Category: Ambassador Omar Arouna

Solutions to Solving Africa’s Digital Divide Must Include Satellite

June 3, 2019 (updated September 17, 2022) Published by

ANALYSIS featured on AllAfrica.com 3 June 2019

By Ambassador Omar Arouna

The digital divide in Africa is real: Three-quarters of the people on the continent do not have sufficient access to the internet – or have no access at all. This has an impact on everyone and in every component of society, from health to economic well-being to education. The priority solution requires a combination of continent-wide high-speed access combined with low prices, available through the surety of satellite connectivity.

On June 3 rd, 4 th and 5 th , 2019 the East African Communications Organizations* (EACO) is gathering in Dar Es Salaam. Regional experts, national ICT regulators, operators, services providers (in the telecommunication, broadcasting and postal sub-sectors) ICT training institutions, and other stakeholders in the communication sector from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda will iron out a common agenda in preparation of the 2019 World Radio Communication Conference. Necessary revisions to Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of the radio-frequency spectrum and the geostationary-satellite and non-geostationary-satellite orbits, will be examined for the region. Basically, these experts are major players, and the regulations they promote will have a critical impact in bridging the digital divide on the Continent.

It is now well understood and accepted that bridging the digital divide in Africa is paramount to the continent’s development and it underpins many, if not all of the UN sustainable development goals.   Speaking plainly, if we don’t overcome the challenges posed by restricted internet connectivity in Africa, we might never appropriately address the poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, peace, and justice issues on the continent.

If African lawmakers and regulators are serious about tackling the issue of digital inclusion and effective promotion of digital equity on the continent; there must be an unprecedented push in the direction of affordable high-speed satellite broadband access everywhere on the continent.   Because satellite broadband can connect anyone to everything — and do it anywhere — regional experts at the East Africa Communication Organization must address and protect use of satellite services to continue and expand using critical 28 GHz and its paired 18 GHz spectrum.

Affordable high-speed satellite broadband is the most transformative technology of our time, and it is not only an opportunity equalizer, but also an economic imperative.

According to leading global experts on the question, a single 28/18 GHz band satellite can serve 1/3 of the Earth. The wide coverage provides all communities within a satellite’s footprint access to service. Coupled with easy to deploy user terminals, this means that consumers and businesses have near-instant access to fast, affordable broadband anywhere. 28/18 GHz satellite-powered Wi-Fi can connect people living in urban and rural centers and villages all over Africa — 100% coverage.

What does that mean?

92% increase in the rate of GDP growth

44 million additional jobs

30% decrease in extreme poverty

Preserving the 28 GHz and 18 GHz spectrum bands for satellite connectivity has many beneficial implications across the continent:

Health: Millions of lives will be saved — and many more millions impacted positively — through improvements to general health through access to telehealth resources if there is available and affordable high-speed satellite broadband access. Satellite broadband is the most effective and efficient way to use connectivity to overcome rural health shortages — extending expertise to where it is most needed and delivering critical care wherever the doctor and patient are physically located.

Economic development: The unemployed can search for and apply for jobs once unknown to them. Workers can develop new skills for better paying jobs. Local shops can reach global markets. For every percent increase in the number of internet users in Africa, there is a boost in exports of 4.3 percentage points. The impact on sustainable agriculture is substantial — farmers can use satellite broadband access to plan for short-term weather and market changes, along with applying new techniques, helping boost yields by 67%.

Education: When satellite broadband connects underserved and rural communities in Africa, students can use the same educational resources as a child in the most affluent community. In total, 240 million more children can get access to resources through remote learning. 37 million young people require technical or vocational training – facilitated through broadband access – to find employment. E-learning will dramatically increase the availability of college-level courses beyond the 10% of students currently enrolled.

Financial inclusion: 57% of adult sub-Saharan Africans don’t have access to financial tools that allow for banking, small-business growth, investments and the ability to deal with unexpected emergencies. Local businesses can have more access to digital banking tools like the Mpesa and more.

This week, policymakers have to play their part in extending broadband access and take a decisive step forward in bridging the digital divide on the continent during the WRC-19 preparatory meeting. These leaders must support the continued deployment and development of satellite services in the 28 GHz and 18 GHz spectrum.

Satellites’ access to critical spectrum required to deliver on its enormous potential in Africa is in jeopardy, unless policymakers preserve the 28 GHz and 18 GHz spectrum used by satellite broadband to have its impact. The 5G industry has more than 33 GHz of other spectrum where it can operate, but the satellite industry can deliver its new affordable services only within 3.5GHz of spectrum comprised of the 28 GHz and 18 GHz spectrum. So, there is enough spectrum for both 5G and satellite to fulfill their different missions in separate and different spectrum.

The hope is that beyond the forum in Dar Es Salaam, the rest of Africa will equally see merit in the myriad of benefits that will eventually accrue from sustained satellite connectivity in the 28 GHz and 18 GHz spectrum.

Omar Arouna is the former Ambassador of the Republic of Benin to the United States of America and the Managing Partner of the US-Africa Cybersecurity Group, an effective Catalyst for the harmonization of cybersecurity policies and the implementation of practical solutions in Africa. Technologist, Diplomat and International Relations Expert Ambassador Arouna earned an MBA from the George Washington University of Washington DC. A strong advocate for Africa’s digitalization, Ambassador Arouna is a recognized expert on private sector investment in Africa, government relations, and U.S. Africa relations. He served in the Washington, D.C., Mayor’s Commission on African Affairs. Ambassador Arouna speaks and lectures regularly on African development, corporate investment, and U.S.- Africa relations and has appeared as an expert source in top media outlets, He has worked in and traveled throughout Africa and has served on the board and advisory committees of several national and international organizations.

Source: https://allafrica.com/stories/201906030963.html

Africa, how is your cyber hygiene?

January 31, 2018 (updated September 17, 2022) Published by

Jan 31, 2018 by Ambassador Omar Arouna–Cyber hygiene is the establishment and maintenance of an individual’s daily routines, occasional checks and general behaviors required to maintain a user’s online “health” (security).

Cyber hygiene is linked to cyber security. Poor cyber hygiene will adversely affect an organization’s cyber security and, conversely, strong (or weak) cyber security policies and procedures may improve (or lower) an individual’s cyber hygiene.

A cyber resilient organization is one that has robust cyber security policies and systems, and whose members have good cyber hygiene. The absence of either (low organizational cyber security or poor personal cyber hygiene) will adversely affect an organization’s cyber resilience.

The US-Africa Cybersecurity Group LLC has partnered with a world class leader in cyber hygiene to offer Cyber Hygiene e-Learning Course to Africa-based corporations, organizations and governments.

Our concept is based on the notion that human risk behavior management in cyberspace is a continuous process in which trainees and instructors alike need to learn and adapt.

Our Cyber Hygiene e-Learning Course is an interactive, engaging and effective tool consisting of a training module and two separate test modules to address human risk behavior in cyberspace. Our Cyber Hygiene e-Learning Course targets three categories of staff members (managers, regular users and specialists) and addresses specific concerns and threats associated with each of these groups.

Our course can also serve as an effective risk-mapping tool because it collects feedback from the participants as they react to the issues they face. Based on these reactions, the tool is highlighting the risk areas of each participant.

The results can be further aggregated to teams and whole organizations. The goal of such analysis is to facilitate the implementation of security policies, decision-making and effective risk mitigation.

Are we paying attention to the new challenges of the digital world?

January 22, 2018 (updated September 17, 2022) Published by

Jan 22, 2018, by Ambassador Omar Arouna–When Estonia started building its information society about two decades ago, there was no digital data being collected about its citizens. The general population did not have the internet or even devices with which to use it. Sound familiar?

It took great courage to invest in IT solutions and take the information technology route. WHAT ARE WE DOING IN AFRICA to learn about the best e-solutions that have led to Estonia becoming one of the world’s most developed digital societies.

Our visit to President Kersti Kaljulaid of Estonia in January 2018 and the briefing at the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Centre of Excellence was an eye opener and Africa needs to take note from that playbook to meet the new challenges of the digital world.

USAFCG Managing Partner, Ambassador Omar Arouna in Estonia in January 2018.

Financial Sector

Private sector businesses and organizations including their consumer base have become extremely vulnerable online. Digital economies are taking off throughout all the regions of Africa. Cybercrime has emerged and already taken advantage of mobile banking, online banking and financial services delivered regionally. Local support for cybersecurity across the region needs to be strengthened, and financial institutions in the region are demanding training, servicing, and consulting services in cybersecurity.

Public and Private Sectors

Government institutions and agencies in Africa have adopted more technology into their operations and services. The lack of adequate knowledge and expertise to deal with security threats is apparent. Both government and private sectors need to invest in sustained training and education informing and providing tools to consumer base and the population at large of the potential threats to their use of the internet and cyber space.

They also need to build frameworks and guidance on how to reach these goals. The private sector seems to take the lead in tackling and preparing to respond to cyber security threats, but much focused and coordinated action with governments and regulatory bodies remains to be taken to the next levels. Both public and private sectors in Africa are still reactionary for the majority of cases, mainly investing in  after falling victim to cyber-crimes.

Energy Sector

The energy sector is increasingly becoming a target for cyber threats, and therefore vulnerable to potential cyber attacks. Risks in Africa are growing due to an ever increasing in populations and demand for access and connections to power grids and utilities. Foreign direct investment in Africa requires stability and security in power supply and infrastructure, which needs to be upgraded with new technologies.

Cyber attacks compromise strategic targets in the power and energy sectors. These threats and attacks have the ability to cause significant disruption to power and utility supplies, which are connected to vulnerable networks. It is important for energy companies to assess and participate in cybersecurity training and information sharing, both among private sector entities and between the private sector and the government.

Governments in Africa are in the process of developing national cybersecurity legislation establishing standards and requirements to enhance the security of critical power and energy infrastructure. It is essential that organisations operating critical power and energy infrastructure integrate cybersecurity training in their operations, technology, business process and human resources.

USAFCG is a collaborative organization designed to foster the development and implementation of cybersecurity strategies and initiatives in the public and private sectors taking into account scientific, technological, economic and financial, political, and sociocultural dimensions of the “whole of society" in Africa.

Latest Members

Online Members