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Ministers responsible for ICT from eastern and southern Africa Sign a Policy and Regulatory Framework Protocol for NEPAD ICT Bro | 16 May 2008 |

Kigali, Rwanda, 29 August 2006.  Government Ministers responsible for Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) from eastern and southern Africa today signed a Policy and Regulatory Framework Protocol for NEPAD ICT Broadband Infrastructure Network, including the Eastern Africa Sub-marine Cable System (EASSy) Project. Countries that signed the protocol include Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Lesotho, Malawi, Madagascar, and South Africa. Commissioner Dr Bernard Zoba of the African Union signed as witness.

The signing paves way for the project Steering Committee to fast track implementation of the NEPAD ICT Broadband Infrastructure Network, which, among other things, involves construction of a 9900 km long EASSy cable from Mtunzini, South Africa to Port Sudan in Sudan, scheduled to be operational in year 2008. The estimated cost for the project is USD 300 million.

In his speech, The Rwandan President who presided over the signing ceremony applauded the exercise, saying it optimized the partnerships and collaboration among African countries. He said that the meeting was important and historic in that it was the first time an ICT project of that magnitude is conceived and spearheaded by Africans for Africa.

He noted the invaluable contribution of ICTs to social transformation and development, saying, "ICTs have made an enormous contribution to improvement of living standards of millions of people and is inseparable with socio-economic development. The ICT Broadband is becoming a basic infrastructure and our region has lagged behind in this regard. This is why we are here to correct this."

He also thanked the Governments in the region covered by the Project for entrusting Rwanda to host the special purpose vehicle (SPV). "We see this assignment as an honour, challenge and privilege. It is evidence of shared purpose of the region to succeed at regional and continental level. We shall do everything possible to ensure establishment of the SPV and the success of this project" pledged President Kagame.

The protocol signing follows an earlier meeting of ICT Ministers held in Johannesburg on 5-6 June 2006, in which the Ministers unanimously approved the NEPAD ICT Broadband Network and also scheduled the official signing of the protocol for August 2006 in Kigali. The signing is also a culmination of several other intensive and exhaustive meetings with Government ICT Policy Makers, Regulators, Telecom Operators and Financial Institutions, among others. Regional bodies such as East Africa Community (EAC) and SADC also held separate meetings approving the NEPAD ICT Infrastructure Network and calling for its speedy implementation.

The NEPAD e-Africa Commission, tasked with developing ICT policies, strategies and projects, and managing the development of the ICT sector in the NEPAD context, has been coordinating the initiative. Says Dr Henry Chasia, the Deputy Executive Chairperson of NEPAD e-Africa Commission, "The project, which is a culmination of a great deal of effort in our region, will go a long way to symbolize cooperation among of eastern and southern African countries. All countries agree to the need for the EASSy cable to be constructed as soon as possible".

"The project will go a long way to reduce costs of access to, and improve our telecommunications systems, thus bridging the digital divide and improving African lives" added Dr Chasia.

The 23 countries involved in the network are Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Djibouti, DRC, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The period for signatures was extended to November 2006 to allow other countries to sign and the ratification of the protocol by the high contracting parties to June 2007.

In addition to the Rwandan President, the occasion also attended by high ranking officials from Rwanda Government, diplomatic community, the African Union (AU), New Partnerships for Africa's Development (NEPAD), COMESA, among others. Ends

Notes for Editors
About the Protocol
The Protocol on the Policy and Regulatory framework for NEPAD ICT Broadband Infrastructure Network is based on the Constitutive Act of the African Union. Its main objective is to facilitate and commit the Parties to the construction and operation of the NEPAD ICT Broadband Infrastructure Network for Eastern and Southern Africa, on ‘Open Access' principles of operation, which ensure a level playing field and equal access to the infrastructure.

The protocol provides for the formation of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV) to own, operate, and maintain the EASSy cable and the Terrestrial network. The SPV will also ensure that the Infrastructure meets the development and commercial objectives, and operates in accordance with NEPAD's objectives and principles, as well as ‘Open Access' principles. The host for the SPV is in Rwanda.

Project Run under NEPAD Principles
NEPAD recognizes the pivotal role that ICTs and backbone infrastructures can play in accelerating regional and national socio-economic development, regional integration, and trade, in general, wealth creation, employment generation, poverty reduction, and meeting the Millennium Development Goals.

NEPAD's priority ICT objective for Africa is to ensure that all African countries are connected to one another by broadband fibre optic cable systems that will in turn link them to the rest of the world through existing or planned sub-marine cable systems.

Since its adoption by Heads of States and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC) in November 2004 as a NEPAD flagship Project, the ICT Broadband Infrastructure Project, is being run under the auspices, context and principles of NEPAD, which emphasize collaboration among African countries, and specifically African ownership and leadership.

• Report to the ICT Ministers
• Resolutions of the Ministerial Meeting 
• Kigali Protocol (English Version)
• Kigali Protocol (French Version)

For more information about the event, please contact:

Samuel Mikenga
Manager, Public Communications
NEPAD e-Africa Commission
Email: SMikenga@eafricacommission.org
Tel: +27 12 841 4523 (office)
Tel: +27 725 296 769 (mobile)
Fax: +27 12 841 4094
Pretoria; South Africa
Website: www.eafricacommission.org