By 2020, 1 Billion Africans are expected to access the internet for the first time, via the mobile phone. Here is what Peter Kahiigi, the Director of E-Government Services heard to say about it.
1.Reduce cost internet
From an institution perspective, NITA-U being fully cognizant of the factors like cost of upstream bandwidth that significantly drive up the cost of internet bandwidth to Government offices, NITA-U has made the deliberate decision to purchase bulk internet bandwidth. The bulk purchase has allowed for NITA to benefit from economies of scale, thereby translating into a lower cost per Mbps for Government offices. As we connect more MDAs and Local Governments, we project the connectivity cost will reduce in tandem.
NITA-U remains committed to digitizing Uganda by reducing the cost of internet connectivity, which is a significant barrier in encouraging the use of Internet across the country. This effort has been deliberate and we are happy to have led the industry in reducing the cost of connectivity to Government offices by over 84% since 2010 when 1Mbps cost a government office $1200 to the current cost of $70 for 1Mbps.
2. Free WiFi
By easing the on-boarding of Government institutions on to the internet, the number of online government services will increase, this will spur usage of the internet. Our aim is to continue enabling the lives of Ugandan citizens by demystifying the concept of the use of ICT through the provision of the high-speed and far-reaching internet to government offices, thereby ensuring reliable and consistent online government services.
Additionally, the provision of free Wi-Fi, MyUG has continued to spur the use of the internet. Owing to the free price point, it has allowed for new internet users to ‘try before they buy’, this translates to new data customers for the ISPs/Telecoms as the new spurred demand is being satisfied by the ISPs/Telecoms.
3. Multi-sectoral engagement with all ICT players
Repeatedly, the Hon Minister of ICT & National Guidance and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of ICT & National Guidance, have initiated a multi-sectoral engagement with all ICT players in the industry with a view of reviewing how infrastructure is being managed and how this can be rationalized with a view of smarter ways of infrastructure management that would translate into cost savings that would eventually be passed onto the consumer in terms of reduced cost of internet.
4.Reduce latency
NITA-U, in partnership with Akamai, launched a content delivery service (cache). This service has enhanced the internet user experience for Ugandan citizens. Owing to the reduced latency, data doesn’t have to be transmitted across the world wide web whenever a user access an application or a website. This has gone a long way in encouraging the use of internet in the day to day life of citizens.
5. Review taxes on smartphones
Lastly, NITA-U has recommended a review of the tax regime as related to smartphones. Uganda continues to levy taxes on mobile handsets that have kept the price point high. With the review of the tax regime specific to mobile phones, they will become more affordable to the citizenry. Coupled with the planned roll-out of significant online government services, Ugandan Citizens using their mobile phones for interne will increase.
