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The Kigali Protocol: A policy and regulatory framework to accelerate development of ICT broadband infrastructure in Africa | 20 October 2009 |

In August, 2006, under the auspices of the African Union, seven (7) countries from Eastern and Southern Africa signed a protocol in Kigali, Rwanda.  Subsequently, five more countries from the region signed the protocol before the cut-off date of 30 November, 2006. To date, the protocol has been ratified by eight of these twelve countries and has been in force since February, 2008.

Now known as the Kigali Protocol, the protocol enshrines an ICT policy and regulatory framework within which the NEPAD Network can developed, owned, operated and maintained. Initially developed for countries in Eastern and Southern Africa, the protocol will be extended to all African countries after appropriate amendments have been made.

The Protocol is guided  by policy principles based on non-discriminatory, open access and equitable joint ownership of the backbone infrastructure  across the region; the use of Special Purpose Vehicles( SPV’s) to build, own and operate the  NEPAD Network, which is considered a ‘’public good’’; and the need to apply the principle of Public Private Partnership to develop the network.

Among other objectives, the protocol promotes and facilitates the provision of ICT broadband infrastructure on the continent that will support high-quality speed and reliable electronic communication at affordable prices for end users. The protocol is based on open-access principles and promotes the incorporation of existing national networks, subject to agreement by the countries concerned, where applicable and practical, into the NEPAD Network.

To that end, a Ministerial Inter-Governmental Assembly (IGA), comprising of Ministers responsible for ICT /and or Telecommunications, has given the NEPAD e-Africa Commission the task to design and implement two networks in collaboration with other stakeholders.

The first network, named UHURUNET, will be the submarine segment and the second one, UMOJANET, will be the terrestrial segment. Feasibility studies for both segments have been already done.

For now, the objective is to cater for all African countries in the Protocol and to ultimately make these networks a reality in order to bridge the huge digital divide the continent still faces.

For more information contact

ekatiti@eafricacommission.org

www.eafricacommission.org