By David Omuget,
This decision was arrived at during a joint ministerial meeting of ICT infrastructure development held on 9th November 2023 in Nairobi Kenya.
“The minister agreed to fast track the modalities of establishing a regional owned satellite for communication that will provide high quality, dependable broadband internet services and broadcasting capabilities” read in part the joint communiqué that was issued to the ministers.
The meeting was attended by Uganda’s ICT minister Hon Chris Baryomunsi who chaired the Gathering. Other dignitaries were his KenICTb
yan counterpart Hon Eluid Owalo, Hon Michael Makuei Lueth from the Republic of South Sudan and Hon Gordon Kalema from the Republic of Rwanda.
The region recently operationalised the One Network Area for voice, data and SMS with the ministers saying “has led to over 900 times traffics increase among the partner states, as well as cross border national backbone connections”.
The ministers also agreed to fast track the establishment of an East African Digital market that will optimize technological efficiency within partner states by promoting and supporting start ups, enabling joint access to capital financing, co-financing research and other ministers were cognizant that the (EAC block of about 174 million people) will create a bargaining platform with international tech companies such as Google, Amazon and Microsoft.
Other issues discussed were expediting the implementation of a Memorandum of Understating (MoU) on cyber security in order to address the emerging cyber threats, a harmonized approach to policies that facilitate data storage and management
The ministers further welcomed the progress on cross border broadband interconnectivity which enables the land locked countries to be connected to undersea cables.
The next joint ministerial meeting of the ICT infrastructure development cluster will be hosted by the Republic of South Sudan
