Building an Information Society

transcript

American Chamber 06/01/2004 © A. Nazif, December 2003

H. E. Dr. Ahmed Nazif

CIT Minister

The ITU Council in 2001 decided to hold the first World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in two phases.

Geneva in December 2003.

Tunisia in November 2005.

The main objective of the Summit is to launch an international dialogue to bridge the digital divide.

WSIS brought together Stakeholders including Heads of State, United Nations agencies, Business Community, Civil Society, and Media Representatives.

Issues: Internet Management, Digital Solidarity Agenda and Funding Mechanism, Capacity Building, Cultural Diversity, Freedom of Expression

Egypt was an active participant in the preparation process at the regional (Arab/African) and international levels.

Pan Arab Regional WSIS Preparatory Conference held in Cairo in June 2003 produced the Cairo Declaration.

Egypt drafted the African WSIS Action Plan.

Egypt produced the Egyptian Information Society White Paper.

What the technology provides withWhat the society needs

Can Technology Deliver?

Yes, IFWe Can Match:

Fixed Lines

Mobile Terminals Storage

WWW O/S DBs

APPLICATIONS

Wireless

ACCESSACCESS

INFORMATION SOCIETYINFORMATION SOCIETY

American Chamber 06/01/2004 © A. Nazif, December 20034.9 million new lines since October 1999

11.3 million8.7 millionmillion

3.03.54.04.55.05.56.06.57.07.58.08.59.09.5

10.010.511.0

96 97 98 99 2000 2001 2002 2003

No. of subscribers

No. of fixed lines

No. of subscribers, million

The number of subscribers increased more than eight folds since October 1999

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Providing dial-up internet access on every Operational

phone-line country wide.

A revenue-sharing model between Telecom-Egypt & the

Internet Service Providers.

$ 0.15/hr of internet usage at home.

940000 of individual phone lines dialing up to the net.

0.30.6

00.20.40.60.8

11.21.41.61.8

22.22.42.6

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

International internet traffic increased from20 Mb/s to 1144 Mb/s in 4 years

No. of Internet Users

Million

TE offers PCs to its subscribers through CR outlets.

Payment in monthly installments $15/$17/$20 models financed by the banking sector.

Bundling of ready made s/w applications.

17 companies providing local assembly of PCs.

Market stimulation arises interest in local manufacturing.

Government subsidized internet cafés

To date, there are 615 clubs.

Created in youth centers, public libraries, schools & NGOs.

Focusing on deprived and low income communities.

To-date, more than 100,000 citizens visit the clubs regularly.

A government portal that is citizen-centric.

On-line Government Services.

Information and Document Networking.

More Automation of Internal Functions.

Basic Skills Development.

Professional Development.

The Smart Schools Initiative.

High Tech / Business Universities.

Telemedicine

Visual inspection and diagnosis by a distant specialist.

Immediate electronic transfer of medical imagery, pathological biopsy and lab results.

Smart Health records

Preventive care. Family planning. Medical history.

Historical sites Natural protectorates

Museums Manuscripts

Using IT to preserve our rich cultural heritage and share it more readily with the rest of the world.

E-legislation ( E-signature – Cyber crime – Taxation – Arbitration ).

A certificate authority and a public key system.

On-line banking and E-Payment.

Promoting IT in SME’s.

Transforming ARENTO into Telecom Egypt by law 19 for the year 1998.

Establishment of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority by presidential decree number 101 for the year 1998.

A new telecommunication law that promotes: Transparency in licensing. Phased deregulation of services. Establishment of a universal fund to accelerate tariff rebalance.

Source: The General Authority For Investment & Free Zones

82 147 246

910.11202.2

2736.93014.9 3131.6

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Capital InvestmentMillion L.E.

A high tech business park with “Smart” infrastructure, investor friendly services and investment incentives.

300 acres (20 minutes from downtown Cairo, 10 minutes from the great pyramids).

53 office plots (336 000 sq.m. of office space). Business center Conference center Exhibition center Press center

Recreational facilities Health center Hotel Shopping and restaurants

Developed and operated by private investors

Establishment of VC fund of 50 million L.E.

Establishment of first incubator on 2500 m2 fully equipped with required infrastructure.

Provides technical, financial and administrative support for start-ups as well as small and medium IT enterprises.

SECC aims at supporting the SW industry in Egypt and has established cooperation with SEI, SW Engineering Institute, in USA.

Capacity Building Software Process Improvement Training Track. Orientation workshops to Executives and Top Management. SEI Courses to qualify Assessors.

Assessment SECC will support top level software companies in Egypt to be

qualified for CMM assessment and accreditation.

The objective is to create export oriented industries to compensate for the imports of telecommunications hardware.

Companies Participating in the execution of the Telecommunications Master Plan commit to substantial investments in technology transfer activities.

Five agreements were signed between MCIT & Ericsson, Alcatel, Siemens, Motorola and Nortel.

Establishing / expanding regional training centers to qualify next generation engineers.

Foster co-operation with local companies to increase value added. (ex. Local switches & cables currently match international standards).

Participating in setting research centers & contributing to public and private universities

( US, French, German & British universities).

Establishing centers of competence to create awareness for new technologies (ex. IP and 3G).

Egypt … The Cradle of Civilization is

Quickly Becoming the Center for IT and

Telecommunications in the Middle East

and North Africa

This presentation is available at www.mcit.gov.eg

Building an Information Society

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