By: Joel Epalanga
As we enter a new era whose trend is connectivity, all things are becoming sensorial, connected and intelligent. In this uncertain and rapidly changing context, countries (developed and emerging) prioritize ICT as a critical enabler with the potential to increase competitiveness, economic growth and employment.
The development of ICT and its use are factors that drive the growth of a country’s economy, as well as the transformation of its industry. The goals stipulated in the 2018-2022 National Development Plan and investment can promote and accelerate the adoption of ICT and improve the country’s productivity and competitiveness.
ICT also provides citizens with access to a range of digital products and services, transforming the country into an Intelligent Society. A more and better connected Angola will be synonymous with a more prosperous nation that, digitally connected to the world, can contribute, on its own merit, to global society. The transformation of ICT is, therefore, crucial so that, in the coming years, Angola takes its rightful place on the global platform, contributing to the development of locally accessible digital products and content globally.
There are still infrastructure gaps in the first three industrial revolutions. In Africa, more people have access to mobile phones than to drinking water or a bank account. Africa is vast and because poverty rates are still very high, we face the same challenges on our home continent. ICT can accelerate the economic development of our countries, with the adoption and implementation of technological solutions such as mobile money, 5G blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, etc., which will certainly play a fundamental role in the desired collective future for our country and the continent.
1. Infrastructure sharing policy
Several countries around the world are making various resources and infrastructure in their cities available to operators at relatively low rates and, in some cases, even free of charge.
In the era of the digital economy, these models of cooperation between the government and the private sector assume increasing importance, especially as more citizen-centered approaches are adopted, capable of expanding broadband networks and achieving the goals established by the government in the Plan National Development. Close collaboration between the various stakeholders in the digital ecosystem allows operators to achieve efficiency and cost rationalization in network construction, while citizens (customers) benefit from improved network quality and possibly the cost of services as they the scale increases.
Sharing existing basic infrastructure is crucial to accelerating digital inclusion strategies. Standards are necessary for both planning and the construction and sharing of basic facilities. The use of public infrastructures, such as government buildings, schools, roads, railway lines and other channels used to provide public utility services (conduits, electricity transmission networks, etc.), by operators, may contribute positively to reducing costs and accelerating network expansion projects.
Digital inclusion service providers can share infrastructure and basic facilities built by signing digital inclusion contracts with other licensed operators. This will allow at least one other operator to offer retail services in the same area on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Such infrastructure, as well as sharing of essential facilities, can be offered at cost-based prices. Infrastructure sharing can have a substantial impact on reducing the capital to be invested, also counting on continuous reductions in operating costs estimated between 50% and 80%, depending on the market structure and the sharing model implemented. This will ultimately accelerate the deployment of networks in rural areas in a more sustainable way.
Angola has, for the implementation of networks or for increasing the capacity of the existing network, hundreds of thousands of potentially viable sites or locations. However, in a scenario where infrastructures belong to cities, or difficulties arise for operators to gain quick access to these sites or locations and properly plan their use, there may be delays in the process, depending on the government body, institution or department that oversees or ‘owns’ the city’s infrastructure lots. In this context, instead of negotiating per site, or case by case, to provide connectivity to areas where it is needed, bulk lease contracts for these sites or locations become very important if operators have to plan the expansion or improvements of the network and follow through on these plans.
Some efforts by our Government are already visible through some programs and initiatives that aim to increasingly guarantee digital inclusion, thus allowing everyone, within their areas, to have access to quality broadband and participate on an equal footing in a society globally connected and in the digital economy.
The importance of a National Broadband Plan, as well as its objectives for all interested parties involved in achieving digital inclusion for all, cannot be underestimated. Without a ubiquitous, high-quality Broadband network, strategies and plans to transform and digitalize Angola’s economy will slow down and the digital divide may even widen. It is, therefore, imperative that the government takes advantage of the available knowledge and existing network infrastructure resources made available by private sector actors over the years by quickly building mobile communications networks that will serve to serve more and more growing demand for these services, mainly as a result of the pandemic we are experiencing, which increasingly shows us how useful ICTs are for any nation.
Making public resources available nationally to support private initiatives with the same purpose allows the government to speed up and more quickly achieve the goal of digital connectivity for all citizens. Policies, processes and statutes must support and facilitate access to city resources and infrastructures by operators, simplifying as much as possible the processes for obtaining the respective local authorizations to use such resources and infrastructures. For example, bulk leasing contracts for several public street poles simultaneously in a given demarcated area can be a valuable tool to accelerate the development or improvement of the network in a given area or region. The Government of Angola must, therefore, lead the unification and work with all stakeholders in the public and private sector, as well as with communities across the country, in order to ensure the creation of an enabling environment for the construction of this very desired digital future.
Summary and conclusion
Angola, without a doubt, has developed very quickly in terms of ICT infrastructure over the years. However, with the commercial launch of 5G technology in the world (Angola, including) approaching, there is a need for some preparation work on the ground, in order to accelerate the country’s entry into the 4th Industrial Revolution.
5G technology promises to bring a series of new advanced services and solutions to the world, but, as with any technology, its value lies in its applicability and relevance to a given country, at a given time. Considering the dominant challenges that Angola currently faces, solutions that respond to the issue of economic intensification in agriculture, mining and tourism, as well as educational and skills improvements, must be taken into consideration. High definition video (HD), Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) with drone technologies could offer greater benefit if deployed in the coming months as other 5G enablement elements are implemented. However, these more basic services and advanced solutions that will be available in the 5G era still require a foundation of high-quality broadband network connectivity. The existence of ubiquitous broadband is considered when all coverage and connectivity gaps/challenges in the country have been overcome
There are challenges currently faced by operators and other service providers in the sector in obtaining necessary approvals from municipalities to build new sites in areas where there are still coverage gaps or deficiencies in connectivity and capacity. To expedite the deployment of the high-speed broadband network in Angola, particularly in areas without coverage or capacity, it is imperative that priority is given to the following critical areas, in order to ensure that the first is a reality for the country at the country level. municipality or city:
• Removal of distance restrictions between towers and locations misaligned with the densification of the communications network in the era of LTE + and 5G, considered important catalysts for the country’s digitalization or enablers for entry into the 4th Industrial Revolution.
• Creation of the National Telecommunications Policy, National Norms and Standards for the Construction of Telecommunications Networks to guide Municipal Schemes and Regulations for all cities and municipalities in the country.
• Optimized approval process for different types of sites in order to expedite the deployment of networks where little or no adverse impact is expected on communities and the environment and ensure that pricing supports the rapid deployment of networks, rather than hindering them.
• Taking advantage of the city’s resources and infrastructure so that mobile network operators can quickly accelerate the expansion of their mobile networks and, in particular, 40/hour broadband.
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