First Annual W2i Digital Communities Best Practices Awards

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First Annual W2i Digital Communities Best
Practices Awards

Jigawa Information Technology Initiative -
Nigeria Project LeadLaurent Gil Date 9/5/20
05 Organization Jigawa Government Country Nig
eria Emaillaurent_at_ideagroup.com.br Web site
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Background

• Population
• State of Jigawa, Nigeria
• 4 million people
• Geographic
• Semi arid to arid area, 200km x 400km. Generally
  flat, small hills.
  
• Economic
• Agriculture.
• Regulatory
• The Nigeria regulation authority follows the FCC
  recommendations (2.4GHz and 5.8GHz are
  unlicensed).
  
• Community
• 3 large cities (50,000 habitants). No fixed
  telephone lines. Partial electricity access.
  Large University specialized in
  Information/Communication Technology opened in
  2003. 2000 students.
• IT readiness
• Government services and young population is
  aware of Internet/data access via cybercafes,
  school access, provided by the local government.

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Project History

• Most of the state of Jigawa, Nigeria, is rural
  and semi rural. In 2001, the population had no
  access to internet and information technology.
  There were no relevant fixed telephone lines, and
  no dial-up access in any part of the state.
• The Jigawa Information Technology Initiative was
  part of a broad strategic vision to foster
  economic development of the State via the use of
  technology. It was started by Governor Turaki in
  2001, shortly after he got elected to
  Governorship. His objective was to bring
  awareness to internet and information technology
  to the local population of the state of Jigawa,
  via cyber-cafés, school and university, public
  libraries and Government services.
• The first phase consists in the implementation,
  operational since 2003, of a network of 47 access
  points, across the state, using a satellite
  backhaul and fixed wireless technology as last
  mile. The second phase is the expansion of the
  access by the creation of a state university
  focused in Information Technology. The university
  opened in 2003 and now has 2000 college students.
  The third and current phase is the development of
  a massive VoIP network, to provide basic mobile
  voice services in the state and its neighboring
  states.
• Funding was provided by the state and federal
  level, with help of the World Bank.

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Mission Objectives

• Mission statement
• Initiative to foster economic development of the
  local state of Jigawa via the use of information
  technology.
  
• Provide information, communication and
  infrastructure for the population of the state of
  Jigawa.
  
• Education on information technology develop a
  University focused on ICT, and Internet access in
  public schools.
  

• Project Objectives
• (1) Stimulate the local economic development
  using information technology
  
• (2) Provide an equal chance of education for
  Jigawa young population
  
• (3) Make the state of Jigawa the reference in
  terms of ICT in the country of Nigeria.
  

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Possible Solutions

• Available alternatives
• Use NITEL (Nigeria Telecommunication, the telecom
  incumbent in Nigeria)
  
• Technology copper wires.
• Chosen alternative
• - The local government decided to manage the
  project locally, because of the failure of NITEL
  to provide any relevant telecommunication
  infrastructure. The project is developped and
  operated by a state-owned company (Galaxy ITT
  Inc.).

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Business Model

• Community outreach undertaken, role of various
  stakeholders in the process
  
• The local government provided the funding and
  the management of the project. The Emirs,
  traditional authority in the main cities, were
  instrumental in facilitating the local
  implementation, either by providing real-estate
  or by supporting and sponsoring the initiative
  toward the population. The Emir of Kazaure was
  instrumental in the opening of the University of
  Kazaure.
• Targeted users
• Current young people, schools, university
  students, local economic players (such as
  agriculture information, etc.)
  
• Future general population, via the extension of
  the network to provide low cost voice and
  portable phone services.
  
• Partnerships local community.

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Project Economics

• Cost structure
• Internet access start-up costs and operational
  costs are low, due to the low cost structure in
  Nigeria. The highest cost is the satellite
  backhaul (USD 30k/month).
• Investment Sources/ Funding Sources
• How is the project funded financing from the
  state level, federal and World bank.
  
• Investment level USD 6 millions were necessary
  to build the main satellite hubs and the
  satellite access points.
  
• Investment level at the university TBA.
• Revenue Source/ Return on Investment
• The state currently provides nearly free access
  (symbolic cost for the end user).
  
• The technology university is free to the students
  from the state of Jigawa. Out of state students
  pay university fees.
  
• The voice project will be provided at cost 40
  margin (industry average), when it is
  implemented. It will be operated by a private
  company.

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Applications

• Current applications
• (1) Education network, e-learning using
  professors and classes from prestigious
  universities in the United Kingdom (Oxford) and
  Australia
• (2) Agriculture information such as weather
  patterns, and selection/research of seeds, etc.
  The network serves the Jigawa Agriculture
  Research Center
• (3) General access of internet, emails, etc.
• (4) Connection of Government services to the
  federal government networks.
  
• Future/Potential applications
• We are now studying the implementation of a
  ultra low cost portable phone system, based on
  PHS system, using the Internet (VoIP) network as
  backhaul/interconnexion. Tests with 700 users in
  Dutse (the state capital) showed economic returns
  for revenues of USD5 per user.

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Network Schematic

• Network Schematic
• Backhaul using satellite (PanamSat 1.5Mbps)
• Last mile low-cost Wi-Fi and WiMAX fixed
  wireless. Most of the cities in Jigawa are
  covered.
  
• State the chosen/considered why
• Technology providers satellite (PanamSat), no
  alternative (no copper of fiver optic access).
  The topology of the state (large flat areas)
  makes it an ideal case of massive fixed wireless
  deployment
• systems integrators IdeaValley Brazil
• and service providers none.

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Deployment

• Timeline
• Past 20012005 deployment of 47 access points,
  creation of the university
  
• Current (20052006) deployment of long-range
  radio-frequency backhaul, using point to point
  WiMAX, to support voice and higher bandwidth
  
• Future (2006) deployment of a mobile phone
  network, using the satellite and RF backhaul.
  
• Sustainability and Scalability of the project
• The Internet access is considered a public
  service and will stay free (or with a symbolic
  cost for the general use). The operating company,
  Galaxy is being privatised and will receive
  subsidies by the local government for government
  access
• The university is a public/private partnerhsip.
  It is privately managed, and receives scholarship
  for in-state students (50 of the students). Out
  of state students pay full tuition fees (50 of
  the students)
• The voice project (2006) is a private company
  that will have a concession for voice services.
  It has target prices obligations (US
  5/month/client, unlimited local call access).

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Impact Analysis

• Actual impact
• Information technology access in Jigawa is
  starting to bring businesses in the state.
  
• The university creates a sophisticated urban
  tissue in the city of Jigawa.
  
• Jigawa Agriculture Research Center opened its
  doors in 2003 in Kazaure.
  
• In 2005, IdeaValley, from Brazil, decided to
  create its Nigerian branch in Kazaure.
  
• Jigawa Savings and Loans bank was created by
  using the communication system of the state, etc.

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Lessons Learned Next Steps

• Implementation and execution of ambitious
  technology projects in Africa are challenging,
  but the Jigawa initiative also shows that it is a
  possible task.
• High technology, not low technology is often the
  solution. Implementing a massive scale VoIP is
  now the next challenge of the Jigawa Information
  Technology Initiative.