Scope

Since founded in 2010, Integra’s work in the information and communications technology (ICT)sector has improved policy, increased access, and decreased barriers to broadband and ICT services in underserved areas of the world. We have worked with donors and government partners to develop national broadband plans, assisted universal service funds (USFs) to improve procurement mechanisms and procedures, conducted ICT gap analyses, and performed several national-level ICT sector assessments. Our ICT work has been focused in three primary areas:

1. Increasing access to rural broadband
2. Developing national broadband policy
3. Supporting the use of ICT for knowledge management

By providing analytical support and technical services to Governments and USFs, Integra enables telecommunications services to expand in line with international best practices for investment decision making,procurement, and monitoring and evaluation. This includes developing public-private-partnerships to improve the availability and affordability of ICT services.

Impact

Our work in ICT has expanded ICT services throughout the developing world, facilitating access to over 4.7 million people.We have also leveraged over $1.2 billion in public and private investment, expanding telecommunications infrastructure and services to those without access. For example:

• In Colombia, Integra developed a strategic framework for the national Universal Service Fund resulting in $400 million in investments under contract as a direct result of our work.
• In Indonesia, Integra advised BP3TI to invest $596 million from its Universal Service Fund to complete the Palapa Ring undersea fiber optic cable to unserved regions.
• In Nigeria, our work on broadband expansion connected over four million people to the Internet.

By identifying and addressing ICT gaps and improving the enabling environment for ICTs, Integra helps countries and donors expand their reach of services and improve service delivery, thereby facilitating improved development outcomes across the board.

Activities

USAID ASEAN Connectivity through Trade and Investment – In partnership with Nathan Associates, Integra provided legal and regulatoryreform support to ASEAN, organizing a series of workshops with a focus on Universal Service, ICT Access, and Spectrum Management Policy.

USAID Global Broadband and Innovations (GBI) Program

Task Order 1:  Sub-Saharan Africa USF Support

• Kenya National Broadband Plan – Assisted the Communications Commission of Kenya to host a 50-person interagency working group,providing technical assistance to develop the National Broadband Plan and Operating Manual for the USF.
• Ghana Digital Divide Study – Designed and implemented a digital divide study of over 5,000 households to assist the Government of Ghana in better targeting investment for rural connectivity.
• Nigeria Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) Strategic Management Plan – Integra provided advisory services to develop the Strategic Management Plan (2013-2017) as well as a complete M&E system and training to support USPF staff to deliver services.

Task Order 2:  Core Program Support

• ICT Sector Assessments – Conducted multiple national-level ICT and Rural Broadband Assessments for Colombia, Guatemala, and Tajikistan.
• USAID “Tech Talks” – Developed and hosted a series of seven “Tech Talk” workshops focusing on various ICT4D applications to agricultural value chains, PPPs, and youth.
• GBI Portal Development – Design and managed the GBI Portal, an online resource and collaboration platform consisting of 11 sub-domains toeducate USAID staff and the public on ICT for development (ICT4D) applications. The portal attracted over 53,000 unique visitors with 164inbound links from ICT practitioners around the world.
• Compartel’s Strategic Management Plan – Developed a framework and project design for the lead implementer of Columbia’s USF Program.

Task Order 3:  Legal and Regulatory Reform

• Indonesia National Broadband Plan – In close consultation with Bappenas, Integra’s local team helped develop Indonesia’s National Broadband Plan including the extension of the Palapa Ring, the launch of a national rural access network, for which Integra later supported the pilot exercise, as well as supporting several USF reforms.
• Peru Digital Divide Study – Prepared a digital divide study for Peru’s USF, Fitel, to identify areas of demand for ICT services, and help design investment programs for rural connectivity.
• Philippines USF Planning -In collaboration with Intel Corporation, Integra conducted workshops and planning meetings with the Philippines Commission on ICT to identify issues and objectives in support of developing a USF Program. This included a detailed memo and presentation to the Commission on ICT to identify options for USF policy and associated tasks.
• Nigeria ICT Gap Analysis – Worked with the Nigeria USPF to identify 36.8 million people without commercially viable ICT services. Advised the USPF on implementing a Cluster Strategy for selecting investments to extend a fiber optic cable build out program.
• Indonesia TVWS Pilot – In partnership with NetHope Inc. and Microsoft Corporation, Integra supported Indonesia’s Ministry of ICT to design,launch, and evaluate a pilot of wireless broadband technology using television white space (TVWS) to deliver rural broadband connectivity.The results of the pilot were used to draw up a $34 Million Phase 2 pilot that was funded through Indonesia’s USF.
• Ukraine USF Support – Integra delivered training to government staff in Ukraine and Moldova on the process of establishing a USF, including the legislative and regulatory measures required to promote broadband outside of major cities.

USAID ProICT Strengthening the Liberia Telecommunications Authority – In partnership with DAI’s Digital Frontiers Team, Integra supported the Liberian Telecommunications Authority to improve its regulatory standards of television white space (TVWS), modernize regulations for deploying fiber optic cables, and strengthen the operations of its USF, among other technical advisory services.

MCC ICT Support Project – To help MCC better understand the impact of ICT development projects in its investments, Integra produced a Digital Ecosystem Paper and ICT Typology of Interventions, assisting MCC in selecting public sector interventions in the IC Space. Integra also conducted an ICT Constraints Analysis, a Systems Dynamics model, and workshop for generalist MCC Staff, as well as a Political Economy Assessment that helped inform the design the current MCC Togo Threshold Program.

MCC Togo Oversight and Support – Following providing inputs to the Togo Threshold Program, Integra currently provides oversight and management support to the Togo Threshold including reviewing deliverables and ongoing M&E of both Threshold programs, including the ICT Project. To date, this work has included drafting inputs to the Request for Proposals for the implementing partners to be procured, as well as technical assistance to ensure that ICT needs and services are considered throughout.