[APC Africa-ICT-Policy Monitor] e updates No.5

Thu Feb 17 13:20:02 SAST 2005

Dear all,

In this latest issues of the APC Africa ICT Policy Monitor e-updates No. 5, is a selection of the latest additions 
on the Africa ICT Policy Monitor Website chosen by our editors including some papers from the recently held 
Africa Regional Preparatory conference of WSIS in Accra, 2005.

For more on this discussion forum and other categories, please visit the 
sections and links below for:

-          News
-          Information
-          Upcoming Events

And please do us send us feedback or contribute news or other relevant 
information about your organization on the Africa ICT Policy
Monitor Website.

Kind Regards,

Editor

APC Africa Policy Monitor Website

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NEWS:                                   

 Pre-Prepcom Ramblings and Rumblings 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ne_1&x=30717>
15/02/2005 (Rik Panganiban - WorldSummit2005 
<http://www.worldsummit2005.org/>) -- 14 February 2005. The first day of 
civil society activities in preparation is over. It was spent at civil 
society bureau and orientation meetings. Already we are seeing the 
beginnings of what could be another round of civil society in-fighting.

 Cisco: VOIP clarity needed 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ne_1&x=30719>
15/02/2005 (ITWeb <http://www.itweb.co.za>) -- Cisco's service provider 
director Mark Baptiste says the recent announcement by communications 
minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri regarding the legalisation of voice over 
IP (VOIP) leaves a lot of issues without context.

 Nigeria": 'Only Vmobile And MTN Interconnect Well' 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ne_1&x=30690>
13/02/2005 (Russell SouthWood - Balancing Act¹s News Update 
<http://www.balancingact-africa.com>) -- A Nigerian Communications 
Commission (NCC) Private Inquiry into the reasons for the poor Quality 
of Service being provided by the GSM operators, has found that only two 
operators - Vmobile and MTN - interconnect effectively. The NCC has thus 
directed that the Nigerian Mobile Telecommunications Limited (M-tel), 
interconnect with Vmobile within 21 days from the date of Direction.

 Africa's Parliaments to benefit from ICT project 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ne_1&x=30677>
11/02/2005 (Alari Alare - East African Standard 
<http://www.eastandard.net>) -- Kenya is among eight African countries 
to benefit from a US$3.5 million (Sh280 million) project aimed at 
installing ICT facilities in parliaments.

 South Africa: Mbeki criticises high telecom rates 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ne_1&x=30720>
11/02/2005 (ITWeb <http://www.itweb.co.za>) -- President Thabo Mbeki has 
criticised as “unacceptable” the fact that telecommunications rates in 
SA are 10 times higher than those in developed countries.

 Accra Commitments for WSIS Tunis 2005 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ne_1&x=30672>
09/02/2005 (UNECA <http://www.uneca.org/>) -- The Africa Regional 
Conference, preparatory to the second phase of the World Summit on the 
Information Society was held at the Accra International Conference 
Center at Accra, Republic of Ghana from February 2nd to 4th, 2005.

 Donors asked to finance ICT Infrastructure 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ne_1&x=30645>
04/02/2005 (GhanaWeb <http://www.ghanaweb.com/>) -- Participants at the 
three-day African Regional Preparatory Conference on the Information 
Society on Thursday tasked development partners and business communities 
to make available critically needed funds for the development of 
Information Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure in Africa.

 International agencies to fund Africa’s Digital Solidarity Fund 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ne_1&x=30620>
03/02/2005 ( David Muwanga - HANA <http://www.highwayafrica.org.za/>) -- 
An African agency working to bridge the digital divide between Africa 
and the developed west, has identified partners who are prepared to 
contribute towards the Digital Solidarity Fund (DSF).

 Ghana: Government develops ICT Development Policy 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ne_1&x=30621>
03/02/2005 (GhanaWeb <http://www.ghanaweb.com/>) -- The Government has 
developed a Ghana Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for 
Accelerated Development Policy to serve as a roadmap for the development 
of the country's information society and economy.

 All Rwandan secondary schools to be connected by 2017 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ne_1&x=30622>
03/02/2005 (David Kezio-Musoke - HANA 
<http://www.highwayafrica.org.za/>) -- Highway Africa News Agency 
(HANA)’s David Kezio-Musoke interviewed president of Rwanda, Paul Kagame 
on the future ICT prospects of Rwanda and his involvement in the Accra 
preparatory regional summit. Below are excerpts of the interview.

 African leaders call for regional integration 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ne_1&x=30624>
03/02/2005 (Angella Nabwowe - HANA <http://www.highwayafrica.org.za/>) 
-- Rwanda’s president Paul Kagame says if Africans are to receive 
greater access to information and communications technologies, the 
Geneva Plan of Action alone will not deliver the desired results. He 
said that we will also need to work towards achieving greater regional 
cooperation.

 Africa! ...give rural women a voice 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ne_1&x=30627>
03/02/2005 (Brenda Zulu - HANA <http://www.highwayafrica.org.za/>) -- 
The African regional preparatory conference for the World Summit on 
Information Society (WSIS) has called on people to give more 
consideration and a voice to the rural women of Africa.

 ‘Busy’ puts Ghanaians on the digital map 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ne_1&x=30628>
03/02/2005 (Emrakeb Assefa - HANA <http://www.highwayafrica.org.za/>) -- 
ACCRA – A bustling setting with Ghanaians surfing the internet typifies 
a day at BusyInternet, an internet hub situated in the heart of Accra, 
Ghana. Combining a unique mix of social and business objectives, 
BusyInternet boasts that it provides the best IT services in Africa.

 AfrISPA releases statement on the development an financing of African 
ICT Infrastructure 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ne_1&x=30644>
03/02/2005 (AfrisPA <http://www.afrispa.org>) -- AfrISPA has released a 
statement on the development an financing of African ICT Infrastructure 
at the Africa Regional preparatory conference for the World Summit on 
Information Society (WSIS).

 Pomp and fanfare at the opening of the Africa regional conference on 
WSIS <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ne_1&x=30617>
02/02/2005 (Emrakeb Assefa - HANA <http://www.highwayafrica.org.za/>) -- 
The Africa Regional preparatory conference for the World Summit on 
Information Society (WSIS) opened yesterday with pomp and fanfare here 
in Accra, Ghana under the theme of “Access: Africa’s key to an inclusive 
information society.”

 Ghana: Govt To Buy Telekom Malaysia’s 30% Shares In Ghana Telecom 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ne_1&x=30618>
02/02/2005 (GhanaWeb <http://www.ghanaweb.com/>) -- The government of 
Ghana is negotiating with Telekom Malaysia to buy its 30 per cent stake 
in Ghana Telecommunications Company (GhanaTelecom) and float it to the 
public.

 Ghana: Let's demystify ICT - Media told 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ne_1&x=30619>
02/02/2005 (GhanaWeb <http://www.ghanaweb.com/>) -- President John 
Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday appealed to the Media in Africa to help to 
educate the people to demystify Information and Communications 
Technology (ICT).

 One African SIM-card 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ne_1&x=30623>
02/02/2005 (Angella Nabwowe - HANA <http://www.highwayafrica.org.za/>) 
-- In an effort to reduce call costs between countries, facilitate 
commerce and regional integration, the African Telecommunications Union 
(ATU) has embarked on an ambitious project to develop a single SIM-card 
usable right across the African continent.

 Uganda awaits’ WSIS phase Two in Tunis on the Solidarity Fund 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ne_1&x=30625>
02/02/2005 (David Muwanga - HANA <http://www.highwayafrica.org.za/>) -- 
Uganda is waiting for a decision from the World Summit on the 
Information Society (WSIS) phase two before committing itself to the 
Digital Solidarity Fund (DSF).

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INFORMATION:

Beyond ICANN vs. ITU? How WSIS tries to enter the new territory of Internet Governance <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=30752> 
17/02/2005 --  The problem is, that technical and political aspects of Internet Governance are interwoven in a way,
that they can not be separated by cutting the issue into two pieces. 

 Governance in Africa: The Role for Information and Communication 
Technologies <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=30754>
11/02/2005 -- The paper summarizes the uses of ICTs in governance and 
discusses possible risks. It also attempts to offer ideas that should be 
considered in employing ICTs for governance, and identifies key areas 
for intervention by African countries and the African Development Bank. 
The paper stresses the importance of the human factor in ealizing good 
governance, given that ICTs are only tools.

 ICT Policy and Rural Poor 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=30751>
10/02/2005 -- The rural population requires banking services that are 
available at its doorstep and are flexible in terms of the timing of 
undertaking the banking transaction in order to minimise transaction costs.

 Financing ICTD In Africa 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=30657>
07/02/2005 -- The Plan of Action adopted at the World Summit on the 
Information Society in Geneva 2003 requested the Secretary General of 
the United Nations to create a Task Force to study the issue of 
financial mechanisms for ICT for Development (ICTD) and present a report 
to facilitate discussions in the second phase of WSIS.

 Internet Governance and Africa 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=30658>
07/02/2005 -- On the issue of the scope of Internet governance, one 
position associated with developed countries, argued for a narrow 
definition of governance ‘OF’ the Internet as technical coordination. 
The second position, associated with developing countries, argued for a 
broad definition of governance ‘ON’ the Internet, related to what the 
Internet carries such as issues spam, network security and pricing and 
interconnection. 

 ICT Policy Priorities In Africa 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=30659>
07/02/2005 -- Interviews with non-African delegates at the Geneva WSIS 
meeting suggest that Africa’s priorities were unclear to them. 
Organisations might consider how the process of developing African input 
to the second phase could identify clear and clearly thought-out 
priorities on which delegates could focus their attention during 
negotiations. The intended focus of the second phase on practical 
implementation should be borne in mind in this context. 

 An Introduction to Activism on the Internet <http://www.apc.org/english/rights/africa/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=30753> 
17/02/2005 --  There are many factors that make Internet attractive for campaigning: its transmission speed, its
reach globally and locally to a enormous number of users, low publishing cost, and 24 hour access. The Internet is an important
alternative source of information to official and mainstream media, and a powerful means of connection outside of mainstream institutions. It
is a truly mass medium, enabling individuals world-wide to share information and converse.

 Short Overview of the ICTs Status in Mozambique <http://www.apc.org/english/rights/africa/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=30375> 
14/01/2005 --  ICTs in Mozambique is intended to provider a general overview of the activities carried out within the
ICTs sector in Mozambique covering the main projects and other on going initiatives, but with focus on those having a direct influence on the
priority areas defined in the ICT Policy document. 

 The draft of the E-Government Strategy for Mozambique completed  <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=30374> 
14/01/2005 --  A team of Mozambican experts from the ICT Policy Implementation Technical Unit (UTICT) and the
Technical Unit of the Public Sector Reform (UTRESP) is finishing the first draft of what will hopefully become the E-Government Strategy.
This draft will be submitted for consultation and public debate, involving the public sector, civil society, the private sector and
partners of the international community. 

 "Africa Civil Society to strengthen an inclusive Information Society at national, sub-regional and continental levels" <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=30758> 
17/02/2005 --  Africa Civil Society participation in the Information Society is crucial for promotion of sustainable and balanced development. This includes the promotion of human development that is equitable; sustainable; holistic; inclusive
of all sectors of society; gender responsive; participatory; people centred and Afro-centric. The Civil Society can provide leverage to
influence policy and ensure that strategies and plans enable the development and the building of an Information Society based on social
justice and human development.

Papers presented:
  A New Policy Framework for ICTD: Willie Currie Association for Progressive Communications (APC) 28 June 2005 <http://www.uneca.org/eca_programmes/it_for_development/events/accra/NEW_ICTD_POLICY.ppt> (Powerpoint)

  Community multimedia centres (CMC) Opportunities and challenges for Africa  <http://www.uneca.org/eca_programmes/it_for_development/events/accra/WSIS-Accra_CMC_Challenges_presentation.ppt> (Powerpoint)

 Africa WSIS: Pre-Conference Workshop on Internet Governance <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=30759> 
07/02/2005 --  Africa is affected by the current Internet Governance system in many ways. Technical administration / coordination 
of Internet, un-preparedness of most African countries as far as Internet Governance is concerned, lack of 
awareness of what is at stake at the national as well as the international level, lack of institutional and human capacities,
problems related to the domain names management and the unavailability of local registrar in Africa are some of the most urgent issues that
were addressed by African decision makers and stakeholders during the African Regional Preparatory Conference for the WSIS. Ghana <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s21827e_1> | WSIS <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=29740se_1>

  Pre-Conference Workshop on Internet Governance <http://www.uneca.org/eca_programmes/it_for_development/events/accra/IG_meeting_outlines.htm> (HTML)

  Challenges and Opportunities In Managing ccTLDs <http://www.uneca.org/eca_programmes/it_for_development/events/accra/InternetGovernance/AFRICAN%20WSIS%20PREPARATORY%20CONFERENCE%20ACCRA.ppt> (Powerpoint)

  Internet Governance : Ensuring Effective Public and Stakeholder Participation <http://www.uneca.org/eca_programmes/it_for_development/events/accra/InternetGovernance/African-private-sector-role-Janvier-2005.ppt> (Powerpoint)

  The Internet Governance Space: Exploring the Core Issues from Africa’s Perspective <http://www.uneca.org/eca_programmes/it_for_development/events/accra/InternetGovernance/IG-Present-Final.ppt> (Powerpoint)

  Mainstreaming Internet Governance in National e-strategies <http://www.uneca.org/eca_programmes/it_for_development/events/accra/InternetGovernance/Mainstreaming%20IG%20in%20estrategies%20rev2.ppt> (Powerpoint)

 Draft Final Report - Further liberalisation of Botswana's 
telecommunications industry 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ie_1&x=30755>
14/02/2005 -- The purpose of this report This report presents the 
findings of a four-month study for the Botswana Telecommunications 
Authority (the BTA) to assess options for further liberalisation of the 
telecommunications industry in Botswana.

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

*17/02/2005*
WSIS Prepcom II <http://www.itu.int/wsis/preparatory2/index.html#prepcom>
The second meeting of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom-2 of the Tunis 
phase) will take place in Geneva (Switzerland) from 17-25 February 2005.

*27/02/2005*, Egypt <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s21804e_1>
Knowledge Sharing for Development: Africa Regional Program (Feb 27-28 
2005) <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ee_1&x=29327>
As part of its programme to support the generation and communication of 
research from developing countries, the Global Development Network (GDN) 
is organising this 2-day workshop to enhance knowledge sharing and 
research dissemination capacity of research institutes and networks in 
Africa.

*02/03/2005*, South Africa 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s21817e_1>
First Annual SANGONeT "ICTs and Civil Society" Conference 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ee_1&x=26606>
SANGONeT will be organising its first annual "ICTs and Civil Society" 
conference that is to take place from 2-4 March 2005 in Johannesburg.

*04/03/2005*, South Africa 
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s21817e_1>
Creative Commons South Africa Workshop: 4 March, LINK Centre, Wits 
University <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ee_1&x=30678>
Creative Commons South Africa, hosted by the LINK Centre at Wits 
University (http://link.wits.ac.za), is creating a series of 
specifically South African licences, and now seeks input from the legal 
and intellectual property communities in order to develop a watertight 
South African version.

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ABOUT APC

The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) is an international
network of civil society organisations dedicated to empowering and
supporting groups and individuals through the strategic use of
information and communication technologies, especially internet-related
technologies. APC and its members in more than 30 countries pioneer
practical and relevant uses of ICTs for civil society. APC is an
international facilitator of civil society's engagement with ICTs and
related concerns, in both policy and practice.
APC: http://www.apc.org.

APC and ICT Policy Advocacy in Africa

APC's Communications and Information Policy Programme aims to contribute
to more enabling ICT policy environments through promoting inclusive
policy processes. In Africa APC is doing this through the Africa ICT
Policy Monitor project which aims to enable civil society organisations
to engage in ICT policy development to promote an information society
based on social justice and human rights.

APC's Africa ICT Policy Monitor: http://africa.rights.apc.org

The APC Africa ICT Policy Monitor is supported by HIVOS and the
International Research Development Centre (IDRC).

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