Program Infrastructure Development for Africa (PIDA)
The Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), a Multi sector programme covering Transport, Energy, Transboundary water and Telecommunication/ICT, is dedicated to facilitating continental integration in Africa through improved regional infrastructure and is designed to support implementation of the African Union Abuja Treaty and the creation of the African economic Community,
PIDA is a joint initiative of the African Union Commission (AUC), the New Partnership for Africa’s Development Planning and Coordination Agency (NPCA), and the African Development Bank (AfDB). PIDA is grounded in regional and continental master plans and action plans as well as other relevant work undertaken by the African Union (AU), the regional economic Communities (RECs), the regional and continental technical agencies (including the lake and river basin organizations (L/RBO) and power pools (PP)), and the concerned countries.
Internet Exchange Point (IXP)
Internet Exchange point (IXP) is a physical infrastructure where Internet Service Providers and Content Providers interconnected in order for Internet traffic exchanged between them. The primary role is to keep local Internet traffic within local infrastructure.
The main benefits include low cost, reduced latency and good bandwidth due to avoiding the data routing through upstream Internet Providers.
Cyber Security
Cyber security has many dimensions and people ultimately expect cyberspace systems to function in a trustworthy environment despite many potential threats. Different ways of thinking about cyber security entails liability laws coupled with new directions in education, training and operational practice.
The DotAfrica Top Level Domain (. Africa) Project
DotAfrica is that specific Internet namespace for Africa which is likely to be applied for operation during the next round of new generic top-level domain (gTLD) which Internet Cooperation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) will be launching in the near future. The introduction of the DotAfrica will create an attractive regional home for the Pan-African Internet community; as the first sponsored registry to be operating from Africa and therefore serving the specific needs of its communities, it will echo ongoing operation and successes of other sister community TLDs such as DotEu (DotEuropa) and DotAsia which have created a new Internet identity for their users and business who seek more regional presence without being confined within the limits of one country.
E-Post
The Pan African Postal Union (PAPU), African Telecommunications Union (ATU), Regional African Satellite Communications Organization (RASCOM) and African Union (AU) Commission agreed to develop and implement one single e-Post project for African Posts.
Pan African e-Network (PAeN) for Tele-medicine and Tele-education
The former President of India Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, during the inaugural session of the Pan-African Parliament held in Johannesburg on 16th September 2004, proposed in his address to connect all the 53 nations of the African Union by a satellite and fiber optic network that would provide effective communication for Tele-education, Tele-medicine, Internet, Videoconferencing notably diplomatic communications (VVIP) and VoIP services and also support e-Governance, e-Commerce, infotainment, resource mapping, meteorological services etc
Open Access
The issue of Open Access is of high importance and timing of access to broadband infrastructure notably submarine cables in the context of the latest market developments with is characterized increased by a number of planned and ongoing implementation of infrastructure projects (national and regional backbones, submarine cables, etc.).
Although the issue is part of the AU Reference Framework for Harmonization of Telecom/ICT Policies & Regulations in Africa adopted in 2008 in Cairo, the Extraordinary CITMC Session on the 5th November 2009 in Johannesburg directed the African Union Commission (AUC) through the 2000 Olivier Tambo Declaration to develop a common definition, understanding, and guidelines on Open Access, in coordination with relevant stakeholders.
Transition to Analogue to Digital Terrestrial Television
Analogue terrestrial television transition is a process of ceasing of broadcasting television signal in analogue form and replacing it by the broadcasting of television signal in digital form. The transition to the digital television offers many advantages. Among others, efficient utilization of the spectrum, better picture and sound quality , more program channels , opportunity to produce attractive local content and opportunity for service and application convergence are few to mention. It can also potentially contribute to the socioeconomic development of the continent if political and technical decisions related to the transition are taken timely in a harmonized and coordinated manner across the continent.
African leadership in ICT Program (ALICT)
The programme will build and strengthen visioning, strategic planning and management, policy making of future leaders and policy makers in Africa on ICTs’ role in the development of inclusive and sustainable Knowledge Societies in Africa.
Department of Infrastructure and Energy
The Department is responsible for ensuring the development of infrastructure and energy resources at the regional and continental levels.
-