smit – studies on media, information and telecommunication pleinlaan 2 – 1050 brussels –...

SMIT – Studies on Media, Information and TelecommunicationPleinlaan 2 – 1050 Brussels – Belgium – T. +32 2 629 24 18 – F. +32 2 629 28 61 - [email protected] – http://smit.vub.ac.be

ICTs and Information Dessiminationin Developing Countries. The use of Telecentres and MPCCs in South Africa.

SMIT – IBBTLeo Van Audenhove

STIMULATE5-6 October 2004Brussels

http://smit.vub.ac.be

Introduction

• Rise of ICTs and Internet 1990s Strong believe in role of ICTs for development Telecom infrastructure underlying network for access But: Major disparities and differences

West: • Near universal service• Relatively high PC penetration

South:• Very low access to telecommunication• Even lower individual ownership of ICTS

• Policies for e-inclusion must be different West: measures to stimulate individual adoption South: measures to stimulate community access


Access disparityAccess to communication technologies

Flanders SSAfrica

2003 2001 2001

Radio NA NA 25,12%

Television 99% 99% 7,60%

Mobile 75% 55% 2.94%

Landline 83% NA 2,45%

PC 63% 53% 0,72%

Internet 47% 33% 0,61%Source: VRIND, 2003 & Mike Jensen, African Internet Status, 2001


Telecentres: To broad a concept

• Publicly accessible places giving access to ICT services Stimulating socio-economic development Especially for rural development

• Three main categories Phoneshops: small-scale

Basic telecommunication facilities Telecentres: medium-scale

Computer and Internet facilities Multi-Purpose Community Centres: medium- to large-

scale Computer and Internet facilities Embedded in broader socio-econ. support programmes


Relation to socio-economic development• Threefold relation:

Telecentres provide access to ICTs and information Contribute to economic development

• Enhances effectiveness and efficiency Contribute to socio-econ. development

• Provide access to governmental, educational, agricultural, information

Telecentre enhance the platform for the use of services Stimulates the local content and service industry

Telecentres are an important industry in their own Providing local employment and economic activity


Outline of the presentation

• Discussion of the three types of telecentres Characteristics of the Model Advantages Disadvantages & Problems Policy & Regulation


Phoneshop

• Model: Small scale Mostly privately owned

As a result of private initiative (local shopkeepers) Often under franchises

Equipment: basic telecommunication facilities Telephone, fax (sometimes photocopy and Internet)

• Advantages Easy to spread in terms of number

E.g. Senegal 10.000 in (1998) & South Africa 1.700 (1999) Important indirect socio-economic impact: employment

• South Africa: 2.500 jobs in rural or semi-rural areas


• Disadvantage & Problems Difficult to spread in geographic terms

Often not profitable in poor rural areasStops at boundaries of existing networkDifficult to use for socio-ec. Development in very poor

areas

Only basic services No platform for service industryWeaker impact in terms of socio-ec. Development

• In comparison to Internet access


• Policy & Regulation Extending network into rural areas

Precondition for success in rural areas

Pricing of high importance for successPrices needs to be low enough to allow profit E.g. South-Africa Vodacom Phoneshops

• Prices rather low for franchises• Pricing part of licence for mobile operator

Possible extension of services (e.g. Internet)Micro-loans for upgrading to Internet

• Could be based on Universal Service Fund


Telecentre

• Model: Medium scale Community, NGO or privately based Often supported by national or international donor

At least for initial investment Often even in terms of daily working

Equipment: well equiped Telephone, fax, photocopy, computer, Internet

• Advantages As subsidised: More easy to spread into rural areas

Due to financing, profitability not directly necessary Possible important socio-economic impact

Better services through Internet


• Disadvantage & Problems Difficult to spread in terms of numbers

Due to large investment needed South Africa

• after three years only 60 operational• 3 to 5000 needed for geographic coverage

Use of computer and internet-services weak South Africa: barely used - 6% uses computers Peru

• Used by the poor, but with certain education• Large groups not reached

Needs to be stimulated (training) - Long term process• But local expertise and funds often not available

Local content lacking: no use for peoples specific context


• Policy & Regulation Difficult to implement

Many constraining factors• Lack of education, local resources, high-level TC infrastructure

(broadband access) Makes that government has to formulate policy in different

areas (education, content, etc.) Pricing also important

When phoneshops also present: prices have to be nearly equal (e.g. Problem in South Africa)

Stimulating network roll-out in rural areas Search for alternative means of roll-out (satellite)

Problems of funding


MPCC: MultiplePurposeCommunityCentres

• Model: Medium (to large) scale Characteristics of telecentre BUT embedded in broader developmental

workingWelfare organisations, educational projects,

agricultural programmes, etc. Both state, private and civil society

As totally new project not been implemented often


• Advantages Use of ICTs better imbedded in social practice

Integrates with other initiatives (intermediaries) Can be supported by better training Location becomes focal point of administrative and

economic activity

• Disadvantage & Problems If totally new difficult to spread in terms of numbers

Due to very large investment needed Financing needs to come from different sources

Telecentre-part often remains add on Not integrated with other initiatives


• Policy & Regulation Same issues as Telecentres Very difficult to implement

Needs overall supporting policy in different areas Need to align different governmental departments,

private sector and civil society• In terms of programmes • In terms of financing

Experience shows: needs to be driven at top level• Universal Service Agency (1996-1999): failure

• Part of regulatory system• Gov. Com. and Information Services (1999-): success

• Directly under Presidential Office• Full political support


The Way Forward 1

• Telecentres & MPCC: Top-down: long term governmental support Potential of large socio-ec. impact (Internet)

Many constraining factors Needs multi-sectorial approach (= broader than telecom)

Difficult to implement Policy level (different departments involved) High investment level: problems of coverage

Experience up til now mixed Those reached have certain educational level Education seems to be central Think of ways of mixing both

• Invest in ICTs in school and use them as telecentres


• Phoneshops: Bottom-up: might have more direct impact Certainty of socio-ec. impact (basic services) Stimulates rural ec. activity and employment Possible platform for access to Internet Policy and regulation

Stimulated by regulatory measures• Pricing• Obligations to support initiatives in rural areas• Licensing

Provision of micro-loans • Investment in computers and peripherals • Upgrading to Internet


South Africa’s Information Society Policy

• Why is South Africa special? Since early 1990s realisation that ICTs are important After democratic elections 1994 unique position

Necessary to rethink and reformulate all policy Coincides with rising international discussion on ICTsopportunity to fomulate innovative & coherent IS policy

Since middel 90s ICTs important in many policy areasmakes SA interesting case for research and analysis


South Africa’s Information Society Policy

• Two main goals ICTs alternative way of providing services

Important in highly dual society after Apartheid Lack of administration and state in many areas Believe that ICTs can contribute in contact with citizens

• Information• Services

Access to telecommunications and basic ICTs• Restructuring of Telecommunications Sector

Emphasis on MPCCs and telecentres• Implementation by different departments

Make SA part of the global information economy Performant telecommunications infrastructure

• Restructuring of Telecommunications SectorStimulate new innovative branches of economyStimulate integration of economy in global structures


Implementing the policy: Telecom

• Access to telecom indispensable for Large disparity in terms of access (household)

1994: 31 % households with a telephone 1994: 87,4 % white - 11,6% black

Large disparity in terms of access (institutions) (see next page)

Universal service and access: high priority Universal service: each household access at reasonable

price Universal access: access within reasonable access

Bridging bridge between info-poor and info-rich


Telephones in institutionsTelephones in institutions

Total Available Absent

Schools 31.596 12.326 19.270

Hospitals 3.388 2.761 627

Library 1.198 930 268

Local Auth. 855 774 81

Total priority 37.037 16.791 20.246

Villages° 3.767 563 3.204Source: Rep. Of SA (7 May 1997), schedule D. °Underserviced area 100-1999 inhabitants


Implementing the policy: Services

• South Africa reformulates policy in all areas Strong attention for ICTs in:

EducationInformation PolicyPublic service and administration

Realization that integration of policy importantBut integration difficultLittle horizontal and vertical integration

• Horizontal: between different departments• Vertical: imbedded within broader developmental policy


Universal access

• South Africa’s goal is universal access Realizes universal service not possible In short term universal access in telecom possible

• Broad interpretation of universal access Not only access to telephone services Access to broader set of services

• Strategy Universal access to telephony (individual and villages) All institutions connected schools, hospitals, etc. Access to broader set of ICTS through Telecentres


Telecentres in SA: Vision

• Broader set of services on community basis telephone, fax, photocopy, projector, PCs with

Internet 3.000 to 4.000 for geographic coverage

• Linked to existing projects Multi-purpose community centres Expected to be an additional source of income Managed and owned by the community


Implementation: First Phase

• 1996 Universal Service Agency grounded by 2001 only 60 operational Problem 1: capacity of the USA

USA political construction Personal hired on basis of political background (labour) Lacks specific skills (management) Strongly against private sector

Problem 2: Conceptualization of telecentres Have to be self sufficient - But placed in rural areas Link with other and local initiatives often weak Little governmental support


Use of telecentres

• Not very often used photocopy and fax are used most PCs and Internet not used that often

• Reasons To expensive - not supported by government Not relevant:

Content not appropriate nor adapted People don’t see the relevance Lack of support for unacquainted users Large part of population illiterate

Problems with personal - flee from rural areas


Implementation: Second Phase

• 1999 Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) Starts its MPPC initiative

57 operational by July 2004 Goal 284 municipal areas by 2014

Broadening public access to services of government Wide range of information services under one roof

• Access to TV, video, Internet and other AV facilities• Audiovisual material for education and development• Staff to reach out to the people e.g. road shows

Wide range of other services• Support for housing, education, health, welfare, bursaries, arts

and culture• Availability of online and offline forms and papers


Implementation: Second Phase

Supported by sound research on needs and use Strongly government driven

Focus on integration of service delivery• Intersectoral national, regional and local steering committees

Highly professional management• Use

Seems to be a success But little information on use available


Stakeholders

Sector Number Nature of Involvement

Government SpheresProvincialLocal

209

20+

Service provision

ManagementInfrastructure

Parastatals 8 Service Provision

NGOs 3 Technical advice and expertise

Tertiary institutions

3 ResearchTechnical advice

Services

Business sector 24 Technical advice and expertisePotential for funding

International agencies

1 Technical advice and expertiseResearch

Source:GCIS


Conclusion on SA• Extension of broader set of ICTs as such not really

useful Needs integration in life of people Needs to be supported by contextualized information,

services and training• Implementation

Needs strong governmental support Professional approach with emphasis on sound

management both national and local Strong attention for integration and cooperation of

efforts


Contact

• Leo Van Audenhove [email protected]

• Website SMIT http://smit.vub.ac.be

• Website Information Society in South Africa http://smit.vub.ac.be/ispsa/

smit – studies on media, information and telecommunication pleinlaan 2 – 1050 brussels –...

Documents

internet access slide

community access slide

rural development

access disparity access

brussels slide

low access

use of telecentres

service industry telecentres