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Overview of Internet in The Gambia

Overview of Internet in The Gambia. By: Muhammed Jah QuantumNET Company Limited. What is covered?. History of Internet in The Gambia Current Situation: Achievements Issues & Constraints Recommendations & Strategies. Brief History of the Internet in The Gambia.

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Overview of Internet in The Gambia

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  1. Overview of Internet in The Gambia By: Muhammed Jah QuantumNET Company Limited

  2. What is covered? • History of Internet in The Gambia • Current Situation: Achievements • Issues & Constraints • Recommendations & Strategies

  3. Brief History of the Internet in The Gambia • 1992-1993 : GAMTEL offered X.25 Network Services in GBA • 1993 : BICI pioneered X.25 WAN in GBA • 1995: GAMTEL introduced CompuServe Services with limited internet access through X.25 with BT Info Services • 1996: Delphi Internet services introduced

  4. Brief History (contd.) • Mar. 1997: Abuja Meeting - UNDP Internet Initiative for Africa • Oct. 1998:2MBps Full Internet backbone nationwide , with 512K gateway bandwidth • Nov. 1998: 2 ISPs operational, Gamtel & QuantumNET

  5. Reference Point • Population ~ 1.3 million • Literacy: 37% • 24 Senior Sec. Schools • 3 Higher learning institutions • UOG being established • Access to PC’s limited

  6. Current Situation - Connectivity • Basic Infrastructure: • Countrywide Internet backbone with 12 PoPs. • No. 3 in Africa, after S.Africa and Egypt, • ISPs connect directly to backbone, no int’t access

  7. Current Situation - Connectivity 512K

  8. Current Situation - Connectivity • Dialup Users: • 1997: <150 • 2000: Total may be 3000 - 5000 people with access (due to sharing), <100 in rural; 120 access lines

  9. Current Situation - Connectivity • Senior Secondary Schools with access: • 6 -10 in GBA, 2 in Provinces, all dialup • Higher Educational Institutions: • 2 with full connectivity: GTMI & MDI • Others on dialup like UoG, Gambia College, GTTI, RDI

  10. Current Situation (connectivity contd.) • Research Centers: • 1 with full connectivity: MRC (Fajara & Farafenni) • NGOs: • Virtually all on dialup, UNDP on full link. • Hotels and Travel agents: • All, on dialup. • Gov. Mins & Depts.: • All in GBA, on dialup. • Cyber-Cafes: • about 10 in 18 months, all in the GBA! 40% Gambians

  11. Current Situation - Cost • Investment: • Before:~$50, 000 for X.25 • After:Total Invest probably >US$2M mainly by UNDP< GAMTEL & QuantumNET. • Dialup Charges: • Before: ~10cents/minute + traffic • After: $17 unlimited access + ~2 cents/minute telephone charges • Leased Charges: • Before: Not applicable • After: $1,500/month for 64K $3000/month for 128K

  12. Current Situation - Capacity building • Training: • Before: few indigenous personnel with knowledge • After: Over 20 personnel from potential ISP's trained on Internetworking through IIA • Equipment: • Before: X.25 switch • After: Cisco routers, access servers, Suns, etc

  13. Current Situation - Key players • Gov. Dept. of State for Works & Comm. • UNDP • GAMTEL • Private ISP • Private Sector - small businesses especially • NGOs, EDU sector, include research institutions

  14. Issues & Constraints • KEY ISSUES: • Policy and Regulation • Connectivity & Costing • PARTNERSHIP & Advocacy - awareness (I-Week) • Innovation & good choice of ICT deployment • ICT Curriculum and Fast Track programs

  15. Issues & Constraints • Very Low PC penetration: • figure not known • Low telephone density: • provinces especially • Very low Computer literacy level: • determined by school literacy • Electricity problems: • especially outside GBA: many fear to install PC’s

  16. Issues & Constraints • ISP operational cost too high: • 64k connection at ~$16,000 pa and Licensing fee ~US$4,000 pa, running costs (electricity, salaries, security). • Low Market base, Revenue Collection, No customer roaming • High PC costs: • due to import tax, etc. • Non-ISP Host Connection too high: • Gamtel charges same rate applied to ISP at $16,000 pa, Special concession 60% discount given to EDU • Low Digital resources: • little online data.

  17. Recommendations & Strategies • Gov. DOS W&C finalize Internet policy issues in NACIP currently in draft • Reduction in Tariffs • Advocacy: more for Internet on public media (I-WEEK 2000, ISOC Gambia Chapter) • Introduce IT education in schools

  18. Recommendations & Strategies • DOS W&C set clear-cut deliberate policies: • DOS W&C institute different boards and working groups for ICT development. • Policy on digitalization of Gov. offices and public data in key institutions: health, finance, etc • Academic institutions be empowered to take charge of Internet administration • 0% tax on IT imports for EDU purposes

  19. Recommendations & Strategies • Differential tariff structure, to encourage more host connection and thus demand. • Deploy inexpensive sharing technologies e.g. Proxy routers, Domain Mail software for schools and training centers, etc. all free with Linux and other packages. • ISDN connection: alternative, can be cheaper for Small businesses.

  20. Recommendations & Strategies (Cont’d) • Our current facility came as a result of UNDP GoG. Partnership in IIA project • ISPs work in partnership with NGOs: to deliver services in rural areas, both benefit. • Technology Programs on GRTS and radio stations • Creation of working groups who can co-ordinate these kind of activities and help build capacity especially for CONTENT development

  21. Conclusion • The way forward • Commitment & dedication of all key players to ensure that Internet is accessible and affordable to everyone

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