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Global Broadband is Speeding Up, Says latest “State of the Internet” Report

First Quarter, 2012 State of the Internet Report from Akamai

Photo Credit: Akamai http://www.akamai.com/stateoftheinternet/

The broadband revolution is proceeding apace across the globe as internet speed and adoption have increased at faster paces. The Akamai company recently released its First Quarter, 2012 State of the Internet report which discusses important global broadband statistics like internet penetration rates, mobile connection speeds, regional and global connection speeds, and broadband adoption among many others. The report, in addition to providing invaluable insight into global trends in broadband, also underscores the role broadband and mobile technologies can play in the future of development.

Thanks to an ever-increasing demand for connectivity in both developed and emerging economies the world has seen a dramatic rise. Broadband speed has increased to such an extend that Akamai has redefined what it calls “high-broadband.” Previously, any connection at speeds of 2Mbps or higher was defined as broadband, but now Akamai will consider connections of 4Mbps has broadband and connections of 10Mbps has high broadband.

For the first quarter of 2012, the report points out a series of trends:

A 6 percent global increase in the number of unique IP addresses to over 666 million in between fourth quarter 2011
A global average of peak connection speed of 13.5 Mbps
A global average connection speed of 2.6Mbps
A global average mobile connection speed range between 32.2 Mbps and 2.2 Mbps
A doubling in global mobile data traffic between the first quarters of 2011 and 2012
A global increase in adoption of high broadband

These statistics are certainly promising, especially when considered within the context of the increasingly important role broadband and mobile broadband can play in process of development. The global doubling of mobile broadband certainly lends itself to the existing forecasts of the increasing prominence and importance of smartphones in many developing countries as price wars continue to drive down device prices. All this, when added with the World Bank’s recent Maximizing Mobile report on harnessing mobile for development, adds up to a future full of potential, fueled by broadband.

As we move forward it is important that we remember these technologies are only as good as their connection. Many developing countries still have a pronounced rural/urban digital divide in both access and connectivity. If the potential of these technologies can be fully realized, it is crucial that policy makers commit reducing these gaps.

August 30, 2012/by actualize

Areas of Expertise, GBI Updates, Information and Communication Technology for Development, Integra News, Latin America and the Caribbean, USAF Updates, Where we work

Broadband Partnership of the Americas

President Obama, seated at a panel discussion at the Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia In April 2012, President Obama announced the creation of the Broadband Partnership of the Americas, an effort set to improve internet access across the Latin America and Caribbean region. The President was in Cartagena, Colombia, for the Sixth Summit of the Americas.

The Broadband Partnership for the Americas (BPA) is designed to improve access to broadband and the Internet and other communications technologies in the Americas. It will serve as a voluntary and flexible framework through which the governments of the Western Hemisphere, multilateral organizations, the donor community and the private sector can collaborate to increase access to broadband and the Internet across the Americas.

The BPA is supported by USAID and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and will be managed by the Global Broadband and Innovations Program, of which Integra is an implementing partner.

Eric Postel, Assistant Administrator for USAID’s Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade Bureau, said in a joint statement with the FCC, “We are very excited about this rich partnering opportunity within our own hemisphere- where we can mobilize public and private resources toward achieving more equitable access to broadband and the Internet as a key contributor to development.”

The financial and technical resources mobilized through the BPA will be used to help interested countries advance a range of information technology initiatives, including:

– developing and implementing national broadband strategies;

– creating or upgrading universal service funds to finance the expansion of mobile and broadband technologies to rural communities;

– improving international and regional connectivity by linking existing broadband networks;

– collaborating on a regional effort to harmonize the use of digital spectrum; and

– sharing best practices.

For more information, please visit GBI’s Broadband Partnership of the Americas page.

April 19, 2012/by actualize

Economic Growth & Trade, Originally posted on the GBI Portal

High Capacity Broadband Submarine Cable for Haiti

Photo Credit: HaitiLibre

An initiative to connect Haiti with the rest of the world via Internet connectivity, two years after the devastating earthquake has been launched. The project which involves a construction of a US$16m 200km undersea cable is being undertaken by Digicel Group with technology and expertise from Alcatel-Lucent and Columbus Networks.

Communication in Haiti after the Earthquake

Much of Haiti’s communications network, including the country’s only subsea cable were destroyed or damaged by the January 2010 earthquake which, to date, have not been fully restored. As a result, the Haitian population and the Haitian economy have suffered from the lack of high-capacity broadband connectivity that is pivotal to business, public sector and social activity.

Digicel Group in Haiti

Digicel Group, a mobile network operator in the Caribbean, Central America and Pacific, was launched in Haiti in 2005 with the commitment to best value, network and service. According to the Digicel Group Director of International Business, Conor Clarke, “For more than two years now, Haiti’s recovery has been hindered by the lack of high-capacity broadband connections with the rest of the world. With the delivery of this critical undersea cable, the people of Haiti will see a truly dramatic improvement in the range and quality of communications services available.”

Photo Credit: sawpanse.com

Digicel’s undersea cable project is the latest in its ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts in Haiti. As the single largest private investor in Haiti, Digicel has invested over U$600 million to date and employs over 900 people directly and more than 60,000 people indirectly. Once completed, the FibraLink Extension to Haiti will provide a secure, high-capacity subsea link with 21 other countries in the Caribbean region, as well as with the United States and the main Internet backbone gateway located in South Florida.

This comes at the time when Digicel Group, has acquired a Haitian mobile operator, Voilà, from its parent company, US-based Trilogy International Partners, for an undisclosed sum. Commenting on the acquisition, Colm Delves, Digicel Group CEO, said “Digicel’s acquisition of Voilà will see mobile users across Haiti benefiting from increased investment in even better mobile services and new technology in the future.”

Columbus Networks

Paul Scott, President of Columbus Networks the undersea fiber-optic cable network provider in the Pan Caribbean Americas region said; “We are committed to fostering the development and continuous improvement of the communication infrastructure throughout the region where broadband adoption rates are continuing to grow rapidly. This expansion will enable us to enhance broadband connectivity further and thus deliver reliable bandwidth services at cost-effective prices to a very large population base.”

Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks

On the part of Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks, Philippe Dumont, the President said; “We are proud to be part of this initiative as one of the variety of other outreach programs to support Haiti’s recovery. The benefits that this undersea link can bring to Haiti can’t be over-estimated. We are pleased to collaborate with Digicel and Columbus Networks on such a critical endeavor.” Alcatel-Lucent originally deployed the FibraLink system which provides coastal and terrestrial connectivity from Kingston to Ocho Rios and Montego Bay in Jamaica with direct connectivity to the US by integrating into other part of the Columbus Networks infrastructure.

Visit here for more information on the initiative and the Digicel Group.

April 14, 2012/by actualize

Agriculture, Originally posted on the GBI Portal

AGRONET: Connecting small producers to information in Colombia

Photo Credit: Agronet-Colombia

AGRONET, a National Agricultural Information and Communication Network was developed with the goal to connect small producers in Colombia and reduce the digital divide through public private partnerships and growing broadband penetration in rural municipalities.

A Government of Colombia’s initiative under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The main aim is to provide information and knowledge on new techniques for sustainable food security and for the diversification of crops in order to improve productivity and opportunities in the market. While the network is aimed at policy makers, other stakeholders in the agricultural chain including small producers are expected to benefit through the platform.

Agronet platform helps in standardizing and integrating resources to offer value-added information and communication services for the agricultural sector using modern and traditional ICTs. The platform also has alliances with several actors in order to integrate other systems of information into the network and expand the content offered.

In order to serve producers with relevant and targeted information, Agronet has developed user profiles of all users based on needs assessment and users’ particular productive activities. Taking advantage of the penetration of mobile technologies in the rural users, new agricultural innovations – technologies and methods are introduced to producers systemically through SMS. Producers receive updates on Agronet’s platform, including changes in its databases and other news and events pertinent to agriculture.

Agronet offers a dedicated space for the agribusiness to view supply and demand, and to publish notices of products and services related to agriculture and agribusiness. The platform also has a digital library, policy documents related to agriculture and food security and other statistical bulletins for students, researchers and policy makers within the agricultural field. Agronet also gives its users the opportunity to train virtually from online courses available on the website. The platform also allows small producers to search for credit information for their farm inputs, market for their produce, and information of other stakeholders.

Over the medium term, Agronet plans to provide a greater wealth of content and information services to producers by adding capacity in digital television. For more information, visit Agronet.

April 14, 2012/by actualize

Africa, Areas of Expertise, GBI Updates, Information and Communication Technology for Development, Integra News, USAF Updates, Where we work

A New Connectivity Strategy for Ghana

GIFEC Community Information Center at Bechem

Photo Courtesy of CIC Bechem Blog

Integra, under its Global Broadband and Innovations program, is supporting the government of Ghana to better promote broadband Internet use throughout the country. Ghana has a long and successful record of promoting ICT use – it was one of the first countries in Africa to establish a Universal Service Fund (in 2005) and was recently found to have the fastest Internet speeds in Africa. Yet with Internet penetration remaining at 10%, much work remains to be done.

The Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) is tasked with expanding broadband Internet into unserved and underserved areas, and it currently oversees a broad portfolio of projects. GIFEC has installed over 200 public telecenters nationwide (called Community Information Centers) and set-up Internet access in a number of public libraries and schools throughout the country. Yet as mobile broadband speeds become faster and handheld devices become cheaper, GIFEC is considering changing its access strategy.

To effectively do this it needs to understand the unique nature of the digital divide in Ghana. What types of households and individuals access the Internet, and for what purpose? What are the information needs of those that do not, and what are their major constraints in accessing that information? GIFEC will implement a survey, with Integra’s support, that will inform a study that clarifies the challenges people face to accessing the Internet in Ghana. Integra will assist with the preparation of the study and will work with GIFEC to move from the study to a new strategic plan. The strategic plan will then be validated by the joint implementation of pilot connectivity projects between GIFEC and Integra.

The project is moving forward rapidly. This week a penultimate draft of the survey instrument was produced, and we foresee enumerators carrying out the survey before the end of May. We are aiming for pilot projects to be implemented before the end of the summer.

April 9, 2012/by actualize

Connectivity, Originally posted on the GBI Portal

Gambian ISP selects American 4G solution

Gambian internet service provider Netpage has selected American communications technology provider Airspan Networks to rollout their 4G network in Gambia.

American communications technology provider Airspan. (image: bikyamasr.com)

The network will operate on the 2.3 GHz frequency band, leveraging Airspan’s Air4G flagship macro base station. Air4G allows Netpage to offer customers high-level connectivity, unique features like MIMO (multiple-input and multiple-output) and advanced antenna techniques. Expansion plans are already in place for nationwide coverage. Despite the competition, Netpage remains one of the top five ISPs in Gambia.

“Gambia has been very fortunate to avoid much of the economic turmoil experienced by the rest of the world, this stability has enabled us to leverage the economic situation and help deliver faster and more dependable internet connectivity to our country,” Netpage CEO Simon Abraham stated.

Netpage is providing customers with various devices like small indoor, desktop, self-install units, as well as outdoor units to maximise range.

Mohamed Abdel Salam

March 28, 2012/by actualize

Areas of Expertise, Eastern Europe, GBI Updates, Information and Communication Technology for Development, Integra News, USAF Updates, Where we work

USF workshops in Moldova, Ukraine, a success!

Under the GBI contract, Integra team members recently conducted a series of workshops in both Moldova and Ukraine, to support the governments of each country in their assessment and planning to introduce Universal Service Funds, and to promote Broadband ICT development. These countries, like much of the former Soviet Union region, have established a strong level of telecommunications infrastructure, including nearly universal mobile phone coverage, extensive fixed telephone networks, and reasonable extension of Internet access and even Broadband. However, significant gaps remain in access to computers, Internet, and Broadband connectivity, particularly outside of urban centers.

In Moldova, the Ministry of Information Technology and Communications (MITC) hosted a workshop attended by about 25 government and industry officials, to address questions surrounding the current legal mandate to establish a Universal Service Fund, and the goals and options for such a Fund. GBI experts David Townsend and Daniel Espitia presented international experience on the best approaches and priorities for creation of a USF, and the key issues that Moldova would have to address. Given that Moldova has already made considerable progress in establishing well functioning mobile networks as well as broadband services in many parts of the country, the challenge would be to close remaining gaps in access to ICTs, with emphasis on providing all schools in the country with broadband connections as well as low-cost PCs for students. Also, rural villages without adequate network capacity would be upgraded to broadband. The Ministry acknowledged that new legislation would be required to authorize a USF that could fully address these objectives, and pledged to move ahead in drafting such a statute.

In Ukraine, a public workshop was held in Kiev over two days, hosted by the National Commission on State Regulation of Communication and Information (NCCIR), and attended by about 30-40 officials and private sector representatives. There has been considerable debate in Ukraine about establishment of a USF, with strong resistance from the mobile operators, who must already pay 7.5% of their revenues into a national social security fund. Representatives of several operators attended the workshop, along with Commissioners and other government personnel. GBI’s David Townsend together with Parvez Iftikhar, former CEO of the Pakistan USF, presented ideas and examples of how an effective USF could work, yielding benefits both for the country and for the ICT industry itself. A range of options were discussed for the launching of a Fund, including starting out on a pilot basis to test the concept. Ukraine must also pass new legislation to mandate a USF, and will be working toward such a law.

Integra’s team will continue to assist both countries as they develop their USF legislation and policies.

March 8, 2012/by actualize

Democracy & Governance, Governances, Originally posted on the GBI Portal

Ruling on Tunisian internet censorship delayed

The Higher Tunisian Court trial about blocking certain websites has been postponed until 22 February.

Tunisian internet censorship issues remains undecided. (image: file)

The issue arose late last year after Tunisian lawyers filed lawsuits. They felt national policy was lax around access to adult websites. They proposed these be blocked, calling into question internet freedom.

The ATI (Tunisian Internet Agency) appealed the lawsuit, noting the financial and technical difficulties of censorship.

Throughout ousted President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali’s term internet filtering was implemented.

Tunisia’s has four million internet users. The government considers ICT central to helping the country’s growing economy.

February 16, 2012/by actualize

Connectivity, Originally posted on the GBI Portal

Mozambique gets a slice of SEACOM

The Mozambican Ministry of Science and Technology has signed a 20 year agreement to access international broadband fibre connectivity on the SEACOM network to Europe and onwards to the rest of the world.

SEACOM Chief Executive Officer Mark Simpson (image: mybroadband)

Beneficiaries of the newly acquired capacity include the Mozambique Research and Education Network (MoRENet) and the Government Electronic Network (GovNet), which are government-led projects established to improve online public service access and capability.

The bandwidth will help MoRENet to deliver reliable and cost-effective, high-speed internet traffic to member institutions whilst creating the platform to share education and research content with other Nationwide Research Education Networks (NRENs) around the world.

Similarly, GovNet will be able to better support its mandate to improve eGovernment performance. GovNet currently interconnects government institutions at both central and provincial levels, with an aim to connect all state and government institutions through a single private data communications network.

SEACOM CEO, Mark Simpson, said: “SEACOM is the ideal partner to provide the international connectivity that will complement Mozambique’s extensive broadband data communications networks initiatives. Over the past three years, we have witnessed how the availability of true broadband at lower prices can accelerate educational initiatives and economic development across the region and we look forward to working with the Mozambican government to help Build a truly African Internet.”

Both MoRENet and GovNet form an important part of the Mozambican government’s ICT Policy Implementation Strategy. The policy covers all major areas of Mozambique’s economy and society; tasked with creating an enabling environment for societal upliftment, improved performance of both public and private sectors and most importantly the ultimate eradication of poverty in the country.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr. Evaristo Baquete, said: “The Mozambican government views affordable and high quality data networks as a vital tool to achieve the country’s various developmental goals. SEACOM brought cheaper and faster international connectivity to this country and we believe that they are the partner of choice to continue to bring about positive changes to the country and its people.”

SEACOM believes in a world where the African internet experience is characterised by abundant local content, minimal latency, fast download and streaming speeds, and interconnected African markets. Today, over a dozen countries across the African continent have access to SEACOM’s low cost products and services via its extended network.

Staff writer

January 31, 2012/by actualize

Democracy & Governance, Originally posted on the GBI Portal

Access to ICTs & Human Rights: The Case of Namibian Farmers!

Photo Credit: TheJoyOfTech

Report coming from Namibia indicates that some farmers in the South of the country, especially those farming in the Kalahari, have been cut-off from the rest of the world after Telecom Namibia disconnected their phone lines.

According to the farmers, they have not been able to use their phones since the end of October 2011 as a result of a switch from the old manual system to the WiMaX network which provides voice services, broadband data and high-speed internet access, said the Namibian.

This comes at the time when Vinton G. Cerf, one of the fathers of the Internet widely known for creating the TCP/IP protocol, stirred-up the global information policy environment with his Op-ED piece in the NYT, “Internet access is not a human right.” Vint Cerf argues that technology is an enabler of rights, not a right itself. No doubt, the response to Vint Cerf’s piece has been overwhelming (see The Internet IS a (Human) Right… and Why Did Vint Cerf Say That?).

His statement comes in barely six months after the release of the La Rue’s report of the United Nations which acknowledges that Internet access is a human right. The La Rue report recognized that the Internet has become an indispensable tool for realizing a range of human rights, and ensuring universal access to the Internet should be a priority for all states.

Digital Divide and Human Right

Another piece that came out this week in response to Vint Cerf’s piece is Tales of the Chinese Railway: The Digital 1%, Vint Cerf’s Internet as a Human Right (Not), the Digital Divide and Effective Use that brought in the issue of Digital Divide. While the Chinese government had good intentions to use the Internet – an online ticketing system, to curb long lines at stations and prevent scalpers from selling tickets in the black market, it is rather resulting in access gap.

These two examples from Namibia and China clearly demonstrate the challenge with the issue of “Access to the Internet” and “Human Rights.” What will be the value of connecting rural communities with ICT infrastructure if the people can’t access it? Can the tool (Internet) enable or empower the people if they can’t use it? Nations or States can ensure that the tools are available – 3G, 4G and LTE technologies in remote communities such as these Namibian communities, but without the financial capability of the people to use the services and applications that go with the infrastructure, the tools may be useless.

The dimensions of the digital divide (inequalities between groups) include social, economic, and democratic accessibility or access to, use of, and knowledge of ICTs. As claimed by the farmers, affordability is the main barrier, preventing them to connect to the new Telecom broadband service. The farmers claim Telecom Namibia compelled them to subscribe to its new WiMAX phone packages or to be left without a phone service.

Photo Credit: Flickr

Responding to the farmers’ complaints, Telecom Namibia’s Head of Public Relations, Oiva Angula, said the company had to upgrade its network because the old system had become obsolete and was not financially viable. “We calculate our cost to the customers based on what we pay to provide services,” Angula reacted to the farmers’ affordability claims and said Telecom had reviewed the rental fees following complaints about affordability.

While the old system cost farmers N$91 a month, Telecom had initially offered a three-year contract at a monthly basic rental of N$1 755. Angula stated that customers can now subscribe to a special WiMax package offering voice services and Internet access for a monthly rental of N$199, and the faster WiMaX broadband for a monthly fee of N$349.

The Head of Public Relations said about 44 farmers were affected by the network switch but he could not say how many farmers have been connected to the WiMaX network. “Only a few are resisting, customers must understand the situation that the telecom industry is moving fast, and we must keep pace,” he remarked.

So the question remains, whether access to the Internet and its associated services is a human right or not, even in the remotest communities of Namibia. I believe that ensuring universal access to the Internet for all individuals worldwide needs to be well-understood in its totality. It goes beyond the provision of the infrastructure to promoting or facilitating the right to available, accessible and affordable content to all. In this case, while the upgrade for new services (voice services, broadband data and high-speed internet access) for the Telecom Namibia customers is necessary, care must be taken so that it is not at the expense of other basic services (telephone) for people at the bottom of the pyramid. And when it comes to human right issues, it does not matter how many people are involved – whether is an individual farmer or 44 farmers.

January 19, 2012/by actualize

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