Broadband Wireless Access Solutions as a Platform to

Broadband Wireless Access Solutions as a Platform to Bridge the Digital Divide: A real life experience from Africa By Emmanuel E. Ekuwem, Ph. D Vice Chairman/CEO, Teledom International Limited. info@teledominternational. com 24, Bamishile Str. , (By New World), Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel/Fax: 234 1 4976229, 4976220, 4716398, 7730528. School on Radio Use for Information and Communication Technology 3 - 21 February Italy School 2003, on Radio ICTP, Trieste, '2003

Context 1998 -1999 Nigeria – With: Large geographically dispersed land mass. Population of about 120 million – a restless lot! Low teledensity. Poor quality of telecommunication infrastructure. Low penetration telecom infrastructures, Narrowband-dominated facilities. Few private telecom Operators (PTOs) – voice only. School on Radio '2003 2

Very few ISPs – mostly dial-up. Insufficient capacity at the National Carrier (NITEL level) – Switching and transport. 41 large Universities and University centres with city-based multi-campuses. 35 airports and aerodromes/airstrips. Tens of banks with mainly dial-up interbranch networking. Few Private telecom Operators (PTOs) – voice only. School on Radio '2003 3

Without: Second Network Operator (SNO). GSM Operators. FWA Operators. Community Telephone Operators etc. School on Radio '2003 4

Setting An almighty NITEL! Not-sufficiently-competent NITEL Demoralized NITEL A NITEL in which the federal government was not proud of A NITEL looked down on by Nigerians School on Radio '2003 5

Socio-political Scenario A new democratic dispension! End of pariah state status Not proud of its past of military dictatorship Dire need to re-integrate into the rest of the civilized world A patriotic and perfectionist presidency A dynamic citizenry – unhappy with their late arrival in the global digital economic scene. Popular willingness and readiness to participate in the digital revolution. School on Radio '2003 6

Converting Digital Divide into Digital Opportunities In the global Information and knowledge-based economy (IKE). Data and information are a factor of production The speed and ease with which real-time access to data and information is made as well as the translation of same into productive ventures gives one a competitive advantage in any field of human endeavor School on Radio '2003 7

Knowledge is power because it empowers! Think globally act locally The world for me and I for the world! School on Radio '2003 8

The Digital Divide = Poor ICT Infrastructures + Digital illiteracy = Educational (il)literacy + computer illiteracy. Digital Divide = Poor ICT Infrastructures + Educational (il)literacy + computer illiteracy School on Radio '2003 9

Overcoming the Digital Divide Cable-bridge the divide to improve ICT infrastructures. Education via tele-education – distance and on-line learning, etc. Computer literacy School on Radio '2003 10

Cable-bridging will Take time Invade the environment Not be flexible Not be fast to deploy and dismantle Not be fast to re-locate. Not be rapidly scalable Not cover large geographic land mass in a sweep School on Radio '2003 11

Nigeria needed a leapfrogging platform Leap-frogging platform? Launch pad? Stepping stone? Yes! Wireless Access Solutions? Yes! Narrowband Wireless Access? No! The digital divide is not narrow! Broadband Wireless Access? Yes! School on Radio '2003 12

At the beginning of the wireless explosion All kind of narrow band wireless systems A few low capacity broadband systems Broadband Wireless systems arrived late on the scene School on Radio '2003 13

And radio waves “tried to blow” across the scene, but Initial reluctance to change n Business loyalties to less powerful technologies n Fear of new capital expenses Constituted a frictional layer to the smooth “flow of the breeze” n Wireless Technology was clearly an underdog technology at the time School on Radio '2003 14

From the Rear to the Fore Our Vision: A Nigeria with Wireless facilities providing ‘pipes’ for rapid ICT services penetration of every village, ward, local government headquarter, state capital and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja in order to have a knowledge-empowered citizenry for global competitiveness. School on Radio '2003 15

Our Mission: To make Broadband Wireless technology the preferred port of call by all seekers after Broadband Access facilities in Nigeria for the utilization of same for national economic development. School on Radio '2003 16

Strategy + Tactics Stay totally focused n Smell, drink, dream, yearn, dance, eat, hug wireless Convince by demonstrations (demos) n n Seeing is believing! Feeling is accepting! Participate in ALL major or key ICT conferences/summit exhibitions as n n n Sponsor (for extra visibility) Exhibitor (visibility) Resource Person/paper presenter (further visibility, opportunity for further exhibition via demos) School on Radio '2003 17

Develop a formidable CV by hooking sector leaders: n Banks – n n n n Academia – Obafemi Awolowo University Telco – NITEL Aviation – Ministry of Aviation/Lagos Airport Insurance – NDIC ISPs – Linkserve, Cyberspace, etc Government – n n n Central bank of Nigeria Zenith International Bank Federal Secretariat NITDA NCC Presidential Network Industries - ABB School on Radio '2003 18

Develop good press Relations n n Electronic media (TV, radio, etc) Print (Newspapers, magazines) Writing of features articles Product advertisements School on Radio '2003 19

High level Contacts n n n Government Private Sectors Academia Relevant NGOs and Youth Groups In Nigeria embassies School on Radio '2003 20

Apply the Wireless products to Good causes: Agro. Vision. TM n Hydro. Vision. TM n Aviation n Nigerian Universities Network (Nu. Net) n Distance and on-line learning for mass literacy campaign n Tele-health n Tele-training, job creation/poverty alleviation n Youth Empowerment n School on Radio '2003 21

The Situation today Avalanche of inquiries daily on wireless products! All the universities that have implemented a campus-wide wireless LAN projects are using Alvarion! Others are queuing up for the products! Whoever is worth being called an ISP in Nigeria is using wireless in one form or the other. A Resource technology to Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC). NCC is one of our clients. School on Radio '2003 22

Point-to-Multipoint campus-wide wireless LAN using Breeze. Net with VSAT-based Internet Access School on Radio '2003 23

Intra-city Banking Network (Inter-Branch) On-line banking Withdrawal/payment irrespective of branch Intra-bank administration School on Radio '2003 24

Strategic Partner to National Information Technology Development agency (NITDA) on BWA. NITDA is one of our clients. Utilized in the Implementation of the Presidential Network. School on Radio '2003 25

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City-Based IP Broadband Wireless Local Loop Access Voice and Data Nitel (PSTN) • Non Line of Sight Ubiquitous Penetration • Access Anywhere IT Resource Centre School on Radio '2003 27

Broadband Inter local Government trunking from City to Local Government Headquarters City/State Capital School on Radio '2003 28

Map of Nigeria with VSAT & Breeze. Access Base Stations • FCT, Abuja • 36 state Capitals • 774 LG School on Radio '2003 29

Rush by the FWA operators to contact Teledom for wireless products. All ICT conferences/workshops/seminar/summit organizers in Nigeria almost always invite Teledom to present a paper on Wireless Infrastructures. Contacted by many state Governments for State -wide IP wireless INTRANet National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award by the President and People of Nigeria to the Teledom CEO for his contributions to National Development via High Technology, Innovations and resourcefulness. School on Radio '2003 30

Tele-Education • Learning where you are School on Radio '2003 31

Tele-Medicine/Health • medical expertise at your disposal where you are School on Radio '2003 32

We are a Snap shot of the ICTP program on Radio School on Radio '2003 33

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Phone-in TV Interview on Wireless Access Solutions School on Radio '2003 36

News Paper Headlines School on Radio '2003 37

Newspaper Interviews School on Radio '2003 38

Adverts School on Radio '2003 39

From a little known Technology to being the preferred! Radio…The Champion Technology! v A platform for leap-frogging into the Information Society. School on Radio '2003