[governance] ITU signs deal to build 180 base stations in Africa to expand broadband access

[Jean-Louis FULLSACK]

Sala wrote :

 



 

The ITU stepping in is a valuable assistance if -and only if- it is based on suitable network design and implementation capabilities (and proven field experience) of its experts. There are precisely some doubts about these capabilities when you take a (professional) look on projects like Central African Backbone (cAB) ITU was responsible for, and the blamable "progress" of the panafrican network ... in "progress" since the seventies ! This failure is occurring although ITU's Development Bureau has been chaired since its stting-up (1986) by an African, except during 4 years.

 

Greetings

 

Jean-Louis Fullsack

Former ITU project coordinator in Africa





> Message du 06/08/12 22:08
> De : "Salanieta T. Tamanikaiwaimaro" 
> A : governance at lists.igcaucus.org, "Fahd A. Batayneh" 
> Copie à : "Dr. Alejandro Pisanty Baruch" 
> Objet : Re: [governance] ITU signs deal to build 180 base stations in Africa to expand broadband access
> 
>



> 
> From my exposure to ITU activities, I can conclude that the ITU tend to tap countries that are low on ICT resources, 
>

 

If one looks at the statistics on penetration rates via http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/statistics/index.html you will see that for most of the developing countries have extremely low penetration rates. In a separate thread on Ethiopia, I had attempted to show some of the variables that exist that one could call significant deterrents to rolling out infrastructure. You see the reality is that Telcos will only pump money into CAPEX projects if they know they will get a Return on Investment (RoI). A consistent trend for most Telcos involved in Broadband infrastructure is that they are realising that it takes at least 15 years to recover that RoI.

>
Also consider the IDI ranking which measures a host of things including accessibility, affordability etc, and you will find (not suprisingly) alot of developing countries at the bottom of the rung. Whilst there are numerous studies that show the linkages between broadband deployment/investment with economic growth, there are other factors that put a dampener on basic things like "access". I can only assume that Africa has numerous forums where access challenges would be discussed. I think that sometimes people forget that part of living in an "ecosystem" (apologies to those who despise the term) is that everything has its place. Just as when a species or genus becomes extinct it eventually affects the environment so too in the internet ecosystem.

>
The ITU only steps in when countries through their governments make a request for assistance. As an advocate for development, I think that this should be applauded. One of the Internet Governance policy areas identified in the WGIG 2005 includes high interconnection costs. At some point it would be interesting to see a review of the WGIG Report and its findings.
-- 
>
Salanieta Tamanikaiwaimaro aka Sala
P.O. Box 17862
Suva
Fiji

>
Twitter: @SalanietaT
Skype:Salanieta.Tamanikaiwaimaro
Fiji Cell: +679 998 2851

>
 

> 

> 


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