Transcript Prof. Romain MURENZI Minister in the Office of the President in

IT/ITES in Rwanda
South-South Learning Exchange Visit
Monday 9th, February 2009
Mumbai, India
Country Team:
Wilson MUYENZI
Solange MUKAMURENZI
Richard NIYONKURU
George BARIGYE
Jerome GASANA
Structure
• Brief Country Profile
• Introduction
• Transformation of Rwanda into an ICT Hub
• e-Government and e-Governance
• Conclusion
Brief Country Profile
• Location: Central Africa
• Population: 9.2 Million
• Land area: 26,338 Sq. Km
• Literacy Level: 74% (15 yrs and above)
• 45.3% of population are < 15 years
• Biggest economic activity is in agriculture
Introduction: Rwanda’s Vision
•
The vision for Rwanda’s future is enshrined
in the Vision 2020 for Rwanda which looks
towards the achievement of “a modern and
prosperous Nation, strong and united, worthy
and proud of its fundamental principals”
•
Science and technology has a key role to
play in the achievement of the Vision and the
target is to strengthen and integrate science
and technology into the countries strategies
and policies to underpin the Vision
Rwanda’s Vision and the Role of
ICT
• To transform our currently Agriculture based economy
to a knowledge based economy by year 2020.
• To use science, technology and ICT as a key enabler
of this transformation
• Two key strategies support the adoption of science,
technology, innovation and ICT in Rwanda:
• the National Policy on Science, Technology and
Innovation adopted in 2005 and
• the NICI Plan (National Information and
Communications Infrastructure), a 20 year
strategy, now in it’s second phase (2006 –2010).
Transformation into an ICT Hub
Growth of economic activities around
ICT and Growth of ICT businesses with
significant financial turnover
• World Class Telecom and IT
Infrastructure
• Highly Skilled Work Force
• Enabling Business / Legal /
Regulatory Environment
World Class Telecom / IT Infrastructure
1. National Backbone Network (Fibre Optic
Broadband)
• A voice and data backbone network linking all 30
Districts including expansion of the Metropolitan
Network in Kigali
• Connecting 319 Government Agencies, Schools,
hospitals, border posts
• A network security system for all Kigali sites and
district Headquarters
• Wibro Network
Physical Network Design – Backbone Network
World Class Telecom / IT Infrastructure
2. Vibrant Mobile Telecom market
- 2 Telecom Operators (Voice and Data)
- More than 85% Network Coverage
- 13% Mobile penetration rate
- 3% Internet penetration rate
- Third License awarded in Dec 2008
Telecoms usage in Rwanda compared with region and
with Sub-Saharan Africa
Total penetration (fixed and mobile)
Average for SubSaharan Africa
(excl. South Africa):
13.7%
(Predicted Mobile
growth 2009)
20-23%
(Predicted Mobile
growth 2008)
12-15%
(Mobile growth 2007)
7.0%
3.6%
Definition: (total telecoms subscribers – fixed and mobile)/population
Date: Dec 2006 (most recent data available)
Source: ITU
World Class Telecom / IT Infrastructure
3. Regional Communications Infrastructure
Project (RCIP - Rwanda)
• Roll out of broadband connectivity
• International connectivity
• Enabling establishment of 3rd party virtual
landing station
Global Connectivity
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2
3
4
SEA ME WE 3
5
6
7
16
23
8
17
9
25
10
22
24
21
20
11
SAT-3/WASC
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15
14
18
13
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SAFE
International Connectivity
Submarine Cable Options – East Coast of Africa with
landing stations in Mombasa and Dar es Salaam
Zanzibar
Mahajanga
Mtunzini
Schematic of Virtual landing Point
The World Bank is supporting Rwanda through their Regional Communications Infrastructure Project
(RCIP) to a value of 24M USD principally to support roll out of connectivity
Rwanda
Government
of Rwanda
Virtual landing station
Licensed
Operators
Rwandan
ISPs and
Operators
3rd party virtual
landing station
operator
Licensed
network
operators
Submarine
cable landing
station
Submarine cables
World Class Telecom / IT Infrastructure
4. Karisimbi Project
- Air Traffic Management
- Digital Broadcasting
- Climate Change Observatory
Karisimbi Project
• 50m Mast installed on
top of Mount Karisimbi
Karisimbi
Project
• Electrical power connection direct to summit from
Rwanda’s National Electricity system with 200KVA
Generator back up
• Microwave Transmitters and Receivers – signaling from
Karisimbi to Kigali (radio and tv broadcast)
• Fibre Optic run from summit to main road to access
future national fibre network
Broadcasting Applications for
Karisimbi
• Mt. Karisimbi with its high altitude, presents immense
opportunity for easy deployment of broadcasting
services and other ICT Technologies to reach many
beneficiaries
• A study is ongoing with Harris Communications to
develop a detailed plan to increase national broadcast
coverage for television and radio based around Mount
Jali, Karisimbi and other transmitter sites
• Broadcasting Services Under Development
•
•
•
•
FM Radio: Increase Range to 700 km radius by enhancing
antennae orientation (vertical as well as horizontal polarisation)
Digital Video Broadcast Terrestrial (DVB-T): following pilot
phase increase to ten channels with high power transmitter 250
km radius. (Phase out Analogue tv in line with ITU directive by
2015)
Other Services
Internet – following trial phase of DVB-RCT increase power to
achieve 50km radius for rural connectivity
Communications Navigation Surveillance / Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM)
Rationale: No high altitude control in Central Africa now; Air safety in Africa is
serious issue; Central location of Rwanda big advantage; Improved Air traffic
Services; Economic Benefits
“Climate Change Observatory and
Weather Center”
•
•
•
•
The Rwandan Government is in discussions with MIT for
partnership in building and operating a world class
“Climate Change Observatory and Weather Center” at
the Mountain Karisimbi:
The center would take advantage of Rwanda's unique
geographic location in the epicenter of central Africa and the
Albertine Rift. Global warming in particular, as a major force
in climate change, is anticipated to have its major impact on
the African continent, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The center would offer scientists and researchers from
around the world an opportunity to gather critical
meteorological, seismic and climate change data critical to
implementing appropriate international policies to combat
climate change.
Rwanda sits on the head waters of both the Nile and Congo
River basins and a locating a Climate Change Observatory
here offers scientists a front row seat at ground zero for
climate change.
Enabling Business, Legal and Regulatory
Environment
1. Enabling telecom regulatory environment
- Telecom market liberalization
- Facilitating market entry
- Institutional and sector reforms
- Growth-conducive telecom laws
- Licenses that provide all telecom
services
Enabling Business, Legal and Regulatory
Environment
2. Enabling business growth environment
- Tax exemption or relief on ICT related
equipment
- Consumer protection laws
- Policies that promote fair competition
- Conducive labour law for skilled
professionals
Enabling Business, Legal and Regulatory
Environment
3. IT/ITES Sector development
- ICT Park to promote and encourage IT
business development
- Business Process Outsourcing
- Call Centers
- Remote Process Outsourcing
ICT Park and Incubation Facility
Established May 2006
ICT Park Tenant Community April 2008 – 13 companies:
• 3 local established
• 3 Foreign Established
• 6 Local incubators
• 1 Joint Venture GoR and Foreign Company being incubated
Company Names:
• A-Link Technologies
• Family Christian Network Radio and TV Africa
• BCS Call One Centre
• E-Tools
• Gasabo 3D Design Company
• Dash-S Technlogies
• Voxiva Inc.
• INS Rwanda Ltd
• MIT
• Rwanda Development Gateway
• CGISD-NUR Demo Centre
• ARAVINDSOFT
• Altech Stream Rwanda
Kigali ICT Park 1
Kigali ICT Park 2
.
Design Ltd
Example of StartUp Company in
ICT Park
“ENGINEERING SERVICES COMPANY”
“ 2D to 3D Conversion Experts”
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GASABO 3D
2D drawing
3D drawing
Computer Aided Manufacturing
GASABO 3D: Individual component &
Assembly Design and Manufacture
Gasabo 3D Design e-commerce website: 2D-to-3D CAD file conversion
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
Implementation of NICI has allowed to address the issue of skills scarcity
• Govt Ministries and Public Sector Organization organized extensive
training programs within the framework of the NICI-2005: Network
Technicians, Computers technicians, Software engineers, system
managers, etc
• Nations Universities and colleges introduced new IT training
programs in academic and professional areas:
Between 2002 and 2005: KIST and NUR produced close to 2,000
professionals in Engineering, Technology and Computer Science (Bsc
Level)
• Emergence of Private ICT training institutions: eg, E-ICT
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
REFORM OF THE EDUCATION SYTSEM: ICT BASED EDUCATION
• ICTs in Education Policy: Infrastructure Deployment, Content
Development, Teacher Professional Development , etc
• Implementation of ICTs in Education programs at all levels:
•Primary schools: One Laptop Per Child program
•Secondary schools: School-net project (connectivity), e-learning
project (ICT equipment),
•Universities: Open Distance and e-learning, RwedNet
•Teacher Training: Edqual project (Integration of ICT in Learning
and Teaching
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
SUCCESSES
• KIGALI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY created various ICT based
Centres:
 Intermediate ICT skills Development Centre: trains technicians
in Hardware Maintenance, network design & Admin, Software Dev’t,
Web Design, ICDL, Computer Literacy
 Regional ICT Training and Research Centre: ICT training and
International certification Program
African Virtual University: Distance learning technology to
conduct degree and diploma courses in computer Science
E-documentation Centre: Online gateway
Most Higher Learning Institutions have developed ACADEMIC programs in
IT/ICT: NUR, UAAC, UNILAK, ULK,....
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
SUCCESSES
• INCEPTION of the Workforce Development Authority (WDA) and
approval of Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET):
 Three Tiers TVET system: Vocational schools, Technical
Secondary Schools and Colleges of Technology
 Targeted numbers of Trainees between 2008-2018: 978,828
trainees
ICT SKILL PROGRAMS required:
 Network Infrastructure and Cabling
Object oriented Programming
Web design and Development
Database Management
 IT security
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
Linkages with Private Sector
• Cisco
•Microsoft
•RedHat Linux
•Sun Micro Systems
eGovernment and eGovernance
• eRwanda Project: Strengthening Government
efficiency and effectiveness
- National eGov Portal (Government
Services Online)
- Equipping and Networking of Gov
institutions
- Paperless Government
• National ID
• National Data Centre
Partnerships with India
• Access to Education
• IT Training
Major Successes
• Committed and Visionary Leadership
• Comprehensive Policy Framework (NICI)
• Strong Telecom Infrastructure
Issues and Challenges
• Lack of adequate skills, both technical and
soft skills
• Weak Private Sector
• Prevailing poverty
• Lack of capital investment
• Lack of adequate electricity
• High cost of telecom services
Expectations from SSLEV
• Understanding of the Indian and other African
countries’ experience with regard to:
1. Skills Development (Building the right
capacity, in both quantity and quality)
2. Promoting a vibrant private sector
(strategies and programmes aimed at growth
of the IT/ITES sector)
• Share the Rwandan Experience with other
participants
• Create partnerships
Conclusion:
The words of His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the
Republic of Rwanda
“In many cases African institutions of higher education are not able to produce
the required quality and quantity of skilled professionals.
A multi-faceted strategy aimed at creating this indispensable expertise, while
strengthening the capabilities of national and regional training institutions is
vital. In addition we need to improve Africa’s record of retaining our
professionals, who we often lose to the outside world as soon as they enter the
labour market…….
With a modern ICT infrastructure, we can strengthen our major cities as hubs of
dynamic services-led economic activity, attracting good quality and knowledgebased jobs. his will keep our best and brightest in Africa, where they can build a
more prosperous future for themselves and for our continent.”
(Welcome Remarks, Connect Africa Summit, 29 October 2007, Serena Hotel, Kigali, Rwanda)