[Kictanet] EASSY Declaration signed by Southern and Eastern Africa Ministers

[Alice Wanjira]

>> EASSY Declaration signed by Southern and Eastern Africa Ministers
>> By Chris Kabwato, Highway Africa News Agency
>>
>> Johannesburg, 7 June 2006. Government ministers from Southern and
>> Eastern Africa have signed a declaration on the East Africa
>> Submarine System Project known as Eassy. The declaration signed in
>> Johannesburg yesterday commits fifteen countries to this project
>> which is expected to see the construction of infrastructure to
>> ensure cheap broadband access for countries on the eastern side of
>> Africa (from Mozambique to Sudan) . The construction of the
>> undersea cable is expected to be completed by the first quarter of
>> 2008 according to one of the signatories, Kenyan Deputy Minister
>> David Were.
>>
>> At a press conference chaired by Lesothos Minister of
>> Communications, Science and Technology, Thomas Thabane, it was
>> announced that the ministers had agreed on major areas around the
>> implementation of the Eassy project. The represented countries
>> were Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius,
>> Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somali Republic, South Africa,
>> Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In a major departure from
>> the precedence of the SAFE/SAT-3 which is led by national
>> telecommunication companies and is a closed club, the NEPAD e-
>> Africa Commission will take the lead in the development of the
>> necessary protocol and in the coordination of the project.
>>
>> The major highlights of the declaration are that it proclaims an
>> open access model (meaning anyone can join in as an investor in
>> the project); it commits countries to developing and signing a
>> protocol on the policy and regulatory framework for the Eassy
>> project. In a related development the summit also selected Rwanda
>> as the host of the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV).
>>
>> Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, South Africas Minister of Communications,
>> said the open access model was critical to ensure a level playing
>> field and equal access. She commended the signing of the
>> declaration calling the second successful project of the e-Africa
>> Commission after e-schools project.
>>
>> Kenyan Deputy Minister of Communications, David Were, said that
>> prior to the meeting he had expected fireworks. He blamed the
>> media for having created a picture of disharmony between South
>> Africa and Kenya.
>>
>> In response to media questions on the open access model, Dr. Henry
>> Chasia, Executive Deputy Chairman of the NEPAD e-Africa
>> Commission, stated that all parties that wished to participate in
>> the Eassy project would have to be guided by the declaration. His
>> statement was in reference to the current situation with the
>> monopolistic model of SAT-3 - the satellite and submarine cable
>> system serving the western parts of Africa.
>>
>> The Eassy project is expected to cost 300 million United States
>> dollars excluding additional costs of in-country infrastructure.
>> According to Casaburri ninety percent of the funding for the
>> project will be raised from within the continent with a debt and
>> equity portion. It is understood that the World Bank has offered
>> 170 million USD towards the project.
>>
>> The protocol on the regulatory frameworks is scheduled to be
>> signed heads of states of participating countries in August this
>> year.
>>
>> ENDS.
>>
>>
>> Highlights of the Eassy Declaration by the 15 Southern and Eastern
>> Africa government ministers who met in Johannesburg on 5-6 June 2006:
>>
>> 1.Resolve to contribute to the harmonious, balanced, equitable and
>> sustainable development of our countries by facilitating the
>> speedy construction of the regional backbone ICT infrastructure
>> network and to facilitate the formation of an entity and/or
>> entities to own, maintain and operate the said infrastructure on
>> Open Access Principles and generally to achieve the objectives and
>> principles set forth in this Declaration;
>>
>> 2.Note, recognise and appreciate the work that has already been
>> carried out to realise the objectives and principles set forth in
>> the Preamble, and in particular, to construct the NEPAD ICT
>> Broadband Infrastructure Network for Eastern and Southern Africa,
>> including the Eassy cable, and to this end direct the NEPAD e-
>> Africa Commission, in collaboration with regional economic
>> communities (SADC, COMESA, IGAD, EAC), regional regulatory
>> associations and the Join Steering Committee to fast track the
>> process.
>>
>> 3.Commit ourselves to take such actions, within our respective
>> countries as are necessary to ensure an early approval by our
>> Governments of a Protocol on Policy and Regulatory Framework for
>> NEPAD ICT Broadband Infrastructure Network for eastern and
>> Southern Africa and to arrange for the earliest possible signature
>> and ratification of the Protocol as may be applicable.
>>
>> 4.Affirm our intention to ensure that existing policy and
>> regulatory frameworks within our respective countries are
>> progressively adopted over time facilitate the realisation of the
>> objectives of the proposed Protocol.
>>
>> (source: www.eafricacommission.org)
>>
>>
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>
> Eric M.K Osiakwan
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Eric M.K Osiakwan
Executive Secretary
AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org)
Tel: + 233.21.258800
Fax: + 233.21.258811
Cell: + 233.244.386792
Handle: eosiakwan
Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North
Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North
Blog: http://afrispa.skybuilders.com/users/Eric/blog.html
Slang: "Tomorrow Now"