Transcript Document 7277828

First Annual W2i Digital Communities
Best Practices Awards
Jigawa Information Technology Initiative Nigeria
Project Lead:Laurent Gil
Organization: Jigawa Government
Email:[email protected]
Date: 9/5/2005
Country: Nigeria
Web site:
Background
•
Population
State of Jigawa, Nigeria
4 million people
•
Geographic
Semi arid to arid area, 200km x 400km. Generally flat, small hills.
•
Economic
Agriculture.
•
Regulatory
The Nigeria regulation authority follows the FCC recommendations (2.4GHz
and 5.8GHz are unlicensed).
•
Community
3 large cities (>50,000 habitants). No fixed telephone lines. Partial electricity
access. Large University specialized in Information/Communication
Technology opened in 2003. 2000 students.
•
IT readiness
Government services and young population is aware of Internet/data access via
cybercafes, school access, provided by the local government.
Project History
•
Most of the state of Jigawa, Nigeria, is rural and semi rural. In 2001, the population
had no access to internet and information technology. There were no relevant fixed
telephone lines, and no dial-up access in any part of the state.
•
The Jigawa Information Technology Initiative was part of a broad strategic
vision to foster economic development of the State via the use of technology. It was
started by Governor Turaki in 2001, shortly after he got elected to Governorship.
His objective was to bring awareness to internet and information technology to the
local population of the state of Jigawa, via cyber-cafés, school and university,
public libraries and Government services.
•
The first phase consists in the implementation, operational since 2003, of a network
of 47 access points, across the state, using a satellite backhaul and fixed wireless
technology as last mile. The second phase is the expansion of the access by the
creation of a state university focused in Information Technology. The university
opened in 2003 and now has 2000 college students. The third and current phase is
the development of a massive VoIP network, to provide basic mobile voice services
in the state and its neighboring states.
•
Funding was provided by the state and federal level, with help of the World Bank.
Mission & Objectives
•
Mission statement:
Initiative to foster economic
development of the local state of
Jigawa via the use of information
technology.
Provide information,
communication and infrastructure
for the population of the state of
Jigawa.
Education on information
technology: develop a University
focused on ICT, and Internet access
in public schools.
•
Project Objectives:
(1) Stimulate the local economic
development using information
technology;
(2) Provide an equal chance of
education for Jigawa young
population;
(3) Make the state of Jigawa the
reference in terms of ICT in the
country of Nigeria.
Possible Solutions
• Available alternatives:
– Use NITEL (Nigeria Telecommunication, the telecom
incumbent in Nigeria);
– Technology: copper wires.
• Chosen alternative
- The local government decided to manage the project
locally, because of the failure of NITEL to provide any
relevant telecommunication infrastructure. The project
is developped and operated by a state-owned company
(Galaxy ITT Inc.).
Business Model
• Community outreach undertaken, role of various stakeholders in
the process:
The local government provided the funding and the management of the
project. The Emirs, traditional authority in the main cities, were
instrumental in facilitating the local implementation, either by
providing real-estate or by supporting and sponsoring the initiative
toward the population. The Emir of Kazaure was instrumental in the
opening of the University of Kazaure.
• Targeted users:
– Current: young people, schools, university students, local economic
players (such as agriculture information, etc.);
– Future: general population, via the extension of the network to provide
low cost voice and portable phone services.
• Partnerships: local community.
Project Economics
• Cost structure:
– Internet access: start-up costs and operational costs are low, due to the low
cost structure in Nigeria. The highest cost is the satellite backhaul (USD
30k/month).
• Investment Sources/ Funding Sources
– How is the project funded: financing from the state level, federal and
World bank.
– Investment level: USD 6 millions were necessary to build the main
satellite hubs and the satellite access points.
– Investment level at the university: TBA.
• Revenue Source/ Return on Investment
– The state currently provides nearly free access (symbolic cost for the end
user).
– The technology university is free to the students from the state of Jigawa.
Out of state students pay university fees.
– The voice project will be provided at cost + 40% margin (industry
average), when it is implemented. It will be operated by a private
company.
Applications
•
Current applications:
(1) Education network, e-learning using professors and classes from
prestigious universities in the United Kingdom (Oxford) and
Australia;
(2) Agriculture information such as weather patterns, and
selection/research of seeds, etc. The network serves the Jigawa
Agriculture Research Center;
(3) General access of internet, emails, etc.
(4) Connection of Government services to the federal government
networks.
•
Future/Potential applications:
We are now studying the implementation of a ultra low cost portable
phone system, based on PHS system, using the Internet (VoIP)
network as backhaul/interconnexion. Tests with 700 users in Dutse
(the state capital) showed economic returns for revenues of USD5
per user.
Network Schematic
Network Schematic:
• Backhaul using satellite (PanamSat 1.5Mbps);
• Last mile: low-cost Wi-Fi and WiMAX fixed wireless.
Most of the cities in Jigawa are covered.
State the chosen/considered & why
– Technology providers: satellite (PanamSat), no alternative
(no copper of fiver optic access). The topology of the state
(large flat areas) makes it an ideal case of massive fixed
wireless deployment;
– systems integrators: IdeaValley Brazil;
– and service providers: none.
Deployment
• Timeline:
– Past: 2001~2005: deployment of 47 access points, creation of the
university;
– Current (2005~2006): deployment of long-range radio-frequency
backhaul, using point to point WiMAX, to support voice and higher
bandwidth;
– Future (2006~): deployment of a mobile phone network, using the satellite
and RF backhaul.
• Sustainability and Scalability of the project
– The Internet access is considered a public service and will stay free (or
with a symbolic cost for the general use). The operating company, Galaxy
is being privatised and will receive subsidies by the local government for
government access;
– The university is a public/private partnerhsip. It is privately managed, and
receives scholarship for in-state students (50% of the students). Out of
state students pay full tuition fees (50% of the students);
– The voice project (2006~) is a private company that will have a
concession for voice services. It has target prices obligations
(US$ 5/month/client, unlimited local call access).
Impact Analysis
Actual impact
• Information technology access in Jigawa is starting to
bring businesses in the state.
• The university creates a sophisticated urban tissue in the
city of Jigawa.
• Jigawa Agriculture Research Center opened its doors in
2003 in Kazaure.
• In 2005, IdeaValley, from Brazil, decided to create its
Nigerian branch in Kazaure.
• Jigawa Savings and Loans bank was created by using the
communication system of the state, etc.
Lessons Learned & Next Steps
• Implementation and execution of ambitious
technology projects in Africa are challenging,
but the Jigawa initiative also shows that it is a
possible task.
• High technology, not low technology is often
the solution. Implementing a massive scale
VoIP is now the next challenge of the Jigawa
Information Technology Initiative.