Africa's Nepad broadband project falters

The New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) broadband project, which aims to connect all African countries to a broadband infrastructure network, has run aground after failing to secure the support of a critical mass of countries for the plan's policies and conditions.

Out of 53 African countries, only 12 countries have signed up for the project and there is indication that the other countries will soon back the project.

Nepad's e-Africa Commission policy and regulatory advisor Edmund Katiti said late last week that Nepad is faced with the challenge of getting as many countries as possible to support the project.

The Nepad project sets out a policy and regulatory framework for the region. Plans include the establishment of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that will own, manage, operate and manage the network.

Many countries however, fear that signing on to the Nepad broadband project will mean changing their regulatory policies to bring them into line with other countries.

"We are trying to get as many countries as possible to support the broadband project but so far we are facing a lot of challenges getting that support," Katiti said.

The network hopes to connect all African countries to a communication network that stretches from South Africa to Rwanda. The network connections will be made through the submarine cable network system that will run along the coast of east Africa.

The US$2 billion project is aimed at reducing the high cost of communication and broadband services including the cost of bandwidth. Nepad also wants all countries to have equal access to the cable regardless of the country's distance from the cable's landing points on the east coast.

Last year, the African Union Commission through Nepad invited all African countries to accede to the Kigali Protocol to get the project moving.

The Kigali protocol is the policy and regulatory framework agreement designed to enable eastern and southern African countries to harmonize regulations and facilitate the construction and operation of the broadband service.

The Kigali protocol came into force in February last year after Malawian President Bingu Wamutarika ratified it, but many countries are still unwilling to accede to the protocol.