Uganda Internet Case Study: Accelerating Development and Adoption

1. Uganda Internet Case Study Michael Minges and Tim Kelly The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the ITU or its membership. The authors can be contacted at Michael.Minges@itu.int and Tim.Kelly@itu.int.

2. ITU Internet Case Studies • Seek to understand factors which accelerate or retard the development of the Internet in different environments • Obtain market information • Through comparative analysis, advise policy makers and regulatory agencies • Analyze spread of Internet in different sectors of the economy such as health, education and commerce as well as government • The first round of studies include Uganda, Nepal, Egypt and Bolivia.

3. Uganda Overview Source: ITU from World Bank, UBOS data.

4. P. Masambu, Executive Director, UCC Telecom policy • Reformed, privatized and liberalized • Private mobile operator • CelTel, May ‘95 • Regulator created • UCC, 1998 • Second network operator introduced • MTN Uganda, Oct. ‘98 • Incumbent part-privatized • UTL, Feb. 2000

5. Telecom market Telephone subscribers, Uganda (000s) • Low fixed penetration • Low investment, high tariffs • Rising mobile penetration • 2 operators, pre-paid, foreign investment • First African country where mobile>fixed Source: ITU from UTL, MTN, CelTel data.

6. Internet market • Status • 8 licenses issued, 4 active ISPs • Incumbent not yet providing ISP service • 4’000 subscribers, ~25’000 users • Foreign investment • Wireless Internet could prove significant • Recommendation • ISPs should peer locally, perhaps via an independent Internet exchange point

7. Internet tariffs Dial-up Internet access charges, US$ per month • Status • Not many options • Telephone usage charges • Long distance outside Kampala • Recommendations • A nationwide dial code for Internet access should be established • Revenue-sharing of telephone calls charges should be encouraged Telephone subscription Telephone usage ISP charge 30 hours per month Source: ITU from UTL, InfoCom data.

8. Donor projects • Status • A number of IT projects are taking place with the assistance of bi-lateral and multi-lateral donor agencies and different sectors of Uganda government • Recommendation • Greater co-ordination of these different efforts is required International & Bilateral IT projects for Uganda DonorCounterpart US AID Makerere Univ. World Bank Min. Education Denmark UBOS Canada UCST Italy Min. Health UNESCO UCST ADB Makerere Univ. ADB Min. Health Norway Makerere Univ. Source: ITU adapted from various.

9. Public Access • Status • No explicit policy for Internet • Telephone line & payphone targets • Around 10 cybercafés in Kampala • Uganda Posts provides e-mail in 3 towns • Donor projects • Recommendations • Emphasis should be placed on developing public access points such as telecentres, cybercafés, utilising for instance existing community locations such as post offices, schools, health centres, etc.

10. Domain name • Status • Uganda OnLine registrar • Registration US$50 per year Uganda (.ug) hosts • Recommendations • Registrar should be neutral • Costs should encourage development of web sites in Uganda Source: ITU adapted from Network Wizards.

11. Sector absorption Distribution of Internet Users • Recommendations • Awareness • Promoting Internet through seminars, trade shows etc. • Content • Local content in local languages • E-Government • Government ministries should get on line • E-Commerce • Creation of an e-Commerce task force NGOs, UN, World Bank, etc. 30% Business 40% Academic 25% Govern-ment 5% Source: Charles Musisi, March 1999

12. State of Internet Uganda Note: Range is 0 = (non-existent) to 4 (highly developed) Source: ITU adapted from Mosaic Group.

13. www.itu.int/ti/casestudies/

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