1ST NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COMMUNICATIONS

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES TO UGANDA’S COMMUNICATIONS SECTOR

GOVERNMENT PLANS TO SUPPORT HIGH SPEED INTERNET ACCESS

JAMES SAAKA:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

NATIONAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AUTHORITY, UGANDA

OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION

1. ICT/IT and the National Development Agenda

2. Policy, Institutional and Regulatory Reforms

3. Initiatives for developing the National ICT Infrastructure

4. The case for the National Backbone Infrastructure/e-

government infrastructure Project

5. Other initiatives to promote and support high speed

internet access

6. Challenges,

7. Opportunities, Prospects and Way forward 8/12/2011

ICT AND THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENDA

Having identified inadequate stock and quality of physical infrastructure as a key binding constraint to national development - the Government of Uganda has prioritized ICT as a strategy and tool for ensuring faster transformation of the country from a peasant to prosperous knowledge based economy.

Enhancing the use and application of ICT services in business and service delivery is a core strategy for both the NDP and the NRM manifesto.

Promotion of science, technology, innovation, and Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) is one of the eight objectives of the NDP.

The NDP and NRM manifesto do recognize ICTs as critical enabling factor for the conducive functioning of the rest of the economy as well as facilitating efficient public service delivery.

Besides, the classification of sectors depending on their contribution to development under the NDP also puts the ICT sector among the primary growth drivers.

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NDP - EGG ANALOGY

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POLICY, INSTITUTIONAL & REGULATORY REFORMS

Since the 1990s, the government has implemented a number of policy, institutional and regulatory reforms in the ICT with the aim of promoting faster development of ICT infrastructure; greater access to affordable communications, broadcasting and IT services; high speed internet access and e-government.

The reforms included:1) Liberalisation of the communications and broadcasting

industry (allowing competition in the sector)

2) Privatization and divestiture

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POLICY, INSTITUTIONAL & REGULATORY REFORMS

3. Creation of independent regulators and standard agencies i.e.

UCC)/BC for Communications and Broadcasting, NITA U for IT POSTA Uganda for postal and Courier services UIICT for telecommunication capacity building

In 2006 all issues relating to ICT were put under a single policy framework, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MoICT) with full political leadership and technical departments.

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INITIATIVES FOR DEVELOPING THE NATIONAL ICT INFRASTRUCTURE

In general, the reforms in the ICT sector have contributed enormously towards the development of the National ICT infrastructure especially in communications and broadcasting subsectors.

In regard to IT subsector, the government has taken more proactive steps to develop the infrastructure through development of the National Backbone Infrastructure/E-Government Infrastructure (NBI/EGI) project.

The rest of the presentation will focus on the NBI/EGI project outlining the past achievements, on-going initiatives and future plans of Government in relation to supporting high speed internet access across government and promotion of e-government.

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NITA U ESTABLISHMENT The National Information Technology Authority Uganda (NITA-

U) was established by an Act of Parliament (National Information Technology Authority, Uganda Act of 2009).

The statutory mandate of NITA-U is to; Coordinate, promote and monitor Information Technology (IT) developments in Uganda within the context of National Social and Economic development

The Vision of NITA-U: A facilitator of a knowledge-based, globally competitive Uganda where social transformation and economic development is supported through Information Technology enabled service.

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NITA U ESTABLISHMENT CONTNITA U Key objectives include : To provide high quality Information Technology Services to

Government; To Promote standardization in the planning, acquisition,

implementation, delivery ,support and maintenance of information Technology equipment and services, to ensure uniformity in quality, adequacy and reliability of Information Technology usage in Government and throughout Uganda;

To promote cooperation, coordination and rationalization among users and providers of Information Technology at National and Local level so as to avoid duplication of efforts and ensure optimal utilization of scarce resources; and

To promote and be the focal point of co-operation for Information Technology users and providers at regional and International levels;

To provide access to and utilization of Information Technology by the special interest groups..

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NITA U ESTABLISHMENT CONT

NITA U key functions include

To provide first-level Technical support and advice for

critical Government IT Systems including managing the

utilization of the resources and infrastructure for

centralized Data Center facilities for large systems

To identify and advise Government on all matters of

Information Technology Development, utilization and

deployment including systems development, Information

Technology Security, training and support

To co-ordinate, supervise and monitor the utilization of the

Information Technology in the public and private sectors;

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NITA U ESTABLISHMENT CONT

NITA U key functions include To regulate and enforce standards for Information

Technology hardware and software equipment procurement in all Government Ministries, Departments, agencies and parastatals;

To create and manage the national databank, its inputs and outputs

To set, monitor, and regulate standards for information Technology planning, acquisition, implementation, delivery, support, organization, sustenance, disposal, risks management, data protection, security and contingency planning;

To regulate the electronic signature infrastructure and other related matters as used in the electronic transactions in Uganda;

To promote and provide technical guidance for the establishment of e-Government, e-Commerce and other e-Transactions in Uganda;

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NITA U ESTABLISHMENT CONT

NITA U key functions include To provide for information management services through

acting as records management facility and information repository;

To provide guidance in information technology audit services to Government;

To provide guidance on the establishment of an infrastructure for information sharing by Government and related stakeholders;

Note : The detailed objects and functions of the Authority are respectively spelt out in section 4 and 5 of the NITA-U Act

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BACKGROUND - THE NBI/EGI PROJECT The GoU, through NITA-U is implementing the National

Data Transmission Backbone Infrastructure and e-Government Infrastructure Project (NBI/EGI) whose major aims are to connect all major towns within the country onto an Optical Fibre Cable based Network and to connect Ministries and Government Departments onto the e-Government Network to deliver high speed internet/broadband

The NBI/EGI is composed of two components, the National Data Transmission Infrastructure (NBI) and the e-Government Infrastructure (EGI). Phases I and II have been completed and consist of the following: Laying of 1536.39Km of Optical Fibre Cable across the country

to build the National Data Transmission Backbone; Linking Uganda to neighbouring countries – Kenya (Malaba &

Busia, Southern Sudan (Elegu); Connecting the towns of Kampala, Entebbe, Bombo, Mukono,

Jinja, Busia, Tororo, Malaba, Kumi, Mbale, Soroti, Lira, Gulu, Masindi, Nakasongola, Luwero, Mbarara, Kasese, Fort Portal and Kyenjojo.

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BACKGROUND - THE NBI/EGI PROJECT The EGI component is intended to connect all Ministries

and Government Departments into an e-Government Network to provide services such as internet, videoconferencing, data and voice communication. The EGI consists of the following:

Installation of the Primary Data Centre for the Government at Statistics House has been completed with messaging and collaboration software installed that will be piloted in State House, Ministry of ICT and NITA – U. Extension to other MDAs will follow the rollout of the pilot sites;

Connection of 27 Ministries and some Departments through the laying of Optical Fibre Cable onto the e-Government Network;

Deployment of services such as videoconferencing, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Data exchange and internet access over the e-Government Infrastructure.

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NATIONAL BACKBONE INFRASTRUCTURE

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Phase 1: Kampala Metropolitan

Area (27 Ministries), Entebbe,

Jinja, Mukono and Bombo

5 transmission sites

Key

Phase 2: Luwero, Nakasongola, Masindi, Gulu, Nimule, Lira, Soroti, Kumi, Mbale, Tororo, Malaba, Busia, Hoima, Kyenjojo, Fort Portal, Kasese, Bushenyi, Mbarara17 transmission sitesDatacentre for NBI

infrastructurePilot for messaging & collab.

tools

Phase 3: Katuna, Kabale,

Ntungamo, Masaka

3 transmission sites

MONUC (Entebbe)

Network Operating Centre (NOC)

Transmission sites

BENEFITS OF THE NBI/EGI PROJECT Seamless and secure communication for Government

institutions. High speed data and Internet connectivity throughout the

country to all major towns and District headquarters to enable the provision of eGovernment Services such as eHealth, online Education, eTax, Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) to all districts and towns.

Provision of connectivity to targeted user groups (Schools, Institutions of Higher Learning and Hospitals, Research institutions etc) to enable them access high speed internet bandwidth at reduced costs

High speed internet bandwidth to the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Centres across the country to provide jobs to the unemployed youth and generate revenue for Government.

Finally, the extra capacity that will be utilized to generate revenue for GoU through the commercialization of the Infrastructure. This will ensure that Government will be able to repay the concessional loan utilized for Phases I, II and III and fund the expansion of subsequent phases.

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STATUS OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE NBI

1. Conducting Forensic and Security audit of the NBI2. Commercialization of phase I & II of the NBI3. Implementing Phase III of the NBI4. Implement Masaka- Mutukula OFC connection as an

alternative route to the sea cables5. Bulk purchase of broadband for MDAs & LG6. Extending fibre and last mile solutions to critical sites

that will drive accelerated value creation: District Head offices, Hospitals (District and Referral) Police (posts, prioritized stations and barracks)

7. Establishment of a National databank to enable e-Government Services

8. Design of Phase 4 to cover especially Northern Uganda 8/9/2011

NBI – PHASE 4

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OTHER INITIATIVES TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT HIGH SPEED INTERNET ACCESS

1. Provision of conducive legal and regulatory environment - a set of regulations to promote e-government have already been enacted these include;

e-transactions, e-signature and computer misuse act among others.

2. Promoting secure access for online transactions through the implementation of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)

3. Promoting community-based information systems through the District Business Information Centres (DBICS) and Internet Point of Presence (POPs).

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OTHER INITIATIVES TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT HIGH SPEED INTERNET ACCESS

4. Establishment of National IT Standards & Regulatory Framework and Systems

5. Conducting of the e-readiness survey – this survey aims at:o Establishing the current status and capacity of e-

government infrastructure and facilities. o Establishing IT capacity gaps and benchmarks o Developing an updatable database for national IT capacity

6. Development of e-Government Services

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Isolated IT

Inter-operabl

e ITDevelo

pE-Govt

CreateEnabling

environment

Build IT infrastructu

re

“Interoperable IT is our strategic intent, our rallying call for IT”We will measure interoperability across:

WhatProven National

development contribution

HowBenchmarkedperformance

WhoRecognised ITprofessionals

“Isolated IT ”

1. Each MDA /LG use their own IT infrastructure2. Isolated IT systems in MDAs & LGs3. No interoperability between IT systems4. High maintenance costs

•Operationalise NBI Phase 1 & 2

• Deliver bulk internet bandwidth for MDAs, LGs

• Implement Phase 3

• Implement last mile

• Develop national data centre & shared services for MDAs/LG

• Implement Masaka - Mutukula

“Develop IT infrastructure to support National

development programs”

•Operationalise the cyber laws

• Implement the Public Key Infrastructure

• Establish the National IT standards and regulatory framework

• Establish framework for management of IT Programmes

“Develop the regulatory

environment”

“Develop e-Govt (G2C, G2G, G2B, G2E)”

•Conduct e-govt readiness survey

• Messaging & collab. Tools, Video conf. , VoIP

• Establish national databank

• Develop e-govt architecture blueprint, appl. & tech. roadmaps

• Develop interoperability framework

• Develop e-govt solutiions

KNOW WHERE WE ARE KNOW WHERE WE WANT TO GET TOPLAN OUR STEPS MEASURE OUR PROGRESS

Roadmap to

Inter-operable IT

1. Shared IT infrastructure services2. Interoperable IT systems in MDAs & LGs3. Lower maintenanceCosts4. 80% of all MDA/LG offices interconnected

“Coordinated &Harmonised National IT Systems”

CHALLENGES AND MITIGATION MEASURES

Inadequate resources – competing national needs

and priorities

Resistance to change from manual to electronic

enabled systems

Rapid changes in technology

Underdeveloped complementary infrastructure

such as Energy, constrain expansion and roll out of

IT

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OPPORTUNITIES, PROSPECTS AND WAY FORWARD

• There is enormous goodwill of stakeholders coupled with growing recognition of the role IT can play in social and economic development

• Uganda exhibits a growing cadre of IT professionals including zealous and explorative youths

• Global and regional IT/ICT initiatives such as ITU/NEPAD Infrastructure programme eg. EASSy (Submarine cable project).

• E-government/IT support services and applications – e-banking, e-taxation, e-learning etc.

• Prospects for PPP (commercialization of the NBI, possibility of hosting a Government portal etc) which will address the challenge of underfunding

• Prioritisation of IT in the national development agenda (NDP, NRM Manifesto etc) cannot be overemphasised.

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END

THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION

FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY

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