[APC Africa-ICT-Policy Monitor] e updates No. 6
Africa ICT Policy Monitor Project
africa.rights at apc.org
Thu Mar 17 16:22:42 SAST 2005
Dear all,
Here is the latest issue of the APC Africa ICT Policy Monitor e-updates
No. 6, a
selection of the latest content addition to the Africa ICT Policy
Monitor Website
chosen by our editors.
You will notice the e-Update is now categorised by theme and country making
it easier for our audience to view selected items covering different
thematic areas
and main topic areas of;
- News
- Information
- Upcoming Events
We are also pleased to announce the return of our in-depth analytical
publication - Chakula,
that will be coming soon covering a detailed analysis of recent ICT
policy issues and developments.
Do send us your feedback, comments or news about your organization to
the Africa ICT Policy Monitor Website.
Kind Regards,
Editor
APC Africa Policy Monitor Website
http://africa.rights.apc.org/
//\//\//\//\//\//\/ - NEWS - //\//\//\//\//\//\/
News > Access
APC responds to 'The Economist' letter on digital divide
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21860ne_1&x=31316>
16/03/2005 (APC <http://www.apc.org>) -- The Association for Progressive
Communications, and partner organisations writes a letter to the editor
of the Economist in response to the article on 'The real digital divide'.
Ethiopia Telco Launches Broad band Internet Service
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21860ne_1&x=31282>
14/03/2005 (Ethiopia News Agency <http://www.ena.gov.et/>) -- The
Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation (ETC) announced that it started
providing Broadband Internet Service as of March 10, 2005.
Network Readiness Index 2004-2005 Report
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21860ne_1&x=31261>
10/03/2005 (World Economic Forum Global Technology Report
<http://www.weforum.org/>) -- A total of 104 countries were ranked,
aincluding 23 African countries. 15 of the 23 African improved their
rankings and 8 regressed in ranking. Most improved was Morocco (up by 10
points); close behind were Tunisia, Kenya and Ghana, each up by 9
points. Most regressed was Tanzania (12 points down), followed by
Nigeria (7 points down).
South Africa: Telcos should 'go extra mile'
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21860ne_1&x=31258>
10/03/2005 (ITWeb <http://www.itweb.co.za>) -- Service providers should
do more to provide underserviced areas with telecoms access to help
close the technology gap in South Africa says South Africa's Universal
Service Agency Boss.
Zimbabwe: Access to state media allegedly skewed
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21860ne_1&x=31234>
09/03/2005 (IRIN News <http://www.irinnews.org/>) -- In the run-up to
Zimbabwe's legislative elections, access to public media remains skewed
in favour of the ruling ZANU-PF, according to media watchdogs.
Celtel blames regulator over high mobile tariffs
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21860ne_1&x=31168>
07/03/2005 (Noel Wandera - East African Standard
<http://www.eastandard.net/>) -- Mobile service provider Celtel Kenya
yesterday blamed the Kenya Government for the prevailing high mobile
telephone charges in East Africa.
Ghana Telecom to extend broadband services to three cities
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21860ne_1&x=31206>
05/03/2005 (Ghanaweb <http://www.ghanaweb.com>) -- Ghana Telecom (GT) is
to extend its Broadband Internet service to Tema, Kumasi and Takoradi by
the end of the third quarter of this year.
South Africa: CDMA trials offer hope to rural areas
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21860ne_1&x=31055>
28/02/2005 (ITWeb <http://www.itweb.co.za>) -- A trial of the latest
Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) 2000 technology, which is currently
under way in Johannesburg, holds the promise of high-speed connectivity
for users, pending approval of spectrum use by the regulator.
News > E-Commerce
ISPs Call On Govt To Reverse Ban
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21864ne_1&x=31036>
21/02/2005 (Ghanaweb <http://www.ghanaweb.com/>) -- The Ghana Internet
Service Providers Association is calling on government to help reverse
the ban on Internet shopping in Ghana. Ghana was banned from using
credit cards to shop via the Internet after over $5 million of online
fraud was detected to have been generated from the country.
'Busy' puts Ghanaians on the digital map
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21864ne_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.
News > E-Governance
Long way to go for South African e-government
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21865ne_1&x=31126>
04/03/2005 (ITWeb <http://www.itweb.co.za>) -- Massive cost saving
incentives are pushing government to implement e-government strategies,
but they are currently far off the pace, delegates at an e-government
conference in Sandton were told this week.
Africa's Parliaments to benefit from ICT project
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21865ne_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.
News > Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression Group lament cyber-dissident's sudden death
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21866ne_1&x=31343>
14/03/2005 (IFEX <http://www.ifex.org>) -- It is with a sense of shock
and profound sadness that
members of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange Tunisia
Monitoring Group (IFEX-TMG) received news of the departure of Zouhair
Yahyaoui, a genuine fighter for human rights and freedom of expression.
Freedom of Expression Report Blocked
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21866ne_1&x=30899>
24/02/2005 (Angella Nabwowe - HAHA
<http://www.highwayafrica.ru.ac.za/hana/index.asp>) -- The latest
disturbing news from the second preparatory meeting of the Tunis phase
of the World Summit on the Information Society is the blocking of the
circulation of the report about Freedom of expression in Tunisia
released Tuesday by the IFEX Tunisia monitoring group.
Tunisia: Free Expression Under Siege, says IFEX Monitoring Group
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21866ne_1&x=30833>
22/02/2005 (IFEX <http://www.ifex.org/en/>) -- The Tunisian government
must take serious steps to respect international standards on freedom of
expression and other human rights if it is to earn its standing as the
host of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in November
2005, says the IFEX Tunisia Monitoring Group (TMG).
News > Intellectual Property
Kenya: Copyright Board to get autonomy
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21868ne_1&x=31259>
10/03/2005 (East African Standard <http://www.eastandard.net/>) -- The
Kenyan Government will grant autonomy to the Copyright Board to give it
more teeth. Attorney-General Amos Wako said steps would to be taken to
curb rampant piracy.
News > Internet Governance
Nigerian Federal Govt Under Fire Over Domain Name Contract
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21869ne_1&x=31207>
07/03/2005 (Technology Times <http://www.techtimesnews.net/>) -- The
Federal Government has come under intense fire over its botched move to
enter into a contract that would have extended the voluntary service of
Nigeria's technical contact person, Randy Bush.
PrepCom debate on Internet Governance
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21869ne_1&x=30888>
24/02/2005 (Ralf Bendrath <mailto:bendrath at zedat.fu-berlin.de> -
WorldSummit2005 <http://www.worldsummit2005.org/>) -- Today (24th
February) the focus of PrepCom debates moved from finance to internet
governance. Markus Kummer presented the preliminary report of the
Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG), and many government
delegates took the opportunity to comment on the report, uncovering some
of the deep lines of conflict from the first WSIS phase. The final
report will be presented in mid-July and will be thoroughly discussed at
PrepCom3 in September.
News > Laws and Regulation
Old Kenya telecom commission "was corrupt"
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21870ne_1&x=31328>
16/03/2005 (AfroNews <http://www.afrol.com>) -- While most telecom
providers in Kenya earlier this week protested the government's decision
to dissolve the Communications Commission of Kenya's (CCK) board of
directors, one company today congratulated the move. The old board "had
degenerated into a corrupt and self-serving institution for the
individual members," the company states.
Kenya: Minister Tuju Acted Right
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21870ne_1&x=31301>
15/03/2005 (KTIG <http://www.ktig.co.ke/>) -- A press release from the
Kenya Telecommunications Investment Group, Ltd. (KTIG), has
congratulated Kenya's Minister for Information and Communication for
disbanding the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) Board of Directors.
Kenya WSIS Civil Society Caucus Reacts to the dissolution of Regulatory
Board <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21870ne_1&x=31255>
10/03/2005 (APC <http://africa.rights.apc.org>) -- The Kenya WSIS Civil
Society Caucus expresses dismay at the disbanding of the Board of the
Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) and the suspension of its
Director General, Sammy Kirui.
Kenya: Telkom is ordered to restore ISP connectivity
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21870ne_1&x=31167>
07/03/2005 (Alari Alare - East African Standard
<http://www.eastandard.net/>) -- The Government has added its voice to
the regulator's order to Telkom Kenya to immediately restore
connectivity to ISP Kenya Limited.
Celtel blames regulator over high mobile tariffs
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21870ne_1&x=31168>
07/03/2005 (Noel Wandera - East African Standard
<http://www.eastandard.net/>) -- Mobile service provider Celtel Kenya
yesterday blamed the Kenya Government for the prevailing high mobile
telephone charges in East Africa.
Dark day in Kenya's communications sector
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21870ne_1&x=31221>
07/03/2005 (HANA <http://www.highwayafrica.ru.ac.za/hana/index.asp>) --
Telecommunications providers in Kenya have reacted with dismay to the
government's decision to dissolve the Communications Commission of
Kenya's (CCK) board of directors and relieve the director general of his
duties.
South Africa: Draft Convergence Bill better, but still flawed
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21870ne_1&x=31125>
04/03/2005 (ITWeb <http://www.itweb.co.za>) -- The second Draft
Convergence Bill is a serious effort to rectify the mistakes of the
original, but it still has some flaws that need to be ironed out, an ICT
lawyer says.
Regulator orders Telkom Kenya to restore VoIP services to ISP Kenya
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21870ne_1&x=31132>
03/03/2005 (Brian Longwe) -- Telkom Kenya Limited has been ordered to
restore Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services they suspended last
month. The Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) yesterday instructed
the state corporation to connect the Sema VoIP calling card service to
enable Kenyans make international calls at affordable rates.
Kenya: Court clears third mobile phone operator
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21870ne_1&x=31075>
01/03/2005 (East African Standard <http://www.eastandard.net/>) -- Kenya
could have a third mobile phone operator in less than three months after
Econet Wireless Kenya Ltd won a court case yesterday. Econet Wireless
Kenya Limited, which won the tender to operate the third mobile phone
service, is a subsidiary of the South African firm Econet Wireless
International Ltd.
Telkom Kenya Disconnects VOIP users
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21870ne_1&x=30871>
24/02/2005 (Brian Longwe ) -- Telkom Kenya has disconnected individuals
and business using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calling cards
from making international calls.
Tanzania telecom monopoly ends
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21877ne_1&x=30841>
23/02/2005 (East African Standard <http://www.eastandard.net/>) -- The
Tanzanian telephone company's monopoly ends next Tuesday as the
country's industry regulator announced it was ready to hand over a
licence to a competitor this week.
News > Media
Zimbabwe's State Media Give With One Hand, Take Away With Another
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21870ne_1&x=31327>
16/03/2005 (IPS <http://www.ipsnews.net/>) -- On the face of it, the new
broadcasting regulations issued last month in Zimbabwe were
groundbreaking. For the first time in the history of Zimbabwean
elections, the opposition would be allocated time on state-owned radio
and television in the run-up to a parliamentary poll, scheduled for Mar.
31.
Gambia: Press up in arms as president tightens media laws
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21872ne_1&x=31283>
12/03/2005 (IRIN News <http://www.irinnews.org/>) -- Gambia's media is
outraged by the promulgation of two new press laws it says were signed
in secret by President Yahya Jammeh to muzzle freedom of expression as
the country gears up for elections next year.
Soul Beat Africa Site: Community Radio window has been launched!
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21872ne_1&x=31237>
09/03/2005 (AfricaPulse <http://www.africapulse.org>) -- Soul Beat
Africa has launched a new feature on the website - a Community Radio
Window - focusing on experiences, strategic thinking, materials,
evaluations and other information related to community radio in Africa!
Togo: Fears Raised Over Muzzling of Private Broadcaster
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21872ne_1&x=30834>
22/02/2005 (IFEX <http://www.ifex.org/en/>) -- The Media Foundation for
West Africa, Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF)
and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) are voicing concern over
press freedom conditions in Togo, where at least ten privately-owned
radio and television stations were closed by authorities for a week
following the death of former President Gnassingbé Eyadéma.
Kenya: At long last an ICT proposal, but how will media react?
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21873ne_1&x=30809>
21/02/2005 (Dan Okoth - East African Standard
<http://www.eastandard.net/>) -- Kenya is finally waking up to global
changes in information, education and knowledge management. The Ministry
of Information and Communication has proposed a policy on Information
and Communication Technology (ICTs) that could have far-reaching effects
on the media industry.
News > National ICT Strategies
Network Readiness Index 2004-2005 Report
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21873ne_1&x=31261>
10/03/2005 (World Economic Forum Global Technology Report
<http://www.weforum.org/>) -- A total of 104 countries were ranked,
aincluding 23 African countries. 15 of the 23 African improved their
rankings and 8 regressed in ranking. Most improved was Morocco (up by 10
points); close behind were Tunisia, Kenya and Ghana, each up by 9
points. Most regressed was Tanzania (12 points down), followed by
Nigeria (7 points down).
Ghana ranked 65th in IT index
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21873ne_1&x=31256>
10/03/2005 (GINKS <http://www.ginks.org/>) -- Ghana has moved from 74th
place to 65th place in the World Economic Forum's (WEF's) Networked
Readiness Index, published on Wednesday. The index measures the
propensity for countries to exploit the opportunities offered by ICT.
Conference slams South Africa telecoms
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21873ne_1&x=31056>
28/02/2005 (ITWeb <http://www.itweb.co.za>) -- A presentation about
offshore opportunities turned into a telecommunications griping session
in Cape Town yesterday after the presenter, Paul Tomlin, CEO of OffTwo,
a London-based service-oriented architecture company, said he saw no
improvement in the local industry.
Kenya holds second ICT convention
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21873ne_1&x=31013>
27/02/2005 (East African Standard <http://www.eastandard.net/>) -- The
information sector is gearing for a national ICT convention that is set
to take place in Nairobi next week. The conference -- the second of its
kind in as many years - will focus on the formulation of a National ICT
Policy.
News > Security and Privacy
419: Fraudsters feast on imported computer data
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21875ne_1&x=31233>
9/03/2005 (BusinessDay <http://www.businessdayonline.com>) -- The
hundreds of thousands of used computers imported into the country yearly
, are beginning to form a source of confidential information with which
local cyber criminals operate . This is in addition to the toxic hazard
they pose to Nigerian environment.
News > Software
Africa must break dependency on proprietary software
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21876ne_1&x=31325>
16/03/2005 (SABC News <http://www.sabcnews.com/>) -- Africa will have to
break its dependency on patented software such as Microsoft if it wants
to speed its development process. This was a position advocated at a
conference examining the link between ICT, good governance and economic
development, held at the CSIR in Pretoria today (15March).
South Africa: 'not serious enough' about open source
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21876ne_1&x=30900>
25/02/2005 (ITWeb <http://www.itweb.co.za>) -- South African companies
are not taking the rationale behind open standards seriously enough,
says a senior systems engineer at Sun Microsystems.
Linuxchix Africa Launched To Position African Women Within The Foss
Movement <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21876ne_1&x=30902>
24/02/2005 (Linuxchix <http://www.africalinuxchix.org>) -- Linuxchix
Africa was formed in 2004 by African women and for African women. It is
a chapter in Africa affiliated to Linuxchix worldwide. The aim of the
African chapter is to help toward building the critical mass of Linux
skills among African women, and to advocate for the use of Free and Open
Source Software for the many community development challenges being
faced by Africans, especially African women.
News > Telecommunications
Nigeria: NITEL worth $2bn, privatization date unrealistic, say
consultants
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21877ne_1&x=31302>
15/03/2005 (BusinessDay <http://www.businessdayonline.com>) -- Industry
experts have estimated the value of the Nigerian Telecommunications
Limited (NITEL) at $2billion ( about N280 billion). They also say that
the June (2005) date fixed by government for the sale of the parastatal
is unrealistic.
Ghana Telecom to attract new private investor - Minister
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21877ne_1&x=31281>
12/03/2005 (Ghanaweb <http://www.ghanaweb.com/>) -- Mr Albert Kan
Dapaah, Minister of communication on Saturday said Ghana Telecom (GT) is
to get a strategic investor in the next few months. He said Telecom
Malaysia owed 30 percent shares in GT and stated that when the dispute
was finally resolved government would sell a large portion to the public
and a private investor.
South Africa: Telcos should 'go extra mile'
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21877ne_1&x=31258>
10/03/2005 (ITWeb <http://www.itweb.co.za>) -- Service providers should
do more to provide underserviced areas with telecoms access to help
close the technology gap in South Africa says South Africa's Universal
Service Agency Boss.
Tanzania phone firm cuts links with Dutch investor
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21877ne_1&x=31053>
27/02/2005 (East African
<http://www.nationmedia.com/eastafrican/current/Regional/Regional12.html>)
-- The privatised Tanzania Tele-communications Company Limited (TTCL)
will revert to government management in the next three months following
failure by investor MSI/Detecon consortium to fulfil its obligations.
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21877se_1>
News > Training and Education
Computer Literacy book launched
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21878ne_1&x=31232>
09/03/2005 (Ghanaweb <http://www.ghanaweb.com>) -- Miss Joyce Aryee,
Chief Executive of Ghana Chamber of Mines, on Wednesday said there was
the need for individuals to be empowered with sufficient knowledge in
Information Technology to function effectively.
All Rwandan secondary schools to be connected by 2017
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21878ne_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.
News > WSIS
Botswana: Finance Ministers calls for greater involvement in ICTs
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21870ne_1&x=31326>
16/03/2005 (Mmegi <http://www.mmegi.bw>) -- The Minister of Finance and
Development Planning, Baledzi Gaolathe has called on the Southern
African region to prepare its citizens to be active players in the
information society.
PrepCom2 ends with long "to do" list
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=29740ne_1&x=30887>
25/02/2005 (Ralf Bendrath <mailto:bendrath at zedat.fu-berlin.de> -
Worldsummit2005 <http://www.worldsummit2005.org/>) -- The WSIS PrepCom
ended this evening after some wrestling over the work between now and
PrepCom3 in September. Civil Society groups at their last meeting
discussed the state of the whole process and agreed that the vision has
been lost somewhere, but that the road to actually changing reality is
also very long.
//\//\//\//\//\//\/ -INFORMATION & RESOURCES - //\//\//\//\//\//\/
Information > Access
Scaling up ICT access is crucial to meeting the MDGs
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21860ie_1&x=31335>
17/03/2005 -- This paper argues for the key role that information and
communication technologies (ICTs) can play in reducing poverty, and
enhancing empowerment, opportunity, and security; this potential is
despite the fact that ICTs have had a relatively small impact on
realising the MDGs so far. Improving access to ICTs will have knock-on
effects for further reducing access barriers, improve productive
competitiveness, and overall help to meet PRS goals. Improving access
should be mainstreamed into the implementation of sectoral components,
complementing the poverty-reducing priorities of the national ICT
strategy. Targeted pro-poor regulations and policies are key.
Best Practice Guidelines - for the Promotion of Low-Cost Broadband and
Internet Connectivity
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=he_1&x=31334>
The regulators participating in the 2004 Global Symposium for
Regulators, identified and proposed best practice guidelines to achieve
low-cost broadband and Internet connectivity. Our goal is the creation
of national regulatory frameworks that are flexible and enable
competition between various service providers using multiple transport
and technology options. The best practices outlined below will help
bring social and economic benefits to the world's citizens.
The challenge of developing ICTs in Africa
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21860ie_1&x=30894>
23/02/2005 -- Despite progress in expanding the reach of basic and new
ICT services and applications in African countries, the majority of the
population still does not have access to telephone service, computers
and the Internet. Two main alternatives have been considered to bridge
the access gaps: The Digital Solidarity Fund and the Global Public Goods
framework.
The funding of universal access
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21860ie_1&x=30893>
22/02/2005 -- The reduction of the digital divide is, in itself, a
global public good and consequently, its funding must be ensured
supportively by the entire international community. The path to achieve
this objective is, in particular (but not exclusively), through an
especially promising mechanism: that of universal access funds. For the
international community, this is on the one hand to encourage States to
establish such funds, and on the other, to study the possibility of
establishing a universal access fund on a world scale.
Community ownership of ICTs: New possibilities for poor communities
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=29740ie_1&x=30892>
19/02/2005 -- This paper examines a solution that combines a centuries
old institutional form with the latest technological innovations. A
combination of community-owned ICT enterprises and the new wave of
wireless and related technologies together may offer significant
potential to extend networks and offer new services to poor communities
in rural areas.
Information > Intellectual Property
Development in the information age: issues in the regulation of
intellectual property rights, computer software and electronic commerce
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21868ie_1&x=31336>
17/03/2005 -- The present paper dealing with Development in the
Information Age: Issues in the Regulation of Intellectual Property
Rights, Computer Software and Electronic Commerce is one contribution of
the Project to the ongoing debate on the impact and relevance of
intellectual property to development. In essence, it highlights the
particular importance for developing countries of information
communication technologies (ICT) as a tool for economic growth.
Information > Internet Governance
Who rules the internet? Understanding ICANN
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21869ie_1&x=31212>
08/03/2005 -- Who looks after the billions of web addresses that make up
the internet? Why are web addresses only in English? Should countries
manage their own country code names? At the moment it seems that the
internet is free, democratic and unstoppable. But a closer look reveals
controversies...
The Internet: The Infrastructure of Democracy
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21869ie_1&x=31330>
16/03/2005 -- The Internet is a foundation of democratic society in the
21st century, because the core values of the Internet and democracy are
so closely aligned." This document was drafted by participants in the
Madrid Conference on Terrorism, Democracy and Security.
Working papers of the Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG)
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21869ie_1&x=31213>
05/03/2005 -- The issue papers are the first of a series of 'draft
working papers' prepared by WGIG members, reflecting the preliminary
findings of various drafting teams. They have been prepared according to
a list of issues, which was developed at the first meeting of WGIG in
November 2004. The purpose of the drafts is to provide a basis for the
ongoing work of the group. They are therefore not to be seen as chapters
of the final WGIG report, but rather as raw material that will be used
when drafting the report. The draft working papers have been published
here for public comment, so they will evolve, taking into account input
from governments and stakeholders.
Internet governance: An opinion report on the UN working group leading
the debate <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21869ie_1&x=31214>
01/03/2005 -- What is today referred to as "internet governance" goes
far beyond the mandate of the entity created several years ago to
globally administer internet addressing resources - IP addresses, domain
names and data transport protocols. This entity, the Internet
Corporation for Names and Numbers (ICANN) created in 1998 by the US
Government as a non-profit civil society organisation based in
California, took some time to recognise that its scope of governance
needed to be extended, incorporating into its mandate issues crucial to
the future of the internet.
Statement by the Civil Society on Internet Governance
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21869ie_1&x=31058>
24/02/2005 -- Statement by the Civil Society Internet Governance Caucus,
the Gender, Human Rights, Privacy and Media Caucuses on behalf of the
Civil Society Content and Themes Group, 23 February 2005, Geneva.
WSIS: Internet governance - issues of democracy and human rights
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21869ie_1&x=31052>
28/02/2005 -- One of the more unexpected documents circulating at the
WSIS Preparatory Committee in Geneva this week, is a jig-saw puzzle. The
puzzle is a cartoon graphic of Internet governance, depicted as a
building under construction. The ground floor is Infrastructure and
Standards, and above that the successive floors contain Jurisdiction,
Development, Economic, and Socio-cultural building blocks.
Information > Laws and Regulation
Draft Guidelines on Wireless Policy and Regulations
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21870ie_1&x=31332>
17/03/2005 -- The purpose of these guidelines is to outline policy and
regulatory recommendations for wireless technologies deployment in the
SADC region. Special emphasis is made on the VSAT technology and
wireless LAN due to their implications for Internet diffusion in the
region. The guidelines propose a policy and regulatory regime that would
enable SADC countries to extract the maximum economic and social
benefits from the use of wireless technologies and make recommendations
for the review of policies spanning issues such as the authorization of
the use of the radio spectrum, registrations, licensing and other
measures that would encourage innovation, investment and use of these
technologies.
Information > Security and Privacy
The Internet: The Infrastructure of Democracy
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21875ie_1&x=31330>
16/03/2005 -- The Internet is a foundation of democratic society in the
21st century, because the core values of the Internet and democracy are
so closely aligned." This document was drafted by participants in the
Madrid Conference on Terrorism, Democracy and Security.
Information > Software
Software Patents
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21876ie_1&x=30895>
22/02/2005 -- Far from encouraging direct investment and stimulating
transfer of technology, the expansion of patent and "intellectual
property rights" systems, spurred by industrialised countries through
fora such as the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), limits
development and innovation in Southern countries, facing the risk of
being trapped in their role of consumers of Northern-produced technologies.
Information > WSIS
ICTs: funding, development and democracy
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=29740ie_1&x=31131>
06/03/2005 -- Funding for information and communication technologies -
ICTs- and development, and democracy issues in global Internet
governance, are the two central themes that the UN will be addressing in
phase two of the World Summit on the Information Society, to take place
in Tunisia next November 16-18. Beyond the technical aspects, both
issues, that were debated during the second Preparatory Committee
(Prepcom), in Geneva on February 17-25, have wide political and social
implications, that several actors in the process have been trying to
bring into the debate.
Financing sorted out, Internet governance pending
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=29740ie_1&x=31025>
27/02/2005 -- After 10 days of intense negotiations at the second
preparatory meeting of the Tunis phase of the World Summit on the
Information Society (WSIS), negotiators have reached consensus on the
financial mechanisms to bridge the digital divide. However, there is no
agreement on the other substantive issue of who should run the internet.
As we head to Tunis, there are still big differences, even within the
Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG).
WSIS - paving the way to democratic communication?
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=29740ie_1&x=30901>
25/02/2005 -- Will history recognise the WSIS process as the first step
in creating an entirely new model of international negotiation? One of
many who believe so is Professor Wolfgang Kleinwächter of Aarhus
University in Denmark.
Financial mechanisms for the information society from a global public
goods perspective
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=29740ie_1&x=30891>
24/02/2005 -- The GPGs approach allows to recognize the information
society building blocks according to the vision, aspirations and values
that define it. Identifying its components makes it possible to explore
a range of specific financial options for this public good in
particular. The WSIS is an opportunity to arrive at conclusions on
financial mechanisms for the information society that would allow, in a
reasonable term, that more people in the world can take advantage of its
benefits.
Financing ICTs for Development with Focus on Poverty
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=21860ie_1&x=30890>
24/02/2005 -- Addressing the needs of the poor is an intrinsically
decentralized and contextual exercise that requires innovative and
distributed financing. A systematic effort to understand the needs of
poor, their social and political context and the constraints placed on
them due to lack of ICTs would make ICTs more meaningful to those who
need information and knowledge the most; identify innovative approaches
for making provisions for those who cannot afford access to them and
reduce wasteful expenditure, by avoiding transplanting applications that
worked in developed countries to the contexts of poor regions.
//\//\//\//\//\//\/ - UPCOMING EVENTS - //\//\//\//\//\//\/
*17/03/2005*, South Africa
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s21817e_1>
Seminar Series "Africa and Globalisation"
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ee_1&x=31276>
In partnership with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
(CSIR, Pretoria), the Embassy of France in South Africa, the French
Institute of South Africa, Dibuka-French Information Centre invite you
to attend a seminar on Globalisation and the Effects of Information and
Communication Technologies (ICTs) on African Societies: Emancipation or
Technological Alienation?
*01/04/2005*, Kenya <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s21843e_1>
AMARC's 3rd Pan African Conference
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ee_1&x=27406>
AMARC's 3rd Pan African Conference will be held in Kenya in April 2005.
Kenya was chosen to host the conference from a selection of tenders
submitted from AMARC member country networks.
*05/04/2005*, International
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s30084e_1>
The African Broadband Revolution 2005
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ee_1&x=30711>
"The African Broadband Revolution 2005", organised by the CTO, is a
combination of a CONFERENCE and a WORKSHOP designed to help the industry
overcome the strategic, technical and financial barriers to broadband
deployment in Africa. Organised on a non-profit basis and hosted in
Johannesburg, these combined events will give telecommunication
professionals strategic and operational insights into how a
broadband-ready Africa can overcome the challenges it faces in order to
evidence demand, bring regulators and investors on board and offer
viable business models. The event is designed to bring together
professionals in technology, business development, network planning and
finance.
*11/04/2005*, Senegal
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s21834e_1>
EU-Africa ICT Sector Partner Promotion Meeting, Dakar, 12-14 April
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/www.spintrack.se/dakarapril.html>
West Africa 2005 will bring together the main stakeholders of the West
African ICT sector from the private and public sector, including
individual ICT professionals, representatives of small, medium and large
enterprises, regulatory bodies, donor and development agencies, West
African Ministers of information and communication, members of the
scientific community, educational institutions, telecom operators and
various ICT associations. A total of 500 visitors are expected to attend
the meeting, making it the largest of its kind.
*23/04/2005*, International
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s30084e_1>
The Fourth Meeting of the Committee on Development Information (CODI).
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ee_1&x=31279>
The fourth meeting of the Committee (CODI IV) will take place from April
23 to 28, 2005. These dates include pre-meeting workshops, seminars and
tutorials from April 23 to 24. Under the theme of ?Information as an
Economic Resource?, the meeting will discuss and recommend strategies to
the Commission and member States for harnessing information as an
Economic Resource. It is expected that this session of CODI will
increase, through concrete examples, studies and successful practices,
the understanding of the central role of information in implementing
programmes designed to improve the economic conditions of the African
populations. The meeting will also review the progress made by the
Commission and member States towards implementing the recommendations of
CODI-III.
*24/04/2005*, Tunisia
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s21809e_1>
Preparatory NGO/Civil Society Forum for WSIS (24-25 April 2005)
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ee_1&x=31331>
In preparation for the 2nd phase of the World Summit on Information
Society - Tunis 2005, to take place in Tunis from 16-18 November 2005,
and in celebration of the National Day of NGO, the NGO section of the
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs / ECOSOC and
the Association of Tunisian Mothers, coordinator of the Informal
Regional NGO Network for Africa (UN-NGO-IRENE / Africa), will hold an
NGO Forum devoted to the theme "For an Inclusive, People Centered,
Development Oriented and Knowledgeable Information Society for All".
*26/04/2005*, Mozambique
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s21815e_1>
AfriNIC Second Public Policy Meeting
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ee_1&x=31300>
The Internet Numbers Registry for Africa - AfriNIC will vave have its
2nd public policy meeting from 26th to 27th April 2005 in Maputo
(Mozambique).
*11/05/2005*, Mozambique
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s21815e_1>
3rd International Open Access Workshop
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ee_1&x=29373>
The workshop is a collaboration between the UN ICT Task Force, The KTH
IT-university of Stockholm and Sida and has been one of
the deliverables of the United Nations ICT Task Force Working Group on
Low Cost Access and Connectivity.
*17/05/2005*, Kenya <http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s21843e_1>
ICTe AFRICA 1st Continental Exhibition, Conference and Media Event
<http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=ee_1&x=31278>
All Global roads lead to Nairobi, Kenya where ICTe AFRICA hosts the
inaugural continental ICT fair in partnership with the African
Telecommunication Union (ATU) and the Union of Radio and Television
Organisation of Africa (URTNA).
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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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