Africa’s telecom leaders have called on governments and regulators to adopt and nationalise a Model Framework for Building Internet Resilience in Africa.
The leaders called for the framework to be adopted at a virtual forum convened by the African Telecommunications Union (ATU), the Internet Society (ISOC) and the African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC).
The model framework focuses on three areas: Networks and ISPs, critical infrastructure such as power grids and cables, and market conditions that influence affordability and demand.
Under the framework, responsible entities, such as an electricity utility, a MNO, an ISP, an Internet Exchange Point, or a country-code top-level domain registry, will have to prepare a Plan for Resilience within one year, from the date the framework is officially adopted in a country.
The plan must then be reviewed and updated annually and be consistent with the entity or operator’s Continuity and Reconstitution Plans.
It should set out how the organisation will incorporate the resilience qualities of redundancy, resourcefulness, and rapid recovery—key elements in achieving overall robustness—into its operations.
The forum organisers warned that the continent remains one cable-cut or nationwide blackout away from another digital standstill, pointing to West Africa’s four-cable snap in March 2024, and other disasters that cut power and internet access across the continent in recent times.
ATU Secretary-General John Omo said that every blackout is a flashing red warning.
“Connectivity remains Africa’s nervous system and when it stutters, schools, hospitals and markets stutter too. This framework is our insurance policy against digital darkness,” he said.
ISOC’s Director of Internet Development, Kevin G. Chege said investing in collecting various metrics to assess how resilient the internet is across different countries, is the first step to achieving Internet Resilience.
“Once adopted, the model framework will help decision-makers in strengthening infrastructure and policy for more reliable Internet connectivity across Africa,” Chege said.
The framework will be made available to member state administrations of ATU and thereafter published for visibility to all stakeholders.
“I urge member states to adopt this Framework and to be actively involved in its implementation,” said Secretary General Omo.
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