The following is a collection of data/info regarding ICTs and FoE in Sierra Leone, based on a presentation May 6, 2009, at http://i-m-s.dk.

Text version below – Open Office format is here:

Sierra Leone – ICTs and FoE – presentation

This is considered work in progress, shared in the hope that it may be useful to some. Your comments and additons are very welcome – pls mail me at sebastian_at_less_dot_dk.

Thanks to Contributors who have shared freely – and to those who were willing to, but couldnt respond due to insane timeframe – which is just as good .. intnetions count:
Sahr Gborie; eRiders Sierra Leone
Mark Summer, Eric Blantz; Inveneo
Steven Huter; NSRC, University of Oregon
Karel Novotny; APC
Michuki Mwangi;
Adrian Q. Labor; sierraleoneportal.net

Sources:

http://delicious.com/less.dk/sierraleone

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Sierra Leone news feed from topix.com:

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Sierra Leone – ICTs and Freedom of Expression

Sebastian Büttrich, wire.less.dk
edit: May 2009 @ IMS, Copenhagen, DK
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

Freedom of Expression

• Medium track record in freedom of expression
• Considered Partly Free by Freedom House, ranks number 118 out of 195 countries
• 1,95 out of 5 on IREX Media Sustainability Index
• Journalists still facing charges, obstacles and threats, e.g. when reporting on sensitive areas

Context

• Population data, towns & cities – at world-gazeteer
• Literacy: 35 % (2004), 47 % male, 24 % female
• Life expectancy approx. 40 yrs (male), 44 yrs (female)‏

FoE – Legal

• Media legislation: legacy of repressive laws (e.g. Public Order Act) remaining – though in transition, with changes promised by government
• Internet legislation: Telecommunications Act 2006, http://www.sierra-leone.org/Laws/2006-9s.pdf
• 4 May, 2009: UN lauds Sierra Leone move to create new independent broadcaster – The United Nations welcomed Sierra Leone’s announcement on World Press Freedom Day that it will relinquish control of its state-run broadcaster, in a move to support the creation of a new, independently-governed public broadcasting corporation.

ICT – Availability

• Monopoly fixed line network operator Sierra Leone Telecommunications Company (Sierratel)‏
• Entry and backbone controlled by Sierratel – however, unclear for VSAT providers, ACE cable
• Fiber: Undersea cable ACE landing in Freetown
• Five GSM networks (Africell, Tigo, Zain, Comium and Sierratel, 2008) and up to three more expected to launch shortly
• April 09: Sierratel launches CDMA network

ICT – Affordability

• Computer and internet penetration: Internet 0.2 of population (2008)‏
• All available Indexes of ICT development (ITU, Worldbank, etc) see the country close to an absolute zero
• Problem: as so often, data are outdated. Sierra Leone is excluded from many data collections, because of size of the country

ICT – Accessibility

• Fixed-line penetration at < 0.5% (2004)‏
• Mobile penetration: 123.3 / 1000, rank 185/220 – low
• Internet penetration: 13,000 Internet users, 0.2% of the population, per ITU (March 2008)
• Internet penetration / Growth by factor 2 every 4 years (2000 – 2004 – 2008)‏
• Internet hosts: 8 (2008) (CIA) – outdated!‏
• ITU DAI 2002: 0.10 = bottom end worldwide (only 3 countries are lower)‏
• .sl domain: nic.sl: Government of Sierra Leone has appointed AFcom as the registry for the .SL zone
  Afcom is a supplier of internet connectivity services via its’ own dedicated wireless network for Freetown metropolitan area as well as in Bo, Lunsar, Makeni, Kenema and Kono.
• Average prices for internet: awaiting data
• Pricing example: GPRS connection – modem cost $150, monthly subscription $50

ICT – some institutions and organisations worth looking at

• AfCOM – nic.sl – ccTLD registrar
• Sierra eRiders – Sierra eRiders is a Sierra Leone based non-profit organization that provides technology support, and helps others initiate technology support programs within the development communities of Sierra Leone.
• Global Voices Online – Blogging from Sierra Leone
• http://sierraleoneportal.net/rainbow/default.aspx/default.asp

Conclusion

• Country in transition with regards to FoE
• Media and ICT situation undergoing fast changes
• De-facto monopoly in fixed line market, liberalized in mobile market, internet access
• Promising activities by NGO players
• Potentially interesting as partner country because of potential for change
• Some optimism for Sierra Leones general development (tourism, liberalization, …)

Sources

• See http://write.less.dk/?page_id=80

Sebastian Büttrich, wire.less.dk
edit: May 2009 @ IMS, Copenhagen, DK
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/