IT/ITES in Rwanda

South-South Learning Exchange Visit

Monday 9th, February 2009Mumbai, India

Country Team:

Wilson MUYENZISolange MUKAMURENZIRichard NIYONKURUGeorge BARIGYEJerome GASANA

StructureStructure

• Brief Country Profile

• Introduction

• Transformation of Rwanda into an ICT Hub

• e-Government and e-Governance

• Conclusion

Brief Country ProfileBrief Country Profile

• Location: Central Africa

• Population: 9.2 Million

• Land area: 26,338 Sq. Km

• Literacy Level: 74% (15 yrs and above)

• 45.3% of population are < 15 years

• Biggest economic activity is in agriculture

Introduction: Rwanda’s VisionIntroduction: Rwanda’s Vision

• The vision for Rwanda’s future is enshrined in the Vision 2020 for Rwanda which looks towards the achievement of “a modern and prosperous Nation, strong and united, worthy and proud of its fundamental principals”

• Science and technology has a key role to play in the achievement of the Vision and the target is to strengthen and integrate science and technology into the countries strategies and policies to underpin the Vision

• To transform our currently Agriculture based economy to a knowledge based economy by year 2020.

• To use science, technology and ICT as a key enabler of this transformation

• Two key strategies support the adoption of science, technology, innovation and ICT in Rwanda:

• the National Policy on Science, Technology and Innovation adopted in 2005 and

• the NICI Plan (National Information and Communications Infrastructure), a 20 year strategy, now in it’s second phase (2006 –2010).

Rwanda’s Vision and the Role of Rwanda’s Vision and the Role of ICTICT

Transformation into an ICT HubTransformation into an ICT Hub

Growth of economic activities around ICT and Growth of ICT businesses with significant financial turnover

• World Class Telecom and IT Infrastructure

• Highly Skilled Work Force

• Enabling Business / Legal / Regulatory Environment

World Class Telecom / IT InfrastructureWorld Class Telecom / IT Infrastructure

1. National Backbone Network (Fibre Optic Broadband)

• A voice and data backbone network linking all 30 Districts including expansion of the Metropolitan Network in Kigali

• Connecting 319 Government Agencies, Schools, hospitals, border posts

• A network security system for all Kigali sites and district Headquarters

• Wibro Network

Physical Network Design – Backbone NetworkPhysical Network Design – Backbone Network

World Class Telecom / IT InfrastructureWorld Class Telecom / IT Infrastructure

2. Vibrant Mobile Telecom market

- 2 Telecom Operators (Voice and Data)

- More than 85% Network Coverage

- 13% Mobile penetration rate

- 3% Internet penetration rate

- Third License awarded in Dec 2008

Total penetration (fixed and mobile)

Definition: (total telecoms subscribers – fixed and mobile)/populationDate: Dec 2006 (most recent data available)Source: ITU

Telecoms usage in Rwanda compared with region and Telecoms usage in Rwanda compared with region and with Sub-Saharan Africawith Sub-Saharan Africa

3.6%

(Mobile growth 2007)

7.0%

(Predicted Mobile growth 2008)

12-15%

Average for Sub-Saharan Africa

(excl. South Africa): 13.7%

Average for Sub-Saharan Africa

(excl. South Africa): 13.7%

(Predicted Mobile growth 2009)

20-23%

World Class Telecom / IT InfrastructureWorld Class Telecom / IT Infrastructure

3. Regional Communications Infrastructure Project (RCIP - Rwanda)

• Roll out of broadband connectivity

• International connectivity

• Enabling establishment of 3rd party virtual landing station

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25

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SEA ME WE 3

SAFE

SAT-3/WASC

Global ConnectivityGlobal Connectivity

Mahajanga

Mtunzini

Zanzibar

International ConnectivityInternational ConnectivitySubmarine Cable Options – East Coast of Africa with

landing stations in Mombasa and Dar es Salaam

Licensed Operators

Rwandan ISPs and Operators

Government of Rwanda

Rwanda

3rd party virtual landing station operator

Licensed network operators

Virtual landing stationSubmarine

cable landing station

Submarine cables

Schematic of Virtual landing PointSchematic of Virtual landing PointThe World Bank is supporting Rwanda through their Regional Communications Infrastructure Project (RCIP) to a value of 24M USD principally to support roll out of connectivity

World Class Telecom / IT InfrastructureWorld Class Telecom / IT Infrastructure

4. Karisimbi Project

- Air Traffic Management

- Digital Broadcasting

- Climate Change Observatory

Karisimbi ProjectKarisimbi ProjectKarisimbi ProjectKarisimbi Project

• 50m Mast installed on top of Mount Karisimbi• Electrical power connection direct to summit from

Rwanda’s National Electricity system with 200KVA Generator back up

• Microwave Transmitters and Receivers – signaling from Karisimbi to Kigali (radio and tv broadcast)

• Fibre Optic run from summit to main road to access future national fibre network

Broadcasting Applications for Broadcasting Applications for KarisimbiKarisimbi

• Mt. Karisimbi with its high altitude, presents immense opportunity for easy deployment of broadcasting services and other ICT Technologies to reach many beneficiaries

• A study is ongoing with Harris Communications to develop a detailed plan to increase national broadcast coverage for television and radio based around Mount Jali, Karisimbi and other transmitter sites

• Broadcasting Services Under Development• FM Radio: Increase Range to 700 km radius by enhancing

antennae orientation (vertical as well as horizontal polarisation)• Digital Video Broadcast Terrestrial (DVB-T): following pilot

phase increase to ten channels with high power transmitter 250 km radius. (Phase out Analogue tv in line with ITU directive by 2015)

• Other Services• Internet – following trial phase of DVB-RCT increase power to

achieve 50km radius for rural connectivity

Communications Navigation Surveillance / Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM)Communications Navigation Surveillance / Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM)

Rationale: No high altitude control in Central Africa now; Air safety in Africa is serious issue; Central location of Rwanda big advantage; Improved Air traffic Services; Economic Benefits

““Climate Change Observatory and Climate Change Observatory and Weather Center”Weather Center”

• The Rwandan Government is in discussions with MIT for partnership in building and operating a world class “Climate Change Observatory and Weather Center” at the Mountain Karisimbi:

• The center would take advantage of Rwanda's unique geographic location in the epicenter of central Africa and the Albertine Rift. Global warming in particular, as a major force in climate change, is anticipated to have its major impact on the African continent, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.

• The center would offer scientists and researchers from around the world an opportunity to gather critical meteorological, seismic and climate change data critical to implementing appropriate international policies to combat climate change.   

• Rwanda sits on the head waters of both the Nile and Congo River basins and a locating a Climate Change Observatory here offers scientists a front row seat at ground zero for climate change.

Enabling Business, Legal and Regulatory Enabling Business, Legal and Regulatory EnvironmentEnvironment

1. Enabling telecom regulatory environment

- Telecom market liberalization

- Facilitating market entry

- Institutional and sector reforms

- Growth-conducive telecom laws

- Licenses that provide all telecom services

Enabling Business, Legal and Regulatory Enabling Business, Legal and Regulatory EnvironmentEnvironment

2. Enabling business growth environment

- Tax exemption or relief on ICT related equipment

- Consumer protection laws

- Policies that promote fair competition

- Conducive labour law for skilled professionals

Enabling Business, Legal and Regulatory Enabling Business, Legal and Regulatory EnvironmentEnvironment

3. IT/ITES Sector development

- ICT Park to promote and encourage IT business development

- Business Process Outsourcing

- Call Centers

- Remote Process Outsourcing

ICT Park and Incubation FacilityICT Park and Incubation FacilityEstablished May 2006

ICT Park Tenant Community April 2008 – 13 companies:• 3 local established• 3 Foreign Established• 6 Local incubators• 1 Joint Venture GoR and Foreign Company being incubated 

Company Names:• A-Link Technologies• Family Christian Network Radio and TV Africa• BCS Call One Centre• E-Tools• Gasabo 3D Design Company• Dash-S Technlogies• Voxiva Inc.• INS Rwanda Ltd• MIT• Rwanda Development Gateway• CGISD-NUR Demo Centre• ARAVINDSOFT• Altech Stream Rwanda

Kigali ICT Park 1Kigali ICT Park 1

Kigali ICT Park 2Kigali ICT Park 2

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.Design Ltd

Example of Start-Up Company in

ICT Park

“ENGINEERING SERVICES COMPANY”“ 2D to 3D Conversion Experts”

GASABO 3DGASABO 3D

2D drawing 3D drawing Computer Aided Manufacturing

GASABO 3DGASABO 3D: Individual component & Individual component & Assembly Design and ManufactureAssembly Design and Manufacture

Gasabo 3D Design e-commerce website: 2D-to-3D CAD file conversionGasabo 3D Design e-commerce website: 2D-to-3D CAD file conversion

• Govt Ministries and Public Sector Organization organized extensive training programs within the framework of the NICI-2005: Network Technicians, Computers technicians, Software engineers, system managers, etc

• Nations Universities and colleges introduced new IT training programs in academic and professional areas: Between 2002 and 2005: KIST and NUR produced close to 2,000 professionals in Engineering, Technology and Computer Science (Bsc Level)

• Emergence of Private ICT training institutions: eg, E-ICT

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

Implementation of NICI has allowed to address the issue of skills scarcity

• ICTs in Education Policy: Infrastructure Deployment, Content Development, Teacher Professional Development , etc

• Implementation of ICTs in Education programs at all levels:

•Primary schools: One Laptop Per Child program

•Secondary schools: School-net project (connectivity), e-learning project (ICT equipment),

•Universities: Open Distance and e-learning, RwedNet

•Teacher Training: Edqual project (Integration of ICT in Learning and Teaching

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

REFORM OF THE EDUCATION SYTSEM: ICT BASED EDUCATION

• KIGALI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY created various ICT based Centres:

Intermediate ICT skills Development Centre: trains technicians in Hardware Maintenance, network design & Admin, Software Dev’t, Web Design, ICDL, Computer Literacy Regional ICT Training and Research Centre: ICT training and International certification ProgramAfrican Virtual University: Distance learning technology to conduct degree and diploma courses in computer ScienceE-documentation Centre: Online gateway

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

SUCCESSES

Most Higher Learning Institutions have developed ACADEMIC programs in IT/ICT: NUR, UAAC, UNILAK, ULK,....

• INCEPTION of the Workforce Development Authority (WDA) and approval of Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET):

Three Tiers TVET system: Vocational schools, Technical Secondary Schools and Colleges of Technology

Targeted numbers of Trainees between 2008-2018: 978,828 trainees

ICT SKILL PROGRAMS required: Network Infrastructure and CablingObject oriented ProgrammingWeb design and DevelopmentDatabase Management IT security

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

SUCCESSES

• Cisco •Microsoft

•RedHat Linux

•Sun Micro Systems

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

Linkages with Private Sector

eGovernment and eGovernanceeGovernment and eGovernance

• eRwanda Project: Strengthening Government efficiency and effectiveness

- National eGov Portal (Government Services Online)

- Equipping and Networking of Gov institutions

- Paperless Government

• National ID

• National Data Centre

Partnerships with IndiaPartnerships with India

• Access to Education

• IT Training

Major SuccessesMajor Successes

• Committed and Visionary Leadership

• Comprehensive Policy Framework (NICI)

• Strong Telecom Infrastructure

Issues and ChallengesIssues and Challenges

• Lack of adequate skills, both technical and soft skills

• Weak Private Sector

• Prevailing poverty

• Lack of capital investment

• Lack of adequate electricity

• High cost of telecom services

Expectations from SSLEVExpectations from SSLEV

• Understanding of the Indian and other African countries’ experience with regard to:

1. Skills Development (Building the right capacity, in both quantity and quality)

2. Promoting a vibrant private sector (strategies and programmes aimed at growth of the IT/ITES sector)

• Share the Rwandan Experience with other participants

• Create partnerships

Conclusion:Conclusion:The words of His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the The words of His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the

Republic of RwandaRepublic of Rwanda

“In many cases African institutions of higher education are not able to produce the required quality and quantity of skilled professionals. A multi-faceted strategy aimed at creating this indispensable expertise, while strengthening the capabilities of national and regional training institutions is vital. In addition we need to improve Africa’s record of retaining our professionals, who we often lose to the outside world as soon as they enter the labour market…….

With a modern ICT infrastructure, we can strengthen our major cities as hubs of dynamic services-led economic activity, attracting good quality and knowledge-based jobs. his will keep our best and brightest in Africa, where they can build a more prosperous future for themselves and for our continent.”

(Welcome Remarks, Connect Africa Summit, 29 October 2007, Serena Hotel, Kigali, Rwanda)