[Kictanet] Notes from Kenyan ICT Conference

[Brian Longwe]

Hi all,

Here are my notes from a presentation that has just been given by Eme  
Essien of the World Bank/IFC

i will forward the powerpoint presentation as soon as I can get hold  
of it...

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EASSY Presentation from World Bank

Eme Essien, Senior Investment Officer, IFC/World Bank

Shared Objectives:
- provide more affordaclbe ICT access
- meet demand for high speed boradbankd connectivity in the region
- spur followon ICT investment in region
- provide cheaper alternative to satellite
- encourage greater connectivity and integration within region
- ALL CAPITALS AND MAJOR CITIES IN E & SA SHOULD BE LINKED TO GLOBAL  
NETWORK

10 Landing points
- Sudan
- Djibouti
- Somalia
- Kenya
- Tanzania
- Mdagascar
- Mozambique
- South Africa

Eastern Loop
Northern Loop
Southern Loop

World Bank Group Role
- assist parties deliver on shared objectives
- facilitate reduction of risks (policy/regulatory) to increase  
private sector participation
- Conditionalities
- liberalisation of international segment - Open Access
- non-discriminatory access to regional infrastructure to all operators
- identify funding gaps
- build capacity in relevant regional organisation

Conditions for Success
OPEN ACCES
- maximises project's development impact
- clised club deal SAT3 structures have had limited impact on  
traffic, pricing, development
- capacity should be accessible to all parties, fixed line operators  
etc....

Challenges
- 30-ish members
- Telcos, parastatals, regulators, private operators, incumbents
- countries with differing progress on reform agenda
- differing levels of economic development, infrastructure, ICT needs  
etc
- no single champion to establish common interests


East Africa Backhaul System
- overland backhauls to EASSY project
- majority of traffic will be routed overland
- various stages of deployment
- MSA-KLA


IFC Advisory services role

WB workign closely with members of East Loop

Jan 2006  Mandate has been signed with EASSY
- produce transaction structuring report
- conduct technical feasibility study
- among others....

Foreseen East African Backhaul Route

My Question: Is the World Bank applying an Open Access approach on  
other telecoms infrastructure projects in Africa or only on EASSY

Anwer: James Morley<sic>, IFC
- YES
- Open Access approach is being applied across the board - over all  
projects
- initially the EABS - WB is pushing for Open Access; pushing for  
smaller parties to take part
- Open Access is a principle underlying WB engagements

Kirui<sic>
- Open Access has (finally) been embraced by EASSY
- last hardliner has last week finally given in and agreed to accept  
Open Access based on a Special Purpose Vehicle approach