ERITREA: AFRICA'S SLOWEST INTERNET ADAPTOR STARTS TO MAKE PROGRESS
Although slow to adopt the internet, Eritrea is now finding that initial demand for connectivity exceeds gateway capacity. As the technology resource
person for a USAID project this year Carole Roberts describes recent developments and the future plans to meet the new demand.
As the last African country to get connected to the internet, Eritrea achieved full Internet connectivity last November 2000 with the launch of
the BalancingAct Issue 62.
Tfanus ISP and its associate, Eritrea Technical Exchange, have been leading the way with software development that aids the use of Ge¹ez script and the
special coding needed for email and Internet. The most important element of their research is the understanding of how to ensure that African languages
are part of Internet development, and to assure worldwide access to Internet resources. (More information about this topic is available at both http://www.tfanus.com.er and http://www.punchdown.org/rvb/email/UniGeez.html).
The economic promise of the internet in Eritrea is demonstrated by the Seawater Farms project. This integrated farm is located on the Red Sea
coast on a stretch of barren desert just north of the Eritrean port of Massawa. With some initial government support, the project has had
significant success in both producing products and attracting project partners that have contributed all types of technical expertise. Products
produced by the project include shrimp, fish (tilapia), salicornia (sea asparagus), and mangrove plantations supporting wetlands development. The
project advertises these products on the internet, in collaboration with its US partner, Seaphire (www.seawaterfarms.com). Contact them at:
[email protected]
There is an overwhelming need to address education and training needs. The Ministry of Transport and Communications has led in planning and
successfully managing many projects in IT rollout in the country, including a vision for rural telecenters and the latest mobile phone project. With a
new Minister recently in place, sources say that MTC is considering the issue of training needs, along with staff training and possibly even a
training center as part of the discussion of a five-year sector plan. The MTC has also had under discussion for the past year, along with University
and others, the start-up of a CISCO Academy project, as well as acquiring other training resources.
The Ewan ISP management is considering plans for a major training facility to meet the needs of businesses and of those demobilized. Resources estimate
that demobilization could eventually produce something approaching 250,000 people for integration back into society and the economy. Both Tfanus and
CTS ISPs include training as part of regular activities at their respective Internet cafes. In particular, Tfanus is attempting to improve technology
literacy rates by supporting public and private off-site IT training activities.
The author Carole Roberts is a consultant with Learning, Technology and Development. She can be contacted at: [email protected]