By Emmanuel E. Ekuwem,PhD Vice Chairman/CEO, Teledom International Limited.

1. Broadband Wireless Access Solutions as a Platform to Bridge the Digital Divide: A real life experience from Africa By Emmanuel E. Ekuwem,PhD Vice Chairman/CEO, Teledom International Limited. info@teledominternational.com 24, Bamishile Str., (By New World), Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel/Fax: 234 1 4976229, 4976220, 4716398, 7730528. School on Radio Use for Information and Communication Technology 3 - 21 February 2003, ICTP,Trieste, Italy

2. Context1998-1999 Nigeria – With: • Large geographically dispersed land mass. • Population of about 120 million – a restless lot! • Low teledensity. • Poor quality of telecommunication infrastructure. • Low penetration telecom infrastructures, • Narrowband-dominated facilities. • Few private telecom Operators (PTOs) – voice only. School on Radio '2003

3. Very few ISPs – mostly dial-up. • Insufficient capacity at the National Carrier (NITEL level) – Switching and transport. • 41 large Universities and University centres with city-based multi-campuses. • 35 airports and aerodromes/airstrips. • Tens of banks with mainly dial-up inter-branch networking. • Few Private telecom Operators (PTOs) – voice only. School on Radio '2003

4. Without: • Second Network Operator (SNO). • GSM Operators. • FWA Operators. • Community Telephone Operators • etc. School on Radio '2003

5. Setting • An almighty NITEL! • Not-sufficiently-competent NITEL • Demoralized NITEL • A NITEL in which the federal government was not proud of • A NITEL looked down on by Nigerians School on Radio '2003

6. Socio-political Scenario • A new democratic dispension! • End of pariah state status • Not proud of its past of military dictatorship • Dire need to re-integrate into the rest of the civilized world • A patriotic and perfectionist presidency • A dynamic citizenry – unhappy with their late arrival in the global digital economic scene. • Popular willingness and readiness to participate in the digital revolution. School on Radio '2003

7. Converting Digital Divide into Digital Opportunities In the global Information and knowledge-based economy (IKE). • Data and information are a factor of production • The speed and ease with which real-time access to data and information is made as well as the translation of same into productive ventures gives one a competitive advantage in any field of human endeavor School on Radio '2003

8. Knowledge is power because it empowers! • Think globally act locally • The world for me and I for the world! School on Radio '2003

9. The Digital Divide • Digital Divide = Poor ICT Infrastructures + Digital illiteracy • Digital illiteracy = Educational (il)literacy + computer illiteracy. • Digital Divide = Poor ICT Infrastructures + Educational (il)literacy + computer illiteracy School on Radio '2003

10. Overcoming the Digital Divide • Cable-bridge the divide to improve ICT infrastructures. • Education via tele-education – distance and on-line learning, etc. • Computer literacy School on Radio '2003

11. Cable-bridging will • Take time • Invade the environment • Not be flexible • Not be fast to deploy and dismantle • Not be fast to re-locate. • Not be rapidly scalable • Not cover large geographic land mass in a sweep School on Radio '2003

12. Nigeria needed a leap-frogging platform Leap-frogging platform? Launch pad? Stepping stone? Yes! Wireless Access Solutions? Yes! Yes! Narrowband Wireless Access? No! No! The digital divide is not narrow! Broadband Wireless Access? Yes! Yes! Yes! School on Radio '2003

13. At the beginning of the wireless explosion • All kind of narrow band wireless systems • A few low capacity broadband systems • Broadband Wireless systems arrived late on the scene School on Radio '2003

14. And radio waves “tried to blow” across the scene, but • Initial reluctance to change • Business loyalties to less powerful technologies • Fear of new capital expenses Constituted a frictional layer to the smooth “flow of the breeze” • Wireless Technology was clearly an underdog technology at the time School on Radio '2003

15. From the Rear to the Fore Our Vision: A Nigeria with Wireless facilities providing ‘pipes’ for rapid ICT services penetration of every village, ward, local government headquarter, state capital and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja in order to have a knowledge-empowered citizenry for global competitiveness. School on Radio '2003

16. Our Mission: To make Broadband Wireless technology the preferred port of call by all seekers after Broadband Access facilities in Nigeria for the utilization of same for national economic development. School on Radio '2003

17. Strategy + Tactics • Stay totally focused • Smell, drink, dream, yearn, dance, eat, hug wireless • Convince by demonstrations (demos) • Seeing is believing! • Feeling is accepting! • Participate in ALL major or key ICT conferences/summit exhibitions as • Sponsor (for extra visibility) • Exhibitor (visibility) • Resource Person/paper presenter (further visibility, opportunity for further exhibition via demos) School on Radio '2003

18. Develop a formidable CV by hooking sector leaders: • Banks – • Central bank of Nigeria • Zenith International Bank • Academia – Obafemi Awolowo University • Telco – NITEL • Aviation – Ministry of Aviation/Lagos Airport • Insurance – NDIC • ISPs – Linkserve, Cyberspace, etc • Government – • Federal Secretariat • NITDA • NCC • Presidential Network • Industries - ABB School on Radio '2003

19. Develop good press Relations • Electronic media (TV, radio, etc) • Print (Newspapers, magazines) • Writing of features articles • Product advertisements School on Radio '2003

20. High level Contacts • Government • Private Sectors • Academia • Relevant NGOs and Youth Groups • In Nigeria embassies School on Radio '2003

21. Apply the Wireless products to Good causes: • AgroVisionTM • HydroVisionTM • Aviation • Nigerian Universities Network (NuNet) • Distance and on-line learning for mass literacy campaign • Tele-health • Tele-training, job creation/poverty alleviation • Youth Empowerment School on Radio '2003

22. The Situation today • Avalanche of inquiries daily on wireless products! • All the universities that have implemented a campus-wide wireless LAN projects are using Alvarion! Others are queuing up for the products! • Whoever is worth being called an ISP in Nigeria is using wireless in one form or the other. • A Resource technology to Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC). NCC is one of our clients. School on Radio '2003

23. Point-to-Multipoint campus-wide wireless LAN using BreezeNet with VSAT-based Internet Access School on Radio '2003

24. Intra-city Banking Network (Inter-Branch) On-line banking Withdrawal/payment irrespective of branch Intra-bank administration School on Radio '2003

25. Strategic Partner to National Information Technology Development agency (NITDA) on BWA. NITDA is one of our clients. • Utilized in the Implementation of the Presidential Network. School on Radio '2003

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27. IT Resource Centre City-Based IP Broadband Wireless Local Loop Access Voice and Data Nitel (PSTN) • Non Line of Sight • Ubiquitous Penetration • Access Anywhere School on Radio '2003

28. City/State Capital Broadband Inter local Government trunking from City to Local Government Headquarters School on Radio '2003

29. Map of Nigeria with VSAT & BreezeAccess Base Stations • FCT, Abuja • 36 state Capitals • 774 LG Headquarters School on Radio '2003

30. Rush by the FWA operators to contact Teledom for wireless products. • All ICT conferences/workshops/seminar/summit organizers in Nigeria almost always invite Teledom to present a paper on Wireless Infrastructures. • Contacted by many state Governments for State-wide IP wireless INTRANet • National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award by the President and People of Nigeria to the Teledom CEO for his contributions to National Development via High Technology, Innovations and resourcefulness. School on Radio '2003

31. Tele-Education • Learning where you are School on Radio '2003

32. Tele-Medicine/Health • medical expertise at your • disposal where you are School on Radio '2003

33. We are a Snap shot of the ICTP program on Radio School on Radio '2003

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36. Phone-in TV Interview on Wireless Access Solutions School on Radio '2003

37. News Paper Headlines School on Radio '2003

38. Newspaper Interviews School on Radio '2003

39. Adverts School on Radio '2003

40. From a little known Technology to being the preferred! Radio…The Champion Technology! • A platform for leap-frogging into the Information Society.