A warm welcome to Senegal
In the broadband world, “a new ladder of regulation”
is required to achieve the right balance between
service and infrastructure competition. This includes
ensuring equal and non-discriminatory access
to networks, and the removal of potential bottlenecks
that could prevent users from enjoying the full
benefits of a digital world that is increasingly driven
by speed, ubiquity of access and affordable prices.
This is one of the conclusions of the 10th Global
Symposium for Regulators (GSR-10), organized by
the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau
(BDT), in collaboration with Senegal’s Regulatory
Authority for Telecommunications and Post (ARTP).
The Symposium attracted 437 participants, bringing
together regulators, policy-makers and service providers
from 81 countries.
Held in Dakar under the auspices of President
Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal, the Global Industry
Leaders’ Forum (9 November) and the Global
Symposium for Regulators (10–12 November) provided
an important global platform for sharing experiences,
building consensus and forging common
approaches to managing the ever more complex
information and communication technology (ICT)
markets. In particular, the meetings focused on the
ongoing development of the mobile and wireless
market; the impact of broadband, not just on the ICT
sector, but also beyond it; and the migration from
analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting and the
allocation of the “digital dividend” — the ultra-high
frequency spectrum (470–862 MHz band) potentially
freed up by the switchover.
Presiding over the opening ceremony of the
Symposium, President Abdoulaye Wade stressed
that everyone should share in the benefits of the
digital dividend, even those who are not aware of
the transition to the digital economy. He said that
Senegal is very satisfied with the achievements of ITU
and the support it provides to developing countries
to move forward in building the information society
and the digital world. He added that he will spare no
effort to assist ITU in its work and to help achieve
the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.
He congratulated Dr Hamadoun I. Touré on his reelection
as Secretary-General of ITU; commended
Sami Al Basheer Al Morshid, outgoing Director of
BDT, for his contribution to ICT development; and
congratulated BDT Director elect, Brahima Sanou.
President Wade asked all stakeholders (governments,
policy-makers, regulators and the private sector)
to focus their efforts on one simple challenge:
computers for all, digital for all. The world has down
through history become increasingly divided into two
camps: those who communicate, and those who do
not. Fortunately, he said, the Internet now enables us
to bridge that digital gap, with computers offering
the keys to the most completely democratic realm
that exists. The digital revolution must not leave anyone
by the wayside, said the President. A better-balanced,
more harmonious information society should
be founded on widespread access to computers. This
will ensure that countries currently lagging behind
in this area will not be permanently marginalized.
Africa, in particular, is making great efforts to equip
its people with modern technology.
National initiatives to bridge the digital divide
President Wade highlighted some of the national
initiatives in Senegal to bridge the digital divide,
the latest being the “cyberhuts” (“cybercases”)
project. These cyberhuts will act as hubs for communication
and training for villagers and youth. A
cyberhut is a centre equipped with computers and
Internet connection, and will allow villagers across
Senegal to watch television and to communicate via
video telephony with people throughout the world.
A pilot cyberhut is already operating in the town of
Poponguine in Thiés, and funding has been secured
to install 130 more cyberhuts throughout Senegal
— the ultimate aim being to install 350. The plan is
for each cyberhut to train around 500 young people
every year in fields as diverse as agriculture and
electronics.
President Wade went on to announce the installation
in Senegal of a computer manufacturing plant
that would produce 400 000 computers per year.
Stressing the need to equip Africans with computers
and connect Africa to the world, he pointed out
that connectivity means nothing without computers.
He argued that the computer is the fastest route to
knowledge. The computer manufacturing project
will boost the plan he has launched in Senegal for
“a computer for every student, a computer for every
teacher”.
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Ndongo Diao
Director-General of Senegal’s Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Post and Chairman of GSR-10 |
President Wade’s vision is to create an integrated
system where, from kindergarten to university,
computers are omnipresent in every student’s
education. Implementation of that vision started
with the launch of the Children’s House (Case des tout-petits) soon after he became
President of Senegal.
Under this community-based
programme, young children
(aged 2–6 years) are introduced
to modern toys, including
computer games.
Use of the latest technology
will become second nature
to the Children’s House
generation, offering them a
brighter future. Parents and
the community also receive
education and training at
the Children’s House. This
initiative is just one example
of Senegal’s activities to integrate
ICT into the country’s
education system.
Under the Digital Solidarity Fund, which President
Wade pioneered, one company in France, the AXA
Group, has offered Senegal 30 000 computers for
reconditioning.
A national Committee has been set up to speed
up the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting
in Senegal in order to meet the 2015 deadline
set by ITU in a digital broadcasting plan, covering
some 116 countries (mainly in Africa and Europe).
President Wade called on regulators to provide the
right environment for investment and urged the private
sector to continue investing in the ICT sector in
Africa. Regulators faced many challenges, but one
they should focus on is how to protect personal data
in the digital world.
Ndongo Diao, Director-General of Senegal’s
Regulatory Authority for
Telecommunications and
Post, and Chairman of GSR-10,
noted that President Wade,
who had founded Senegal’s
Regulatory Authority for
Telecommunications and
Post and the Universal Service
Development Fund, had already
accustomed Africa to
the machinery of the “knowledge
economy”, for which
electronic communication
networks constituted the basic
infrastructure. President
Wade had displayed a bold and firm commitment
to foster economic recovery in Africa, which had led
him and other African leaders to launch the New
Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).
Welcoming participants, Mr Diao said “Senegal,
under the leadership of its President, Maître
Abdoulaye Wade, Coordinator for the ICT component
of NEPAD, is delighted to be the organizer, in
collaboration with ITU, of this major global event,
bringing together all of the regulatory bodies and
decision-makers from the telecommunication and
ICT sector.” He called on the global gathering to help
bridge the digital divide by defining the future direction
and scope of regulation.
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