By Gisa Fuatai PurcellBy Gisa Fuatai PurcellManager, ICT SecretariatManager, ICT Secretariat Government of Samoa Government of Samoa

21 August 200621 August 2006

NATIONAL ICT COMMITTEENATIONAL ICT COMMITTEE

Implementing Samoas’ Implementing Samoas’ National ICT StrategyNational ICT Strategy

Order of Order of PresentationPresentation

• VisionVision

• MissionMission

• Our Story Begins Our Story Begins

• Multistakeholder PartnershipsMultistakeholder Partnerships

• Progress so Far and The Next Progress so Far and The Next StepsSteps

The VisionThe Vision

““ICT for All”ICT for All”

MissionMission

““For Samoa to be the For Samoa to be the leader of  ICT leader of  ICT

development  in the development  in the Pacific”Pacific”

ObjectivesObjectives

• To bridge the digital divide To bridge the digital divide within Samoa and between within Samoa and between Samoa and other countriesSamoa and other countries

• To promote ICT as a tool to To promote ICT as a tool to achieve Samoa's’ statement achieve Samoa's’ statement of development strategyof development strategy

• To use ICT as a tool to To use ICT as a tool to

achieve the MDGsachieve the MDGs

Smart devices

connect

into

end networks

The future is open and flexible

• Through common Through common standards, physical and standards, physical and virtual worlds virtual worlds interconnectinterconnect

• Technology is in Technology is in distinguishabledistinguishable

• The technology is The technology is autonomous and autonomous and transparent so that it transparent so that it directs into whatever the directs into whatever the end device is.end device is.

Source: Presentation. Our way to the 3G worldHP Network and Service Provider Business Unit.

Our Story BeginsOur Story Begins• 2001 –Commissioned e-readiness study 2001 –Commissioned e-readiness study • 2002 - Cabinet established the Steering ICT Committee 2002 - Cabinet established the Steering ICT Committee • 2003 - Cabinet approved draft national policy2003 - Cabinet approved draft national policy

- National ICTC developed national strategy- National ICTC developed national strategy• 2004 – Conducted public consultations – UNDP funded2004 – Conducted public consultations – UNDP funded• 2004 – Cabinet approved national ICT strategy2004 – Cabinet approved national ICT strategy

- established ICT Secretariat- established ICT Secretariat

• 20042004 – – Develop Proposals for Partnerships & TranslationDevelop Proposals for Partnerships & Translation

• 2005 – (23 March) Launched National ICT Strategy2005 – (23 March) Launched National ICT Strategy

IMPLEMENTATION BEGANIMPLEMENTATION BEGAN• 2005 – Signed off project document with ITU2005 – Signed off project document with ITU• 2006 – Signed off project document with UNDP2006 – Signed off project document with UNDP• 2006 – Signed off project document with VIA Technology2006 – Signed off project document with VIA Technology• 2006 – Singed off project document with GKP, 2020 Trust, 2006 – Singed off project document with GKP, 2020 Trust,

Rural Link, CSLRural Link, CSLOTHER DEVELOPMENTSOTHER DEVELOPMENTS

• 2005 – Telecommunication Act promoting competition2005 – Telecommunication Act promoting competition• 2005 – Issue GSM licenses to 3 operators2005 – Issue GSM licenses to 3 operators• 2006 – Set up Independent Telco Regulator2006 – Set up Independent Telco Regulator

APPROACH

PM

CABINET

NATIONAL ICT

MINISTRY OF CIT

ICT SECRETARIAT

GRASSROOTS

PLANIMPLEMENT

National StatisticsNational Statistics• Number of Landlines – 15,000Number of Landlines – 15,000

• Teledensity – 7.8 (taulaga 5.6; nu'u i tua Teledensity – 7.8 (taulaga 5.6; nu'u i tua 2.2)2.2)

• Public Phones – 182 (including the phone in Public Phones – 182 (including the phone in the Women’s Committee House)the Women’s Committee House)

• Mobile Phones – 26,100Mobile Phones – 26,100

• Internet Service Providers – 3Internet Service Providers – 3

• Number of Internet Accounts – 3,500+Number of Internet Accounts – 3,500+

• Cyber Cafes – 9 (7 Upolu, 2 Savaii)Cyber Cafes – 9 (7 Upolu, 2 Savaii)

• Population – 180,000Population – 180,000

National PrioritiesNational Priorities• Rural Connectivity Programme

“what's good in Apia is also good for rural”• Telecommunication Infrastructure

• Affordability and Security

• e-Applications – e-Govt., e-Health, e-Education, e-Agriculture etc.

• Legislation• Capacity Building cuts across all priorities

Multi-stakeholder PartnershipMulti-stakeholder Partnership• UNDP – Funded Planning Phase (Consultation, UNDP – Funded Planning Phase (Consultation,

Reviewing national ICT strategy, Printing etc)Reviewing national ICT strategy, Printing etc)

• ITU, CSL, LESAMOA.NET, SAMOATEL, WOMEN’S ITU, CSL, LESAMOA.NET, SAMOATEL, WOMEN’S COMMITTEES AND YOUTH GROUPS – ITU Funds all COMMITTEES AND YOUTH GROUPS – ITU Funds all equipment and training for Rural Connectivityequipment and training for Rural Connectivity

• UNDP – Funds e-Government, FOSS, Localisation, e-UNDP – Funds e-Government, FOSS, Localisation, e-School Bus, Strengthens MCITSchool Bus, Strengthens MCIT

• VIA Technologies Inc. – Pilot Telecentre using Solar VIA Technologies Inc. – Pilot Telecentre using Solar Powered ComputersPowered Computers

• GKP, RURAL LINK (NZ), 2020 TRUST (NZ), CSL – GKP, RURAL LINK (NZ), 2020 TRUST (NZ), CSL –

Providing Broadband using WIFIProviding Broadband using WIFI

• DEVELOPMENT GATEWAY – SAMOA GATEWAYDEVELOPMENT GATEWAY – SAMOA GATEWAY

Partnership with ITUPartnership with ITU

5 Multipurpose Community Telecentres in each Island5 Multipurpose Community Telecentres in each Island

Promoting Fesootai Promoting Fesootai CentersCenters

• National ICT Committee selected National ICT Committee selected Criteria for sitesCriteria for sites

• ICT Secretariat Prepared Presentation in ICT Secretariat Prepared Presentation in Samoan Language to Women’s Samoan Language to Women’s Committees & Youth GroupCommittees & Youth Group

• Advise the Women of Benefits of ProjectAdvise the Women of Benefits of Project• Promoted Project as a BusinessPromoted Project as a Business• Advised Women of their Responsibility Advised Women of their Responsibility

i.ei.e. Preparing a room for equipment, Preparing a room for equipment, Furniture etc. as well as Security of the Furniture etc. as well as Security of the Site and EquipmentSite and Equipment

Implementing Tele-centresImplementing Tele-centres• Conducted Presentation in SamoanConducted Presentation in Samoan

• Leave the group to decide for themselvesLeave the group to decide for themselves

• MCT Include:MCT Include:

• Room or Building prepared by Women-s Committee Room or Building prepared by Women-s Committee

• 5 Computers - 1Printer, 1 Photocopier/Scanner, 1 5 Computers - 1Printer, 1 Photocopier/Scanner, 1 web cam, 1 T.V. 1 Data projector & 3mtr screenweb cam, 1 T.V. 1 Data projector & 3mtr screen

• Data Projector and a 3 mtr Screen. Data Projector and a 3 mtr Screen.

• Air conditioner and External Antenna for Television Air conditioner and External Antenna for Television

ChallengesChallenges• Women had no idea what a Computer isWomen had no idea what a Computer is• Most Women after the Presentation said the Most Women after the Presentation said the

Project will be good for StudentsProject will be good for Students• The Bids were conducted and handled by ITU The Bids were conducted and handled by ITU

in Geneva – a different model but it worksin Geneva – a different model but it works• None of the women had Typing Lessons None of the women had Typing Lessons

beforebefore• Men felt left outMen felt left out• Some Could not afford to build a new room, Some Could not afford to build a new room,

furniture etc.furniture etc.• No suitable furniture and power points No suitable furniture and power points

The Feso’ota’i Center The Feso’ota’i Center • A business for women of a different A business for women of a different

sort, providing paid services for the sort, providing paid services for the public including trainingpublic including training

• Empower Women through Training on Empower Women through Training on Management using modern ICTsManagement using modern ICTs

• Service Provided include Photocopying, Service Provided include Photocopying, Fax, Web Cam, Scanning, TV, Internet, Fax, Web Cam, Scanning, TV, Internet, Typing etcTyping etc

• Email services for anyone especially Email services for anyone especially touriststourists

• Training for local people

THE INITIAL FEEDBACKTHE INITIAL FEEDBACK• Experienced Savings from paying bus Experienced Savings from paying bus

and/or boat fares to the capitaland/or boat fares to the capital• Students have a homework center Students have a homework center • Teaching students and adults to use Teaching students and adults to use

Word and email for $2 & $5Word and email for $2 & $5• New Found Learning in Financial New Found Learning in Financial

Management using computersManagement using computers• Learning about saving cashLearning about saving cash• Using multimedia to Watch Games on Using multimedia to Watch Games on

Big Screen is a new experienceBig Screen is a new experience

Progress So FarProgress So Far• The first two MCTs were launched on The first two MCTs were launched on

2222ndnd December 2005. December 2005.• 7 MCTs were established between 7 MCTs were established between

January and May 2006 with one more to January and May 2006 with one more to go.go.

• Data Collection Templates have been Data Collection Templates have been developed and given to Women to developed and given to Women to collect data on usage, etc.collect data on usage, etc.

• Train the Trainer Programme is on-Train the Trainer Programme is on-going going

• Need more computers for demandNeed more computers for demand

New Business using ICT

FROM THE WOMENFROM THE WOMEN• « We are so proud to have this centre in our committee We are so proud to have this centre in our committee

house as it provides us with the opportunity to house as it provides us with the opportunity to learn again»learn again»

• « Some of our members have never been to school and « Some of our members have never been to school and were illiterate. They are now using the computer to were illiterate. They are now using the computer to learn how to spell »learn how to spell »

• « We are now earning money faster than any other « We are now earning money faster than any other function. We watch Rugby games on the BIG – a new function. We watch Rugby games on the BIG – a new experience for us all. We charge $2 to train students experience for us all. We charge $2 to train students and $5 for adults»and $5 for adults»

• « When my children came from New Zealand, they « When my children came from New Zealand, they spent most of their money at the Centre using the spent most of their money at the Centre using the email and Chatemail and Chat to talk to their family and friends »to talk to their family and friends »

• « We have queues to use the telephone because most « We have queues to use the telephone because most people had to go to Apia to make a phone call, now its people had to go to Apia to make a phone call, now its us they useus they use»

Going Forward• Building Websites for all Telecentres.Building Websites for all Telecentres.• E-applications *e-health, *e-education, E-applications *e-health, *e-education,

*e-typing...*e-typing...• Training of Technical Staff for Training of Technical Staff for

maintenancemaintenance• Management Training for WomenManagement Training for Women• Security Awareness Programme – How Security Awareness Programme – How

can women identify an email is a Spam, can women identify an email is a Spam, Scam or Phishing? Scam or Phishing?

• Using centers to promote national Using centers to promote national initiatives e.g. health initiativesinitiatives e.g. health initiatives

UNDP FUNDED PRJECTS1. E-Government Project

• Study of Government websites• Develop an e-Gov strategy • Find donors to build the e-Gov portal

2. E-School Bus• UNDP funds all equipment and training• Bus will be fitted with computers etc.• Bus to travel to rural schools

3. Free and Open Source Software – Center of excellence in Samoa

• There is a need for FOSS experts in Samoa

4. Localisation – Translating applications into Samoan

5. Strengthening the ICT Secretariat

WE ARE LOOKING for PARTNERS to SPONSOR 2 BUSES!!

LEAPING TO WIFI• GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE PARTNERSHIP

(GKP) promotes AFFORDABLE access for all to ICT. Project is connecting rural communities with WIFI cheaply

• Government of Samoa – Liaison

• RURAL LINK NEW ZEALAND (GKP member) expertise for connection

• 2020 TRUST NEW ZEALAND (GKP member) expertise for planning

• CSL (GKP member) local expert

RENEWABLE ENERGY• Governments strategy is to look for

AFFORDABLE options for rural projects• Government, in partnership with VIA

Technology, from the province of Taiwan, People’s Republic of China is installing a Pilot Telecenter in Ulutogia using SOLAR POWERD Computers this week

• VIA Technology provides all equipments including solar panels, batteries, computers

• Result of participating at international conferences

• Hand over to Scott Phipps from VIA 5 min.

QUESTIONSQUESTIONS ?? ? ?

THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTIONYOUR ATTENTION

TOFA SOIFUATOFA SOIFUA