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Connect-World Africa and the Middle East 2006     Magazine introduction Connect-World series of magazines is the leading magazine in the telecom and ICT industry that brings together the leading industry players, regulators, associations and governments, to discuss how technological integration and digital inclusion helps reduce the gap the leading industry players, regulators, associations and governments, to discuss how technological integration and digital inclusion helps reduce the gap between the developed and developing world.     Theme: Universal Broadband Access - Basic Right? If so, How and Why? Articles Contributors Feature articles     Article no.: 1 Topic: Broadband in Egypt Author: Tarek Kamel Title: Minister of Communications and Information Technology Organisation: Egypt PDF size: 88KB   About author: Dr Tarek Mohamed Kamel is Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology. He is also the Chairman of the National Telecom Regulatory Authority, and Chairman of the Information Technology Industry Development. As a Senior Advisor to the Minister of Communications and Information Technology for five years before himself being appointed Minister, Dr Kamel spearheaded a number of national initiatives to spread the use of ICT tools amongst the segments of Egyptian society. Previously, Dr Kamel served as the manager of the Communications and Networking Department, the Cabinet Information and Decision Support Centre (IDSC/RITSEC), as the Secretary of the Egyptian Internet Society, as Professor of Computer Networks at the Electronics Research Institute, and as a VP and, later, a Trustee of the Internet Society (ISOC), Virginia. Dr Kamel was also a member of the Board of Telecom Egypt. The Minister began his career as a networks support engineer for the Academy of Technology and Scientific Research, and swiftly moved on to becoming an assistant researcher at the ERI, winning a fellowship for his PhD studies from the German Academic Exchange (DAAD).   Article abstract: To develop Egypt’s economy and improve its citizens’ standard of living, Egypt is working to educate its citizen’s and provide affordable Internet access. Initially, the Egyptian Educational Initiative, a joint effort with the World Economic Forum and nine of the world’s leading ICT companies, will provide ICT training for 820 thousand students in more than 2,000 schools and universities. The government is encouraging the development of local content in Arabic and, together with ISPs, has worked to cut broadband access prices.   Read the article     Article no.: 2 Topic: Universal broadband access - basic rights and aspirations Author: Dr Hessa Al-Jaber Title: Secretary General Organisation: ictQATAR PDF size: 56KB   About author: Dr Hessa Al-Jaber is the Secretary General of ictQATAR, the policymaking and regulatory body for information and communication technology in Qatar. She brings to her role a wealth of business and academic experience in ICT development. Prior to becoming Secretary General, Dr Al-Jaber was a member of the Strategic ICT Committee, responsible for shaping Qatar’s national ICT strategy. Dr Al-Jaber served previously as the IT adviser for Qtel, Qatar’s telecommunications provider, and was Chair of the Computer Science Department of Qatar University. She has also worked with other leading Qatar institutions including Hamad General Hospital. Dr. Al Jaber currently sits on the Board of Regents of Qatar University and the Board of Governors of the American School of Doha. She is also a board member of the newly established Qatar Financial Markets Authority. A co-author of several publications and academic papers, Dr Al-Jaber has presented her research at conferences and symposia in the Middle East, the United States and Korea. Most recently, Dr Hessa Al Jaber was the Chairperson of the World Telecommunication Development Conference 2006 held in Doha, Qatar. Dr Al-Jaber studied at Kuwait University before completing her Master’s Degree and Doctorate in Computer Science at George Washington University, Washington D.C.   Article abstract: Technology is forcing a re-evaluation of what a citizen’s basics rights within his society are. Technology is changing the accessibility - not only of the elite, but also of people from every level of society - to previously inaccessible services. World-level educational or health services, for example will become increasingly accessible via broadband enabled mobile phones. This forces governments not only to re-assess what basic civic rights should be, but also to take into account the heretofore submerged aspirations of the population.   Read the article     Article no.: 3 Topic: ICT, broadband and rural development in Africa Author: Dr. Robert B. Kozma Title: Emeritus Director, Principal Scientist and Fulbright Senior Specialist Organisation: Centre for Technology in Learning at SRI International PDF size: 132KB   About author: Dr. Robert B. Kozma is an Emeritus Director, Principal Scientist and Fulbright Senior Specialist at the Centre for Technology in Learning at SRI International in Menlo Park, California. For 20 years prior to this, Dr Kozma was a professor and a research scientist at the University of Michigan. Dr Kozma’s expertise includes ICT policy that links education reform to economic and social development, international educational technology research, the evaluation of large-scale technology-based education reform, the design of advanced interactive multimedia systems, and the use of technology to improve learning, particularly the learning of science. He has directed or co-directed over 25 projects and authored or co-authored more than 75 articles, chapters, and books. He has consulted with Ministries of Education in Egypt, Singapore, Thailand, Norway and Chile, as well as Intel Corporation, the World Bank, OECD, UNESCO, and the Ford Foundation on the use of technology to improve educational systems and connect to development goals. Most recently, he provided pro-bono consulting for the Millennium Villages Project, a UN-sanctioned project at Columbia University, on the role that ICT can play in supporting poverty reduction and development in Africa.   Article abstract: In Africa, agriculture provides a livelihood for most of the population yet per-person food production has declined in the last two decades. The Green Revolution has not reached Africa. Practical information about crops, markets, and such could make the difference. Technology can get information to the right people in the right form. Rural telecentres, together with other forms of spreading information - radios, cell phones, the Internet, even bicycles - are needed to spread critical information and improve the lives of villagers.   Read the article     Article no.: 4 Topic: Converged billing - enabling African mobile Author: Birger Thorburn Title: Chief Technology Officer Organisation: Comverse’s Converged Billing Solutions Group PDF size: 80KB   About author: Birger Thorburn is the Chief Technology Officer for Comverse’s Converged Billing Solutions Group in the EMEA - Europe Middle East & Africa – region. Mr Birger joined Comverse Kenan Billing Solutions, previously CSG Systems, as the regional Chief Technology Officer for the Caribbean and Latin American Region. Prior to CSG, Mr Birger obtained in-depth industry experience by working with some of the world’s largest wireline and wireless service providers in Europe and Latin America as a project director under Kenan Systems and Lucent Technologies. During this time, he led project teams through complex technology integration projects in order to help prepare customers as they moved to 3G networks, and consolidate their multiple billing systems to a standard platform. In addition, he worked in several systems architect and engineering roles across Europe.   Article abstract: Mobile communications are economically connecting regions of the world, which, until recently, were both practically and financially impossible to serve. Cheaper phones and less expensive wireless networks are crucial, but billing systems that let operators charge for, control usage, and earn a profit are equally important. Convergent billing systems, which combine the control of prepaid billing with the flexibility and range of services of post-paid, will contribute greatly to the growth of telephony, and of the local economy, in Africa.   Read the article     Article no.: 5 Topic: Closing the digital gap Author: Ruediger Muehlhausen Title: VP for Group Messages and PR Organisation: Siemens Communications PDF size: 80KB   About author: Ruediger Muehlhausen is the VP for Group Messages and PR at the global headquarters of Siemens Communications in Munich. Mr Muehlhausen, during his sixteen years experience in the computing and telecommunications business, has held various positions within Siemens and Siemens Nixdorf. Mr Muehlhausen graduated from the University of Hildesheim in Technical Translation, and in Business Administration at the VWA in Munich.   Article abstract: In Africa, broadband is a pre-requisite for both economic growth and the delivery of social services such as telemedicine, distance learning, higher education and the like. Few service providers, though, can afford the investment or have the expertise to implement broadband. In Africa, a Build, Operate and Transfer strategy for broadband deployment, where a technology partner takes responsibility for commissioning and operating the new network, while training local employees to take over, can provide the essential financing and know-how.   Read the article     Article no.: 6 Topic: Bridging new digital divides Author: Jean-Herve Jenn Title: President, International Organisation: Convergys Corporation PDF size: 88KB   About author: Jean-Hervé Jenn is the President, International, of Convergys Corporation. He is responsible for the company in Europe, the Middle East, Africa (EMEA), Asia Pacific and South America. Before the expansion of his role, Mr Jenn served as the President, EMEA, for Convergys’ Information Management Group (IMG). Prior to joining Convergys, Mr Jenn led a team at Goldman-Sachs responsible for all of the firm’s strategic dialogues with large corporate, institutional and government clients. Jean-Hervé Jenn served previously as head of the European Information, Telecommunication and Entertainment practice for KPMG and was a co-founder of KPMG Ventures. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and a trade representative to the Financial Services Authority. Jean-Hervé Jenn earned master’s degrees in science from Ecole Spéciale des Travaux Publics, Paris, and in management, from the University of California, Los Angeles. He also completed the Executive Management Program at INSEAD, France.   Article abstract: The world increasingly relies upon broadband for the voice data and video services that sustain the economy and drive growth. Without broadband, countries are doomed to play a secondary role in the emerging information society and global economy. Although, in recent years, great strides have been made liberalising the communications infrastructure and providing modern, competitive communications services in African and Middle Eastern countries, the penetration of these services there is still quite low compared to the world’s more developed regions.   Read the article     Article no.: 7 Topic: 3G in the Kingdom and the Middle East Author: Saud Bin Majed Al-Daweesh Title: President Organisation: Saudi Telecom Company (STC) PDF size: 92KB   About author: Saud Bin Majed Al-Daweesh is the President of the Saudi Telecom Company (STC). Previously, Eng Saud Bin Majed Al-Daweesh served in a number of executive positions including as acting Vice President responsible for the company’s overall network operations, as Vice President for Customer Services and District Affairs, and as the President of Al-Jawal, the Mobile Business Unit of STC. In addition, he played an active role in the transformation and restructuring of STC, and was responsible for the creation of the ISP Business Unit (Saudinet), which introduced the Internet in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Saud Bin Majed Al-Daweesh earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering at the University of Southern California.   Article abstract: 3G mobile networks are spreading throughout the Middle East. Several countries including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have already issued licenses for 3G service providers. In Saudi Arabia, this will accelerate the Kingdom’s connection to the Internet - a huge step forward. Although mobile services drive telecommunications growth in the region, they have limited potential for future revenue growth. Operators look to the value-added services that 3G makes possible, such as MMS and e-commerce, to boost their revenues.   Read the article     Article no.: 8 Topic: Wireless broadband - changing business in Africa and the Middle East Author: Pertti Johansson Title: President Organisation: Qualcomm Middle East and Africa (MEA) PDF size: 80KB   About author: Pertti Johansson is the President of Qualcomm Middle East and Africa (MEA). Prior to joining Qualcomm, Mr Johansson was the Founder and President of the consulting firm, Johansson Global Associates, LLC. Previously, Mr Johansson worked for Motorola Corporation in a number of executive management positions including Senior Vice President of Global Account Management, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the European, Middle Eastern and African regions, Vice President, Corporate Vice President and General Manager of the International Cellular Infrastructure Division, and Director of R&D and Product Marketing for GSM Networks. Mr Johansson has served on the boards of the Aegis Communications Corporation, the Strategic Account Management Association, the Pacific Telecom Council, the U.S.-Russia Business Council, Motorola Regional Management for Asia, Europe and Latin America, and the Finnish-American Chamber of Commerce. Pertti Johansson received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering- Telecommunications from the Helsinki Institute of Technology.   Article abstract: Given the growth of broadband wireless networks and the wide availability of inexpensive handsets, third generation (3G) broadband technologies will give developing countries a level of Internet access sufficient to wirelessly bridge the digital divide. As these technologies evolve, mobile voice and high-speed data services will far surpass the economic importance and relevance of wired communications. In the near future, the wireless Internet will contribute to uplifting and reshaping the economies of emerging markets across Africa and the Middle East.   Read the article     Article no.: 9 Topic: Universal broadband - can it pay in Africa? Author: Michah Himmelman Title: Founder and President Organisation: MaxBill Ltd PDF size: 100KB   About author: Michah Himmelman is the Founder and President of MaxBill Ltd. Mr Himmelman, with over 20 years of experience in software design and development in the financial and billing arena, directly oversees the company’s product development focused upon mission-critical, Internet-enabled, enterprise software solutions. Prior to founding MaxBill, Mr Himmelman worked as a subcontractor and as an independent software consultant for a number of companies. Mr Himmelman has created diverse products for a variety of fields including Customer Care and Billing, corporate financial applications, cardio-pulmonary exercise testing analysis software, on-line and rule-based facility security software, a traffic planning system, network communication protocols, mediation software and artificial intelligence technology development.   Article abstract: Broadband promises to bring great economic and social benefits to Africa. Traditionally, wired broadband connections to computers linked them to the Internet. In Africa, though, few workers earn enough to buy a computer, let alone pay for the service. On the other hand, mobile phone ownership and usage has grown dramatically in recent years and the cost of broadband enabled mobile handsets is shrinking. Broadband’s growth in Africa, then, may well depend upon the availability of affordable broadband enabled mobile handsets.   Read the article     Article no.: 10 Topic: Wireless - building the Middle East and Africa Author: Jose R Figueroa and Ali Amer Title: Corporate Vice President and Regional Manager, Senior Director of Sales Organisation: Motorola Networks PDF size: 88KB   About author: Jose R. Figueroa is Corporate Vice President and Regional Manager of Motorola Networks, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Latin America & the Caribbean. Mr Figueroa previously served in various leadership roles at Motorola including as general manager for the East region of the United States and in executive positions in Motorola’s paging sector, personal communications group and cellular subscriber sector. Ali Amer is the Senior Director of Sales for Motorola Networks & Enterprise’s Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan (MENAPAK) region. Since joining Motorola, he has held a number of engineering and business management positions including as Motorola’s Director of Sales for North Africa and General Manager for Motorola Morocco. He was previously a research engineer for Motorola in the USA in the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Organization, and holds a patent in technology development.   Article abstract: In Africa and the Middle East (AME), wireless solutions will dramatically affect people’s lives and stimulate the local economy. A recent survey found that 62 per cent of small businesses in South Africa and 59 per cent in Egypt believe, despite call costs, that mobile phones had increased their profits. AME governments are looking to wireless broadband to benefit education, healthcare, and overall economic development and operators see an opportunity to build their business while benefiting the communities they serve.   Read the article     Article no.: 11 Topic: Africa and the Middle East - broadband access for growth Author: Paul Bell Title: Senior Vice President for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Organisation: Dell PDF size: 92KB   About author: Paul Bell is Dell’s Senior Vice President for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) responsible for all business operations and manufacturing activities across the region. Prior to his current role, Mr Bell served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Worldwide Home and Small Business Group. Prior to joining Dell, Mr. Bell was a consultant with Bain and Company. Mr. Bell has bachelor's degrees in fine arts and business administration from Pennsylvania State University, and an MBA from the Yale School of Organisation and Management.   Article abstract: Broadband access will not solve all the of the region’s problems, but broadband can make a huge difference in local economies and affordably bring much needed services to local communities. Even in developed nations, more than 25 per cent of GDP growth results from information technology. Investment in computer literacy skills, at all levels, is important. The cooperation of global ITC companies in local literacy, health and technology programs is essential to improve the quality of life and digital access.   Read the article     Article no.: 12 Topic: Triple play in Africa - a pipe dream? Author: Desi Lopez Fafié Title: Managing Director of African Operations Organisation: Oracle Corporation PDF size: 144KB   About author: Desi Lopez Fafié is the Managing Director of African Operations for Oracle Corporation. He has held a variety of key positions at Oracle before his appointment to his current position. For the last 19 years, he has been working in the IT industry, at MSA (later Dun & Bradstreet Software) prior to joining Oracle. Desi Lopez Fafié, an auditor by profession, educated in Europe, has held several positions in auditing firms and finance, including as Director of Finance at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands. Mr Fafié speaks six European languages and one Asian language.   Article abstract: Considering the way people are accustomed to interact, the way business is commonly conducted and the way services are traditionally delivered, triple play, the delivery of Internet, video and telephony using a common protocol and transmission channels, is a disruptive technology that will change each of these activities profoundly. For Africa, early commitment to broadband and triple play is a way to cost-effectively and quickly bring its people many of the economic, educational, health and leisure benefits found in highly developed regions.   Read the article     Article no.: 13 Topic: Mobile data security Author: Massimo Migliuolo Title: Vice President for the Global Mobile Vertical Organisation: Cisco Systems PDF size: 148KB   About author: Massimo Migliuolo is currently the Vice President for the Global Mobile Vertical at Cisco Systems. On August 1, 2006, he will take on a new role as Cisco Systems’ Vice President of Service Providers in Emerging Markets. Previously, Massimo Migliuolo worked at Lucent Technologies and at AT&T, where he was engaged in the development of their mobile market. Mr Migliuolo spent three years in the oil industry, before joining the telecommunications industry. Massimo Migliuolo graduated from the Bocconi University in Milan with a degree in Business Economics.   Article abstract: The rapid growth of broadband mobile data in Africa and the Middle East brings with it a series of challenges, including the question of Internet Protocol security. Unresolved security concerns could seriously hamper the widespread adoption of wireless data products and services. Operators that are not prepared to address security issues will face severe competitive pressures and, if the sector as a whole ignores the problem, government regulators are likely to impose solutions that could be costly and difficult to implement.   Read the article     Article no.: 14 Topic: The promise of metropolitan wireless broadband Author: Mr. Makoto Ikari Title: General Manager of Wireless Broadband Division Organisation: Kyocera Corporation’s Corporate Communication Systems Equipment Group PDF size: 332KB   About author: Mr. Makoto Ikari is the General Manager of Kyocera Corporation’s Corporate Communication Systems Equipment Group, Wireless Broadband Division. Mr. Ikari’s entire career has been spent at Kyocera. He began in its General Affairs Department and worked his way up through a series of increasingly responsible positions. He has worked in the production engineering of electronic devices, as the Production Manager of the Information Equipment Division, in the production of PHS - Personal Handyphone Systems, in quality assurance, and as the leader of the PHS business unit. Most recently, he led the iBurst business of Kyocera’s Wireless Broadband Division. Makoto Ikari earned his masters degree from Waseda University.   Article abstract: The Internet is more than technology; it is a social and economic revolution. Countries throughout the world are developing high-priority programs to provide all their citizens with high-speed connectivity to the net. Initially, the emphasis was upon replacing narrowband connectivity with broadband. Now, the emphasis is upon providing ubiquitous connectivity. The next generation of broadband infrastructure will be largely wireless, to provide the benefits of connectivity - person to person, person to machine, machine to machine - wherever and whenever needed.   Read the article     Article no.: 15 Topic: Broadband and digital TV - new cultural dimensions Author: Neil Gaydon and Mike Tometzki Title: Chief Executive Officer, New Business Development Manager Organisation: Pace Micro Technology PDF size: 100KB   About author: Neil Gaydon is the Chief Executive Officer of Pace Micro Technology. Prior to this appointment, he served on the company’s board as Executive Director and as Sales & Marketing Director responsible for corporate strategy, global sales, marketing, technology, and product management. Mr. Gaydon has also served as the President of Pace Americas, as Regional Director EMEA, as Head of Product Marketing and, originally, as Head of Worldwide New Business Development. As the Environmental Management System representative on Pace’s board, Mr Gaydon ensures that environmental concerns are addressed at the company’s highest level. Previously, bbefore joining Pace, Neil Gaydon worked for 10 years as a senior executive in the Hi-fi industry Mike Tometzki is Pace Micro Technology’s New Business Development Manager and part of the Pace European team. Mike has over 17 years’ experience within high technology sectors and, before joining Pace’s European team, Mike was the Company’s Head of Product Management. Prior this Mike’s other roles at Pace have included Satellite Divisional Product Manager, ,Engineering Team leader and Senior Hardware Engineer. Before joining Pace, Mike held a variety of research and development roles in industries from defence to semiconductors and aeronautical. His roles have included senior Research engineering and project leads at GEC Research (Engineering Research Centre, Whetstone, UK) where he joined as sponsored student/ graduate.   Article abstract: In Africa and the Middle East, locally generated content distributed via broadband can play a vital role reflecting local culture, interests and needs. The growth of broadband networks, progress in compression technology and speed, and the use of cost effective IP-enabled devices will significantly accelerate growth and commercial opportunities. In addition to content and technology, challenges such as digital rights management, quality of service, regulatory questions, and local loop unbundling to encourage local competition, must still be resolved.   Read the article     Article no.: 16 Topic: Education and universal broadband access Author: Mounir Hamdi Title: Director of the Computer Engineering Program Organisation: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology PDF size: 72KB   About author: Mounir Hamdi is the Director of the Computer Engineering Program and a full professor of computer science at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. He is also the Director of the Master of Science in Information Technology program, and Director of the High-Speed Networking Research Lab at the university. Previously, he held visiting professor positions at Stanford University, USA, and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, Switzerland, and served as a teaching/research fellow at the Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh. Dr Hamdi has frequently consulted for companies in the USA, Europe and Asia. Dr. Hamdi has been on the Editorial Board of IEEE Transactions on Communications, IEEE Communication Magazine, Computer Networks, Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing, and Parallel Computing and has been on the program committees of more than 100 international conferences and workshops. He was a guest editor of IEEE Communications Magazine, guest editor-in-chief of two special issues of the IEEE Journal and a guest editor of Optical Networks Magazine. Mounir Hamdi has also earned numerous industry and university awards. Mounir Hamdi earned a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering-Computer Engineering minor (with distinction) from the University of Louisiana and his MS and PhD degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.   Article abstract: Broadband is revolutionising education and training. Using wireless broadband, students in the remotest regions of the world can access classes given by the world’s leading professors. Both students and teachers can easily access an enormous variety of material from libraries, museums and databases throughout the world. Ten years ago, not even the world’s greatest scholars had such rich resources at their command. For businesses, broadband brings specific, on-the-job, training programs. Broadband also facilitates collaboration between educational institutions, students and researchers.   Read the article Confirmed authors (Order by article no.)   Tarek Kamel Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Egypt   Dr Hessa Al-Jaber Secretary General, ictQATAR   Dr. Robert B. Kozma Emeritus Director, Principal Scientist and Fulbright Senior Specialist, Centre for Technology in Learning at SRI International   Birger Thorburn Chief Technology Officer, Comverse’s Converged Billing Solutions Group   Ruediger Muehlhausen VP for Group Messages and PR, Siemens Communications   Jean-Herve Jenn President, International, Convergys Corporation   Saud Bin Majed Al-Daweesh President, Saudi Telecom Company (STC)   Pertti Johansson President, Qualcomm Middle East and Africa (MEA)   Michah Himmelman Founder and President, MaxBill Ltd   Jose R Figueroa and Ali Amer Corporate Vice President and Regional Manager, Senior Director of Sales , Motorola Networks   Paul Bell Senior Vice President for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Dell   Desi Lopez Fafié Managing Director of African Operations, Oracle Corporation   Massimo Migliuolo Vice President for the Global Mobile Vertical, Cisco Systems   Mr. Makoto Ikari General Manager of Wireless Broadband Division, Kyocera Corporation’s Corporate Communication Systems Equipment Group   Neil Gaydon and Mike Tometzki Chief Executive Officer, New Business Development Manager , Pace Micro Technology   Mounir Hamdi Director of the Computer Engineering Program, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology