION • ICTs in Education Policy: Infrastructure Deployment, Content Development, Teacher Professional Development , etc • Implementation of ICTs in Education programs at all levels: • Primary schools: One Laptop Per Child program • Secondary schools: School-net project (connectivity), e-learning project (ICT equipment), • Universities: Open Distance and e-learning, RwedNet • Teacher Training: Edqual project (Integration of ICT in Learning and Teaching

  32. SKILLS DEVELOPMENT SUCCESSES • KIGALI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY created various ICT based Centres: • Intermediate ICT skills Development Centre: trains technicians in Hardware Maintenance, network design & Admin, Software Dev’t, Web Design, ICDL, Computer Literacy • Regional ICT Training and Research Centre:ICT training and International certification Program • African Virtual University: Distance learning technology to conduct degree and diploma courses in computer Science • E-documentation Centre: Online gateway Most Higher Learning Institutions have developed ACADEMIC programs in IT/ICT: NUR, UAAC, UNILAK, ULK,....

  33. SKILLS DEVELOPMENT SUCCESSES • INCEPTION of the Workforce Development Authority (WDA) and approval of Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET): • Three Tiers TVET system: Vocational schools, Technical Secondary Schools and Colleges of Technology • Targeted numbers of Trainees between 2008-2018:978,828 trainees • ICT SKILL PROGRAMS required: • Network Infrastructure and Cabling • Object oriented Programming • Web design and Development • Database Management • IT security

  34. SKILLS DEVELOPMENT Linkages with Private Sector • Cisco • Microsoft • RedHat Linux • Sun Micro Systems

  35. eGovernment and eGovernance eRwanda Project: Strengthening Government efficiency and effectiveness National eGov Portal (Government Services Online) Equipping and Networking of Gov institutions Paperless Government National ID National Data Centre

  36. Partnerships with India Access to Education IT Training

  37. Major Successes Committed and Visionary Leadership Comprehensive Policy Framework (NICI) Strong Telecom Infrastructure

  38. Issues and Challenges Lack of adequate skills, both technical and soft skills Weak Private Sector Prevailing poverty Lack of capital investment Lack of adequate electricity High cost of telecom services

  39. Expectations from SSLEV Understanding of the Indian and other African countries’ experience with regard to: 1. Skills Development (Building the right capacity, in both quantity and quality) 2. Promoting a vibrant private sector (strategies and programmes aimed at growth of the IT/ITES sector) Share the Rwandan Experience with other participants Create partnerships

  40. Conclusion:The words of His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda “In many cases African institutions of higher education are not able to produce the required quality and quantity of skilled professionals. A multi-faceted strategy aimed at creating this indispensable expertise, while strengthening the capabilities of national and regional training institutions is vital. In addition we need to improve Africa’s record of retaining our professionals, who we often lose to the outside world as soon as they enter the labour market……. With a modern ICT infrastructure, we can strengthen our major cities as hubs of dynamic services-led economic activity, attracting good quality and knowledge-based jobs. his will keep our best and brightest in Africa, where they can build a more prosperous future for themselves and for our continent.” (Welcome Remarks, Connect Africa Summit, 29 October 2007, Serena Hotel, Kigali, Rwanda)

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