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- PC
for Community
- Free Internet
- Broadband
- IT Clubs
- Increasing Access with the ICT Trust Fund
‘Information and Communications Technologies should allow people, anywhere in
the world, to access information and knowledge almost instantaneously.
Individuals, organisations, and communities should benefit from access to
knowledge and information.’
WSIS Plan of Action, December 2003
The schemes of e-Access lie at the core of empowering Egyptian society to be
able to take advantage of the ICT available to them, and use them in a proper
way to develop traditional and new industries. The e-Access initiative sets out
to guarantee universal, easy, affordable and rapid access for all citizens to
ICT, and stimulating awareness of the potential uses and benefits of ICT. The
initiative not only focuses on hardware and software but also emphasises the
development of flexible and innovative tools and channels. Examples are the
currently implemented IT Clubs, free Internet, and PC for Community programmes
that provide benefits to users, promote computer literacy, and encourage
increased use of ICT by the public.
PC for Community
The PC for Community scheme has evolved from the PC for Every Home project,
to provide hardware more broadly, such as laptops to individuals in the
business sector. To increase PC usage and to attain the level of penetration to
reach one PC per every three families, the government is working in partnership
with the private sector to develop an initiative to provide the hardware needed
to get more people online. MCIT is cooperating with the Federation of
Egyptian Chamber of Commerce "IT Division" and the e-Learning
and Business Solution Union "e-LABS" to implement the initiative.
The aim of the PC for Community initiative is to provide end users with
computers at prices affordable for the average user, mainly by offering simple
and approved credit schemes. A parallel scheme was also conceived as Notebook
for Every Professional to provide an opportunity for business professionals to
adapt to changes in working culture. At present there are over 500
distributors, sales outlets, and service and maintenance centres that are
involved in the scheme.
During 2004 a hotline at the Xceed Contact Centre was set up to provide
customer service, answer inquiries, and manage complaints, for new participants
in the scheme. In addition to this customer confidence in the schemes has been
boosted by establishing extended warranties on products supplied from twelve to
thirty six months.
The financing base is considerable and demonstrates a long term commitment to
the project. It has been expanded by adding a budget of LE 1.63 billion to
finance the PC for Community and Notebook for Every Professional initiatives in
the upcoming period. Banque Misr assigned LE 630 million for the financing of
both initiatives. The National Bank of Egypt (NBE), in accordance with its
signature on a cooperation protocol in August 2004 to participate in programmes
aiming at providing computers to the society, has assigned a budget of LE 1
billion to finance both initiatives.
Expanding the geographical coverage and increasing the number of locations
prepared to receive citizens who desire to apply for the necessary loans to buy
computers under the guarantee of a phone line is crucial to the success of the
schemes. Banque Misr and NBE branches have been provided with systems remotely
connected to Egypt Telecom’s database to assist them. The banks are able to
make inquiries about clients’ compliance with the necessary conditions needed
for the issue of a loan for the purchase of a computer under the guarantee of a
phone line. Citizens are currently able to utilise such services at over four
hundred and fifty NBE branches distributed all over the Egyptian governorates.
The necessary procedures for participation in both the PC for Community and
Notebook for Every Professional initiatives have been greatly simplified and
defined with regard to obtaining credit and purchase limits for both schemes.
In a similar manner, the current procedures for sale and purchase have been
developed and modernised by obliging sales outlets to use an electronic
commerce application specifically designed to manage and observe all sales and
purchases within the initiative. The credit history of the fixed phone
subscribers is checked and the PC is guaranteed by the fixed phone line. The
figure of PCs supplied by September 2005 was 118,616 and 287 notebooks.
All hardware is being sold with a pre-installed Microsoft Widows XP Operating
system, with locally developed value added software being made available with
the PCs. Microsoft are also providing a training and supporting role, including
involvement in future schemes such as PC for Every Student and Teacher. The
computers are being supplied by twenty two different hardware manufacturers and
two specialist notebook companies using Intel technology, with extended
warranties of up to three years. Intel Egypt are also lending funding, support,
and expertise to marketing campaigns and economic performance hardware
solutions.
Free Internet
In January 2002, the government’s first major success in its effort to make
technology more affordable came with the launching of the Free Internet
Initiative in Cairo. The Free Internet project is a joint effort between MCIT
and Telecom Egypt, in cooperation with the majority of Egypt’s private Internet
Service Providers (ISPs). The initiative offers subscription free Internet
services to Internet users via dialup to special-prefix numbers starting with
‘0777’ or ‘0707’. In September 2002, free Internet service was available
nationwide. Today, Internet users across Egypt are only charged for the price
of local phone calls associated with connecting to the network. The local phone
call charges are approximately US$ 0.15 for an hour of access. The revenues
from the free Internet calls are shared between Telecom Egypt and the service
providers. The Free Internet model was a major step in increasing the number of
Internet users.
The programme effectively abolishes the major cost barrier of Internet access
for users and has encouraged many who had previously not made use of the Web to
log on. After introducing the Free Internet Model, the number of Internet users
more than quadrupled, increasing from one million users in January 2002 to 5
million in October 2005 through an estimated 1.1 million connected households.
Broadband
In line with its stated vision, Egypt is leading an ambitious Broadband
Initiative, with the objective of increasing broadband penetration. The
initiative aims at providing all citizens with easy and affordable access to
the opportunities offered by new technologies. Started in May 2004, the
Broadband Initiative is promising affordable high speed connection to the
Internet. Collaborative efforts from the government and the private sector are
playing an important role in achieving these objectives and spreading broadband
services in Egypt.
Increasing ADSL penetration comes first on the broadband initiative agenda with
an initial target of 50,000 subscribers during the first year. To meet this
target, the initiative is focusing during its initial phase on three main
action items:
- Decreasing monthly charges for 256 kpbs ADSL
services by 50 percent to
reach 150 LE.
- Reducing ADSL installation procedure to range from a
few days to a week.
- Increasing ADSL public awareness through vigorous
marketing campaigns.
The scheme targets primarily residential users as well as small enterprises.
The end user is promised an improved means of Internet connectivity, by
offering high speed connection, a constant availability of the phone line to
receive voice calls irrespectively, and the possibility for more than one PC to
share the same Internet connection, as used in many of the Smart School
Networks. The Broadband initiative is expected to drive the development of
local electronic content and online applications in the various sectors of the
economy.
Whilst improved Internet access for all is the core of the government’s
initiative, the proliferation of Broadband within schools remains imperative as
the key transformative instrument of society. With a parallel benefit of
introducing new technology, broadband technology will allow students greater
potential for research and creativity. The Ministry of Education
has begun a two year programme in 2005 with MCIT to introduce broadband
services in 7000 schools countrywide.
Wireless Access is also included on Egypt’s broadband agenda, as it stands like
an attractive option for availing broadband services nationwide, particularly
in rural areas and new satellite cities where infrastructure may not be as
developed as in the urban areas. As with any new market, the WiFi market offers
opportunities to enhance telecommunication service offerings in Egypt. The MCIT
telecommunication master plan for the coming three years includes detailed
analysis of WiFi services, future trends, system architecture, as well as
various case studies and best practices. It also includes guidelines and
recommendations for implementation, to help service providers capitalise on
their existing infrastructure and billing systems to incorporate this
complementary service offering into their portfolio of services. Refer also to
Section 4.1.2 Wireless Technology.
Although WiFi is still in its very initial phase in Egypt, yet a number of
individual hotspots have been already deployed for market probing, traffic
monitoring and future readiness. Hotspots will initially serve laptop owners,
mainly businessmen and tourists, starting at public places such as airports,
hotels and conference centres. WiFi awareness and penetration is expected to
spread even more with the increase of laptops in Egypt driven by the “Laptop
for Every Professional” initiative.
IT Clubs
The IT Clubs model offers a communal solution to problems of affordability,
accessibility, and awareness. IT Clubs, of which there are currently over one
thousand, are an essential component of the country’s national plan to
familiarise people with computers and promote ICT awareness regardless of
skills, gender, and income level.
The IT Clubs model is another Public Private Partnership to bring affordable
Internet access throughout the country to those who cannot afford to own a PC.
For nominal fees reaching LE 1 (about US$ 0.20) per hour and by providing
hardware, software, and Internet connections, the government has made IT a
daily reality for many who previously had little experience with the new
technologies. As an added benefit, local businesses have also been welcome to
use the IT Clubs.
With most centres based in the deprived and rural areas, IT Clubs provide
opportunities for those with the greatest need. Users receive guidance through
instructors available in each club as well as training for basic skills, such
as keyboarding, software applications, and web design. The government provides
all equipment and hardware necessary for each club’s launch, including
computers, printers, peripherals, Internet access, a network (LAN), and a
server. The government has nurtured partnering with Egyptian and international
entrepreneurs to accelerate the rate of expansion of these clubs throughout the
country.
IT Clubs are also creating job opportunities for university graduates who join
the Training of Trainers programme. Graduates who complete the programme become
IT Club trainers, charged with providing courses at a particular IT Club. To
reinforce the concept of community at each club, trainers must live in the same
governorate as the club they work in, capitalising on their familiarity with
the needs and interests of the local community. Currently, 1244 IT Clubs have
been built in twenty six governorates, including Luxor.
One of the activities of IT Clubs is its participation in the Egyptian Olympiad
in Informatics (EOI) which is an annual competition in technology and
programming that began in 2003. The finals of the contest are held in
Alexandria, under the supervision of MCIT and the Arab Academy for Science and
Technology. The competition generates problem solving and innovative skills,
nurtures young talent, and trains human resources for the marketplace.
Through its continuing commitment to IT Clubs, MCIT is taking the latest
technology to the grass roots of society, and by making IT a part of local
communities, it is increasing opportunities for all citizens. MCIT has set
targets of establishing three hundred IT Clubs per year for the forthcoming
period, and special emphasis within new IT Clubs will be made for people with
special needs and reducing illiteracy in women.
Increasing Access with the ICT Trust Fund
The success of ICT for Development Projects has been dependent on
successful Multi Stakeholder Partnerships (MSPs) to promote, facilitate and
stimulate the creation of innovative enterprises capable to take full advantage
of ICTs while enabling new mechanisms for funding and support of market
creation and access. In these endeavours the ICT Trust Fund saw fit to engage
Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) as major stakeholders to stimulate more
e-Access projects based on community ideas.
One of the main contributors to ICT for Development Projects is the ICT Trust
Fund which was established as a partnership between MCIT and UNDP. The fund’s
main purpose is to further socio-economic development in Egypt by increasing
awareness of ICT benefits, and making them more accessible and affordable to
citizens. Through a series of coordinated projects, the Fund empowers
communities by providing access to appropriate information, briefly described
as follows. More detailed reference to each is made in later sections.
The Fund opts for a working method through community based organisations to
ensure involvement of the local population which also ensures the ongoing
availability of access points and technical support. In order to effectively
use and assess the relevance of the content available on the Community
Development Portal and widely spread the usage of an interactive illiteracy
eradication CD, the ICT Trust Fund created a network of more than fifty local
NGOs from different governorates to provide community services to direct
beneficiaries using ICT Trust Fund tools and content.
The local NGO formed a central access point where a Knowledge and Information
Officer is present to orient visitors and guide them to use ICT tools and the
Internet. Guidance is also available regarding their needs to information such
as employment, health, agriculture, and education. These local NGOs are also
encouraged to undertake a continuing market research in ICT for Development to
accurately satisfy community needs. Activities such as seminars, workshops, and
meetings raise local community awareness about the potential of the projects.
An important development in the cooperation between stakeholders and NGO’s is
the Middle East NGO Gateway Project (MENGOS) and is a direct result of the
action of the ICT Trust Fund. This is an Internet gateway containing
information about NGOs, funding agencies, events, projects, success stories of
individuals or organisations, and other topics relevant to such work in the
Middle East. It hopes to establish an electronic forum linking non profit
organisations to facilitate exchange of experiences, best practices, material
resources, and other valuable information regarding the usage of IT primarily
in Arabic. One of the project’s main aims is in disseminating information and
promoting human rights and development initiatives in the Middle East. In
particular the project focuses on progressive, under represented, and
marginalised NGOs to give them voice and presence on the Internet. The Gateway
therefore is essentially a database of NGOs who are both online and offline, in
countries that are members of the Arab League, and who work on progressive
human rights and development issues.
The ICT Trust Fund is collaborating with selected NGOs that are already part of
a wide national network. such as the Muslim and Christian Youth Associations,
the Scouts and Guides, CEOSS, the Red Crescent, and El Gameya El Shareya
organisations. National workshops are planned to bring together representatives
from national NGO networks to play a role in bridging the digital divide and
transferring the available knowledge to needy communities. “Knowledge Bridging”
is the core message that the ICT Trust Fund is conveying to NGOs.
Mobile ICT Unit
The project involves the use of buses specially equipped with functional media
labs to service remote and poorly serviced geographical areas. The units
usually stop at schools and communities for up to two weeks.
Community Knowledge Generation Library
The initiative is intended to create electronic libraries and establish a
mechanism that will enable information gathering, validation, and maintenance
that is relevant to local communities and can be provided in digital format.
Smart Schools Network
The Smart School Network (SSN) project was launched in 2003 to implement a
pilot of the SSN initiative in 38 public and experimental schools, distributed
in 16 of Egypt’s 26 governorates. The main objective of the SSN initiative is
to allow Egyptian students to achieve computer literacy after completing
preparatory school, enhance student creativity, and enable them to cope with
the requirements of the modern workplace. In addition to establishing
infrastructures in schools that bring the ratio of students or teachers to
computers to 1:10, the project introduces several software applications that
assist in school management. The web presence of the school through this
management system allows the school community to interact effectively. This
community includes teachers, administrators, students, and parents. The project
has also focused on building the capacity of school teachers and administrators
to use tools of ICT effectively.
The Smart School Network is contributing heavily to the development of the
educational system through introducing new concepts of communications and IT in
preparatory schools to improve the quality of the schooling process. The scheme
has been effectively integrating ICT into the Egyptian education system since
the project started in mid 2003, and will continue its impetus until the end of
2005. The schemes have benefited from widespread awareness campaigns within the
community. The Smart School Network has proved itself a successful example of
using the Multi Stakeholder Partnership concept to drive the initiative, where
benefits can be seen equally to the Ministry of Education,
private ICT companies, and of course the schools and students.
The scheme is also providing training for teachers to qualify for the ICDL, and
schools are being changed into productive IT training centres. The project has
been implemented in three phases which will cover in total thirty eight schools
in seventeen governorates, including some of those in the far reaching areas,
such as Bahariya. The Smart School that was established in Siwa illustrates
great success in providing e-Access to remote communities. Refer also to
Section 5.2.
The Smart School in Siwa
Siwa is an oasis town situated in the far reaches of the Western Desert close
to the Libyan border, and is populated mainly by an indigenous Berber
population. The Smart Schools project was implemented in the town and stands as
an example of how ICT can have an impact in a rural development, and allow
schools to serve their communities. The local Siwan NGO, Siwa Community
Development and Environmental Conservation assumed management of the Smart
School, who were able to link local education objectives and community needs
into the project. NGO management proved to be a viable model to manage smart
schools in remote and deprived areas where there is no tangible business
opportunity for private companies management.
In all stages of the project community participation was encouraged, and local
contractors took the responsibility of preparing the local schools for the
project’s introduction using local resources. Illiteracy eradication classes
were conducted in schools and homes for women using special multimedia CDs. Use
of high speed Internet connections enabled new teaching methods to be employed,
and the project gradually mobilised the community to take an interest in
opportunities for socio-economic development using ICT. Resources are now being
accessed to respond to needs related to date and olive export, tourism,
environmental issues, and documenting local heritage. ICT has started to be
considered more relevant to daily life.
Steps were also taken in introducing the project to reducing the ongoing costs
of including ICT in the general school curriculum. Open Source Software was
used in the operating systems, and innovative hardware sharing techniques were
used where four students could share the same CPU on different keyboards and
screens. Hardware in one school was donated by a private IT company.
Support for Small Medium Enterprises
Since the inception of ICT mechanisms in Egypt, there has been increasing
demand for the use of ICTs to increase access opportunities and to enhance
efficiency of SMEs. This trend stems from the realisation of the importance of
SMEs in sustainable economic development, and in the development of national
economies. The government has begun a genuine effort to support NGOs and SMEs
to establish a mechanism for employment generation and entrepreneurships. The
sectors of this support can range from tourism to agricultural produce,
manufacturing, crafts and professional services.
Awareness, Competency, and Training
An awareness campaign was implemented in an effort to highlight the potential
for ICT within SMEs. It was apparent that not all SMEs, particularly in rural
areas, were equipped with computers, so road shows presenting these programmes
were organised using a mobile IT Club as a model (IT Clubs are detailed in
Section 4.4). Although the main focus of the project was to provide ICT
competency and training, it is also helping realise the importance of
information and knowledge for SMEs.
In an effort to encourage SMEs to pursue further quality and progress the ICT
Awards have been introduced. The awards will stimulate the use of ICT by SMEs
and are designed to reward for creative uses of ICT and parallel other awards
available in Egypt to encourage SME innovation. The main objectives are to
raise awareness among SMEs about the various benefits and opportunities offered
by ICT and encourage their use. Participants will be assessed on the basis of
the tangible and quantifiable business benefits that have been achieved through
the application of ICT. Some of the criteria, which will be used to assess
participants, are use of e-Commerce solutions, Internet marketing, and
innovative ICT use.
ICT Adoption Programme
ICT assessments will be conducted to support potential SMEs achieve a clearer
picture of the cost and benefits of implementing ICT into their process. One to
one consultation and support service to develop a customised ICT strategy will
provide selected SMEs advice and assistance on the effective use of ICT. The
project will provide this assessment on a cost-sharing basis.
SMEs will also be encouraged to provide goods and services online. This
activity is an extension to the Community Development Portal (CDP), and is in
line with the Social Fund for Development (SFD) activities. This activity will
leverage the procurement and marketing capabilities of SMEs.
Introduction
The
Foundation for the Information Society
e-Access
Innovation
Capacity Building
Enabling
Environment
Industry
Development
ICT
Applications: Benefits in All Aspects of Life
International and Regional Cooperation
Conclusion
References
Appendix
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