In the past six years, The World Bank has been heavily financing broadband projects in much of Africa. Especially notable are projects in West Africa, East Africa, and Central Africa. In all, 23 countries are being served by three massive projects (RCIP, WARCIP, CAB) that require hundreds of millions of dollars in financing. The majority of these funds are coming from The World Bank.

Usually the core development pillars are tied to increasing broadband capacity and creating an enabling environment for ICT adoption. More specifically, the goals are lower internet access costs, extend the reach of broadband networks, support e-government applications, and create an enabling environment for ICT capacity. In addition, The World Bank emphasizes project management and aims to hand off tasks to national stakeholders. In essence, phases of African broadband projects are the same across multiple countries and are only slightly altered to suit local needs.

Worth noting are how rapid ICT service adoption in certain regions (mainly East Africa) has allowed target project indicators to become obsolete years before a project’s end date. For example, set in 2008, Malawi’s ICT indicators for 2015 (internet penetration, international capacity, etc.) were already surpassed by 2012. Tanzania’s were mostly surpassed in 2010 and Rwanda’s in 2011. The same goes for Kenya where future international capacity goals were based on a meager 4,000 Mbit/s in 2007 that exploded to roughly 330,000 Mbit/s by mid-2013. At the time, project managers simply underestimated the timely connection to multiple undersea fibre cables. Also interesting is how the price of a wholesale international capacity link has declined from 2007 to 2013 in East Africa. Kenya has seen the greatest decline by far. Burundi still has far way to go.

• Kenya: US$7500/mo -> US$650/mo
• Madagascar: US$10000/mo -> US$1367/mo
• Burundi: US$8000/mo -> US$2800/mo

The good news is that international capacity is expected to substantially increase (2x-10x) in World Bank-served areas. Internet access costs are expected to decline by 35-70% from the present through 2016-2018. The number of internet users is also expected to grow exponentially, but from a low base. However, even after World Bank funded projects are complete, they are not truly complete. Access costs will still be exorbitantly high. Key stakeholders on the ground (governments, public-private partnerships) will need to keep the momentum alive to ensure costs lower even further, new policies get enacted, and even more infrastructure is built out.

African Broadband/ICT Projects Supported by The World Bank

Regional Communications Infrastructure Project (East Africa, 2007-2016)

RCIP:

• The project will improve e-government applications and contribute to more affordable broadband access in Madagascar and the East Africa region.
• Many goals have been met, although internet access costs remain high (despite falling greatly). For example, Kenya’s retail price of internet services has fallen twelve-fold since 2007. Burundi has yet to meet e-government and university broadband goals.
• Countries: Kenya, Madagascar, Burundi
• Total Cost: US$ 201.9 million
• Approval Date: March 29, 2007
• Closing Date: December 31, 2016
• Project Overview

Regional Communications Infrastructure Program (Phase 2) – Rwanda Project:

• Will lower prices for international capacity and extend the reach of broadband networks.
• Assistance will be given to government ministries and a focus will also be given to connecting to submarine cables off the East African coast.
• Average broadband and retail internet service costs were already lower in 2011 than 2014 targets created in 2008.
• Countries: Rwanda
• Total Cost: US$ 24 million
• Approval Date: September 30, 2008
• Closing Date: January 31, 2014
• Project Overview

RCIP3 – Regional Communications Infrastructure Program – Phase 3:

• The project will provide better access to international bandwidth through assistance to governmental ICT agencies, PPPs and public outreach activities.
• Malawi’s 2015 ICT indicators set in 2008 were already surpassed in 2012. Tanzania’s were mostly surpassed in 2010. Mozambique’s were not.
• Countries: Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania
• Total Cost: US$ 151 million
• Approval Date: June 25, 2009
• Closing Date: February 28, 2015
• Project Overview

Kenya – KTCIP/Additional Financing (RCIP 1):

• Objectives are to lower the cost of international capacity and extend the reach of broadband networks
• E-government applications are also listed as a goal.
• Countries: Kenya
• Total Cost: US$ 55.1 million
• Approval Date: March 29, 2012
• Closing Date: N/A
• Project Overview

RCIP4 – Regional Communications Infrastructure Program – APL 4:

• Will help lower cost of international capacity and extend the reach of broadband networks
• Three parts are creating an enabling environment (sector liberalization, legal reforms, and training regarding the FLY-LION3 cable), capacity (financing participation in the FLY-LION3 cable, capacity purchase, creation of an IXP), and project management.
• Countries: Comoros
• Total Cost: US$ 22 million
• Approval Date: September 10, 2013
• Closing Date: June 30, 2018
• Project Overview

West Africa Regional Communications Infrastructure Program (West Africa, 2011-2018)

WARCIP:

• Will strengthen international connectivity (infrastructure, access to submarine cables) and create an enabling environment for connectivity.
• Goals include 6 Gbit/s international capacity for Sierra Leone and 1.12 Gbit/s for Liberia along with a roughly 50% reduction in the retail price of internet services.
• Countries: Sierra Leone, Liberia
• Total Cost: US$ 56.6 million
• Approval Date: January 20, 2011
• Closing Date: September 30, 2015
• Project Overview

West Africa Regional Communications Infrastructure Project – APL-1B:

• The project will help provide international submarine broadband access to The Gambia and Guinea along with inland access to Burkina Faso.
• International capacity will increase tenfold for Burkina Faso.
• Countries: The Gambia, Guinea, Burkina Faso
• Total Cost: US$ 92 million
• Approval Date: June 21, 2011
• Closing Date: December 31, 2016
• Project Overview

WARCIP APL 1C – Benin:

• Three components will enhance Benin’s economic integration
• Financing of ACE cable membership, management of the landing station, and creating an enabling environment for connectivity are major goals.
• Goals are a 60% reduction in retail internet service prices and 4.2% internet penetration by project end.
• Countries: Benin
• Total Cost: US$ 35 million
• Approval Date: July 12, 2012
• Closing Date: June 10, 2017
• Project Overview

West Africa Regional Communications Infrastructure Project – APL 2:

• Will help economic recovery while addressing transparency and social needs.
• Components will support connectivity and create an enabling environment for connectivity.
• Targets are 9% internet penetration for Togo and 11% internet penetration for Mauritania by 2017 along with a 50% reduction in internet access in Mauritania (33% for Togo).
• Countries: Togo, Mauritania
• Total Cost: US$ 81.50 million
• Approval Date: May 30, 2013
• Closing Date: November 30, 2018
• Project Overview

Central African Backbone (Central Africa, 2009-2016)

Central African Backbone – APL1A:

• Technical assistance, training, and equipment will help modernize ICT policy, strengthen legal framework, create a competitive environment, promote e-government applications, and enhance the image of Cameroon on the internet.
• Chad’s international bandwidth should increase by 5x over four years. CAR’s will have grown 9x since the start of the project. Cameroon will have more than double the current international bandwidth by 2016. The number of internet users is expected to remain below 5% through 2016.
• Countries: Cameroon, Central Africa
• Total Cost: US$ 26.73 million
• Approval Date: September 24, 2009
• Closing Date: March 15, 2016
• Project Overview

AFR:Central African Backbone – APL1B:

• The first phase of the CAB project aims to form and support a regional broadband network and increase usage of broadband services.
• By 2016, 8 localities will have broadband speeds of at least 128Kbps (was 2 as of 2010)
• Countries: Chad, Central African Republic
• Total Cost: US$ 58 million
• Approval Date: June 30, 2011
• Closing Date: December 31, 2016
• Project Overview

Central African Backbone – APL2:

• The project will increase the usage of regional broadband services
• Internet penetration is expected to double in four years as international bandwidth increases ten-fold. Retail internet costs are expected to fall by 60%.
• Countries: Sao Tome and Principe
• Total Cost: US$ 14.9 million
• Approval Date: January 20, 2011
• Closing Date: December 31, 2014
• Project Overview

Central African Backbone – APL3 – Republic of Congo:

• Four components of increasing broadband usage include: creating an enabling environment, establishing an IXP, and promoting the ICT sector.
• The internet penetration rate should increase from 6% to 15% in six years. Retail internet prices should fall by 70%.
• Countries: Republic of Congo
• Total Cost: US$ 30 million
• Approval Date: May 25, 2011
• Closing Date: December 31, 2016
• Project Overview

Central African Backbone – APL4 – Gabon:

• Goals are to increase the usage of broadband services and reduce their prices.
• Moving parts include creating an enabling environment which in turn, has 6 pieces (partnerships, technical assistance, strategy planning, etc.)
• International bandwidth will triple and the retail price of internet services is expected to drop by nearly 67%
• Countries: Gabon
• Total Cost: US$ 109 million
• Approval Date: March 28, 2012
• Closing Date: December 31, 2016
• Project Overview

Miscellaneous Projects:

Uganda Energy for Rural Transformation IPF Phase2 Additional Financing:

• Aims to increase access to energy and ICTs in rural Uganda
• Countries: Uganda
• Total Cost: US$ 12 million
• Approval Date: May 22, 2013
• Closing Date: N/A
• Project Overview

Mauritius Second Private Sector Competitiveness DPL:

• Main objective is to encourage enterprise development
• ICT usage and e-government reforms are one of three key pillars.
• 15% of broadband subscriptions are to have speeds greater than or equal to 10 Mbit/s by mid-2014
• Countries: Mauritius
• Total Cost: US$ 15 million
• Approval Date: March 27, 2013
• Closing Date: June 30, 2014
• Project Overview

Extending Mobile Applications in Africa through Social Networking:

• Countries: Africa
• Total Cost: US$ 0.16 million
• Approval Date: January 8, 2010/li>
• Closing Date: March 31, 2011
• Project Overview

Extending Mobile Applications in Africa through Social Networking – Kenya (Akirchix):

• Countries: Kenya
• Total Cost: US$ 0.49 million
• Approval Date: November 17, 2010
• Closing Date: June 30, 2013
• Project Overview

Africa Virtual University I:

• Countries: Africa
• Total Cost: US$ 2.48 million
• Approval Date: June 26, 2001
• Closing Date: June 30, 2005
• Project Overview

African Virtual University II:

• Countries: Africa
• Total Cost: US$ 14.1 million
• Approval Date: June 26, 2001
• Closing Date: October 26, 2011
• Project Overview