Best Practices

ICT -Short cut to prosperity

The first computer application in Ethiopian started around four decades ago even though the telecommunication technology has a history of more than a century.

According to researchers on computer application development in Ethiopia, it was the Ethiopian Air lines the first introduced the computer technology to Ethiopia   .  

            The ICT sector in Ethiopia is small compared to that in neighboring East African countries such as Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.  In part, precisely because of its arrested development though still in its infancy, given the appropriate stimulus, it has a huge potential for growth.

The government of Ethiopia sees ICT within the wider context of its socio-economic development objectives, and believes that it should take advantage of these technologies to accelerate the rate of economic growth and alleviate poverty. Indeed, the government sees ICT as a key factor for achieving progress in economic and social development.

            To this end, the government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) is conducting multi sectoral projects. Among them is woreda-net project.

            One of the major components of this project in this direction is setting up of a government network that would increase citizens' access to government information and services, increase transparency, accountability and efficiency in government administration and service delivery.

            Priority has been given to the setting up of an end-to-end Video Conferencing System with a capacity of supporting video, audio and data format and internet services to be provided to each woreda administration and regional data centers.

            Woreda-net is terrestrial and satellite-based network whose primary objective is to provide ICT services such as video conferencing; mail services voice services, and internet connectivity at the federal, regional and lower levels of government.

            The objective of the Woreda-net ICT network is to deliver IP (Internet Protocol) based services through the use of broadband terrestrial and VSAT infrastructure. This part of a broader ICT initiative to promote sustainable development through a massive program of ICT application is aimed at empowering citizens.

            The long term objectives include the following:

• bridging the digital divide between urban and rural communities,

• providing knowledge and information to citizens,

• building  organizational capacity at all levels of the government and

• providing all levels of government, with accurate and timely information.

Woreda-net aims at delivering the following core services at the federal, regional and woreda level of government. 

• Video Conferencing: This tool is useful to holding a one to one meeting and broadcast     recorded sessions and programs to remote woredas.

• Web Services: This provide civil servants with access to content available on the internet on education, health agriculture and governance.

• Voice over IP (IP telephony): This establishes common and singular voice over IP communication infrastructure between federal, regional and woreda sites which are non existent at present.

• Messaging: Message creates an environment for a free flow of mail message. Secure and structured electronic messaging service will be in line with government hierarchical structure.

          The Ethiopian ICT Development Authority aims at building a government network in order to enable an-e government strategy. The Woreda -net project includes the following core components.

1. Government Video Conferencing Solutions

    The objective of this project is to set -up a nation wide IP based video conferencing within Ethiopia between:

• the Federal Government, and all 11 regional States

• different regional states

• regional states and their woredas (approximately 574)

• the federal government and the rest of the world

• international videoconferencing and training sessions      

2. Government Network

• The main objective of this network is forming a national infrastructure for  digital data exchange between the different government hierarchies and departments such as federal ministries, regional administrations and sectoral bureaus.

• At this stage the first phase of the project, that is video conferencing between the federal government and the regional governments has been launched and it is used by various government agencies like the Federal Police Commission, the Federal Supreme Court and Electoral Board to conduct meetings and trainings. 

• The use of this video conferencing system has reduced the distance traveled, time consumed and cost incurred to conduct those meetings.  Furthermore, it substitutes face-to-face meeting through the use of IP based system for conducting meetings.

Not Long ago many felt that Ethiopia is poor to afford information and communication technology. Nevertheless every resource should be invested in ICT development as it's a short cut to prosperity. In this regard, the government has made change of stance. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, speaking at an international conference on information and communication said " We are  fully committed to ensuring that as many of our poor as possible have this weapon that they need to fight poverty at the earliest possible time"  

            "We plan to ensure universal access and internet connectivity to all the lens of thousands of Fural Kebeles of our country over the next two to three years." 

            ICT has everything to do with facing the challenges of poverty that   kills. Ethiopia gives due emphasis to ICT development because it's all about productivity.