Malawi SDNP Network and Internet Services Dr. Paulos B. Nyirenda Coordinator, Malawi SDNP P/B 303, Blantyre 3, Malawi Tel: +265-1-674979 Fax: +265-1-673944 E-Mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.sdnp.org.mw

Role of ICT in development • development - no longer just about getting more resources to poor and marginalised people • knowledge and information - and the way to communicate - are taking an increasingly important role • Malawi SDNP is assisting to address the way to communicate knowledge and information in Malawi 13-17 April, 2004

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SDNP • SDNP - Sustainable Development Network Programme • Idea of SDNP - Rio Earth Summit 1992 – countries realized and agreed that access to good and current information was important in designing and implementing their national development plans

• UNDP supported “government” programme • Here: give overview of Malawi SDNP, its network and its sustainability 13-17 April, 2004

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Main Objective of SDNP • enhance communications and information sharing using computer mediated communications such as the Internet • emphasis: sustainable development • Global SDNP has closed as a programme • Over 44 countries initiated SDNPs globally • Very few ever achieved sustainability • Good public/private partnership needed 13-17 April, 2004

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Malawi SDNP • • • • • • • • •

In Malawi - SDNP is an ISP - full cost recovery a Malawi Government Programme Result of Feasibility Study: 1995-96 Seed funding from UNDP Agreement signed in 1996 Licensed as an ISP in Nov. 1998 Now on full duplex multi-pop VSAT Running on own generated funds –since 2000 Fully Sustainable – covers all of Malawi 13-17 April, 2004

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Broad Objectives • To support Malawi in her development process • To put in place a computer network • To assist with development of Internet and Information services • To help Malawi develop necessary capacity • Support, enhance existing networks - UNIMA • To establish a Malawi SDNP legal framework

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Execution Arrangements • Guided by a Programme Document • Executed in Malawi by NRCM – NRCM : National Research Council of Malawi

• Implemented by a Coordination Unit based at the Polytechnic in Blantyre - UNIMA • Supervised by a national Steering Committee – 14 stakeholder institutions • Now too bureaucratic for ISP operations 13-17 April, 2004

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Challenges, Lessons • Policy, Regulatory & Legal Framework – – – – –

Licensing caused biggest problem on start-up Conflict of interest – resolved 1998 – new law Competition as number of ISPs grew – undercut? ICT policy: under development – SDNP: advocacy Regulation still frosty: VSAT, VOIP, E-Commerce

• Infrastructure – telecomms – equipment – computers - access • Information culture - build – need more awareness - education - youth – media • Staff – difficult to get qualified staff at sustainable pay • Risks – power, economy, policy change 13-17 April, 2004

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Reliable Connections • • • • • • • • • •

Dial-up, leased, wireless, ethernet-UNIMA reliable UNIX platform - LINUX reliable networking & services good domain backup - international website always available High up-time: > 99.975% Entrusted with national services - .MW Training available Networks all University colleges No conditions for a connection

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Prices - competitive • • • • • •

Competitive with other ISPs Retain clients No undercutting private sector No conditions on clients for connecting Institutions can resell bandwidth Most University colleges charge students & so collect revenue to pay for connections • Colleges manage to sustain connections • Increasing café connections 13-17 April, 2004

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Internet Content at SDNP • Growing websites housing national content – Environment - Democracy - Policy - Legal Education - Government - Regulation - etc

• E-mail Discussion lists on national issues – Environment - civil society - academic - etc

• Need to build more content and enhance national information and knowledge sharing • Wisdom sharing ?? • Currently: no internet based learning 13-17 April, 2004

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Malawi SDNP Clients • Around 2000 clients • Connects all the 5 colleges of UNIMA • Connects anyone on request - individuals, NGO, public & private sector, CISCO academies .. • Connects GoM wide area network • Has good capacity for information and knowledge sharing in Malawi • Flexible resources to take more clients 13-17 April, 2004

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Malawi SDNP Staff - support • • • • • • • •

All Malawian staff 3 technical - well trained BSc+ 2 Accounts - 2 Administration regional node operators (3 scheduled) student attachments University staff - subcontract Full help desk Online help available - self installations

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Monitoring & Evaluation • • • • • • • • •

Malawi SDNP produces regular reports Activities planned in advance Annual & Quarterly workplans User subscription data – traffic stats Income & Expenditure data Quarterly & Annual reports Audited every year - evaluations On course & transparent Data: users, income, traffic etc

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Issues on sustainability • Good public/private partnership essential • Suitable policy & regulatory environment • Care in governance placement – those wholly in or out of government institution - less successful

• Good awareness – though extensive advertising not necessary – training builds both capacity & sustainability

• • • • •

Regular monitoring and evaluation Effective revenue collection Avoid an over zealous clinging donor Good access to suitable adequate content Reliable well trained staff

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Prospects • the future looks bright - fully self sustaining • VSAT and wireless - enhance prospects • raise income and partnerships to assist with development objectives • improve & increase national content & Internet penetration • target key areas: education, civil society, medicine, rural districts … • develop a national development gateway • READY TO SUPPORT AIMS IN MW 13-17 April, 2004

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Conclusion • the Internet offers many benefits & opportunities • Mw SDNP offers viable sustainable connections for information and knowledge sharing, education research and development • SDNP offers affordable, flexible rates • Malawi needs to capitalize on the burgeoning ICT industry – take advantage to enhance sectors such as in education • SDNP is considering innovative methods to improve connections – benefit to Malawians 13-17 April, 2004

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Thank You Malawi SDNP Tel: 01-674979 / 675872, 08-824787 Fax: 01-673944 E-Mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.sdnp.org.mw .mw ccTLD: http://www.nic.mw