Malawi's ratification of an African regional telecommunications protocol sets the stage for the construction of new cable projects and the integration of existing networks, officials say.
The e-Africa Commission broadband infrastructure protocol calls for the signatories to implement various network integration projects, and provides a framework agreement on regulatory and policy issues.
The e-Africa Commission, in Johannesburg, has been chartered to develop Africa's broadband infrastructure. It operates under the aegis of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), which has a broad mandate from participating governments to develop regional economy.
An initial meeting to ratify the broadband protocol was held in 2006 in Kigali, Rwanda, but at first only a few countries signed on.
Malawi President Bingu Wa Mutharika signed the protocol last week, committing the country to join what is now a critical mass of signatories including Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Rwanda, South Africa and Tanzania.
The e-Africa broadband network projects are designed to provide quality and affordable telecommunications connectivity to the eastern and southern Africa region and the rest of the continent, according to Henry Chasia, the executive chairman of the e-Africa Commission.
"The implementation of the broadband infrastructure network that will provide quality and affordable telecommunication both in eastern and southern Africa will now be done quickly," Chasia said via e-mail.
Planning for the construction of the networks has already commenced and the projects will be operational by the end of 2009, according to Chasia.
The protocol provides the formation of a so-called special purpose vehicle (SPV), a consortium made up of regional telecommunication companies to own, manage and maintain various projects.
New projects include the Uhurunet submarine and Umojanet terrestrial cable segments. The other major project is Comtel, a broadband infrastructure project spearheaded by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) in conjunction with NEPAD.
Comtel will connect 21 countries in eastern and southern African countries to Europe and Asia.
The total cost of the network infrastructure projects is more than US$2 billion.
The protocol is also aimed at enabling eastern and Southern Africa governments to harmonize their national policies and regulations to facilitate the construction and operation of the infrastructure.
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