ABDULLAHI MAIKANO
SECRETARY,
UNIVERSAL SERVICE PROVISION FUND
(USPF)
NIGERIA
VISIT OF THE STAFF OF PUBLIC UTILITIES
REGULATORY AUTHORITY (PURA)
GAMBIA, TO NCC, 8 TH TO 12 TH OCTOBER, 2012

 Introduction
 Funding
 Methodology
 Project Conception
 Project Selection
 Service Delivery Model
 Current Programmes

 The Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) was created in 2007 to promote the widespread availability and usage of network services and application services throughout Nigeria by encouraging the installation of network facilities and the provision of network services and application services in un-served, underserved areas or groups within the community.
 This is to ensure the attainment of the World Summit of Information
Society (WSIS) declaration that – Everyone, everywhere should have the opportunity to participate and no one should be excluded from the benefits the Information Society offers to which Nigeria is a signatory.
 The Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 mandates the creation of the USPF and the Universal Service Provision Secretariat (USPS).
 The USPF is composed of an 11-member Board that articulates policies to achieve the objectives above while the Universal Service Provision
Secretariat (USPS) is to implement these policies.
3

To facilitate the achievement of universal access to ICT and universal service, through market-based investment, which stimulate development in rural, unserved and underserved communities
Equitable ICT Access for
All
•Integrity
•Collaboration
•Team Spirit
•Transparency
•Innovation
•Professionalism
•Service Excellence
4








5

6

PROJECT CONCEPTION
 USP projects are initiated using two methods:
TOP -
DOWN
BOTTOM
-UP
These are ICT self sustaining projects designed by Community-based organisations and local entrepreneurs with the aim of providing ICT services to organizations/communities. The projects to be supported by the USPF must be socially desirable and economically viable
7

PROJECT SELECTION:
The principles guiding the selection and implementation of
USPF projects are:
Co-location/ infrastructure
Sharing:
It shall be obligatory for operators/service providers to share all infrastructure funded by the USPF with other operators/service providers at reasonable prices to ensure the
USPF does not fund the creation of local monopolies
Social
Inclusion
All USPF projects shall be designed and implemented in a manner which ensures equitable access to ICT services by vulnerable groups and disadvantaged interests i.e.
the elderly, physically challenged, women and children in the community
Geographic
Coverage
USPF programs and projects will be developed for states of the federation, and will provide service to un-served and underserved areas and communities
Promote
Private Sector
Investment
USPF programs and projects will stimulate increased private sector investments in un-served and underserved areas
Encourage
Competition
USPF programs and projects will encourage competition, as much as possible, between operators and by using transparent and competitive mechanisms to allocate
USPF financing and subsidies 8

Promote
Consumer
Interest
USPF programs and projects will promote consumer interest by facilitating access to affordable, readily available and reliable ICT services
Sustainability The USPF will give priority to programs and projects that are self sustaining and do not require subsidies on continuous basis
Foster
Economic and
Social
Development
Consultation,
Transparency and
Accountability
Quality of
Service
USPF programs and projects will stimulate productive use of ICTs for economic, social and cultural development
The USPF will develop and periodically update its programs and projects through public consultations with all key public, private and civil society stakeholders
The USPF will enforce compliance with quality of service standards with respect to its projects.
9

BASES OF USPF OPERATIONS
FIVE-YEARLY
STRATEGIC
MANAGEMENT PLAN
ANNUAL OPERATING
PLANS
ANNUAL BUDGETS
10

USPF’ S S ERVICE D ELIVERY M ODEL
Holistic
Approach to
Project
Selection
…The USPF will adopt a holistic approach in selecting USP projects by determining specific ICT gaps for regional clusters within country and tailoring its projects and service delivery models to suit identified needs
Infrastructure
Sharing
It shall be obligatory for operators/service providers to share all infrastructure funded by the
USPF with other operators/service providers at reasonable prices to ensure the
USPF does not fund the creation of local monopolies.
Engagement of
Stakeholders
The USPF will establish an
Advisory
Council made up of the various stakeholder groups (i.e. relevant government entities, operators and service providers, Non
Governmental
Organisations, to offer advice the USPF Board
Quantification of Maximum
Allowable
Subsidies
The USPF shall utilise precise calculations in computing its maximum allowable subsidy estimates for its
USP program/plans.
Subsidisation of Operational
Costs
USPF will ensure its subsidies take into consideration operational costs associated with running USP projects over a defined period.
Implementation of a Monitoring and Evaluation
Framework
The USPF will develop and implement a robust monitoring and evaluation framework which will define the metrics/indicators which would be used to determine the efficiency of the UAS programmes
11

CURRENT PROGRAMMES
SN PROJECT DESCRIPTION
1 Accelerated Mobile Phone
Expansion ProgrammeBase
Transceiver Project (AMPE-BTS)
Accelerated Mobile Phone
Expansion (AMPE) Project is designed to encourage rapid network roll out of telecommunication services in unserved/under-served towns/villages in each of the 774
Local Government Areas of the country by providing subsidies for the provision of Active
Infrastructures such as such as
Base Transceiver Stations (BTS), equipment and associated antennae and transmission and backhaul.
TARGET BENEFICIARY IMPACT

Un-served and Communities are already benefitting from this under-served communities

Network
Operators project through access to mobile telecommunication services such as:-


Voice
SMS
 Broadband Access & Service
 Mobile VAS

Achievement:
Improved socio-economic life of rural people
 reduced travelling amongst communities
 reduced urban / rural migration

Provided easy access to information

Encouraged rapid roll-out of telecom services

Improved teledensity of the Country

Encouraged investment in the telecom sector
12

CURRENT PROGRAMMES
SN
2
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Community Communications
Center (CCC) Project
The CCC project is a grassroots
ICT project aimed at extending
TARGET BENEFICIARY IMPACT

Un-served and The CCC project leverages private-sector under-served communities

Individuals with no personal access to internet investments in rural, unserved and underserved areas and accelerate socio economic development while complementing existing Government programmes to foster universal service and universal access.
Voice, Internet, ICT training and other services to un-served and under-served communities on shared basis.
Over 225 CCC sites have been subsidized and
500 communities are currently benefitting from access to:-
 Internet
 Voice call
 Emergency communication
 ICT training
Achievement:

Improved access to information

Provided e-mail acccess to rural dwellers

Admitted communities into the global village

Provided means for numerous school children and youths to on-line registration portals
13

CURRENT PROGRAMMES
SN
3
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Backbone
Infrastructure (BTRAIN)
Transmission
The Backbone Transmission Network
(BTRAIN) Project was conceived to facilitate the connection of the rural and semi urban areas to the National
TARGET BENEFICIARY

Un-served and under-served communities

Towns and Local
Government
Headquarters

Telecommunications
Infrastructure
Companies
Transmission
Infrastructure via
Backbone fiber infrastructure; this is aimed at harnessing capabilities of the enormous information and
IMPACT
3000 Km of fibre link in unserved and under-served communities is planned and it is expected to resolve the following:
 Address the dearth of fiber optic network in rural areas
 Distribute the enormous submarine cable capacities existing at the coastal areas into the hinter land
 Improve QoS issues directly arising as a result of trasnmission quality issues
 Accellerate the roll out of fiber infrastructure in the rural areas
 Reduce entry cost for telecoms operators
Communications Technology (ICT) that would assist the country meet the millennium Development Goal
(MDG) targets.
14

CURRENT PROGRAMMES
SN
4
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Rural Broadband Initiative (RuBI)
This project will provide both wired
TARGET BENEFICIARY IMPACT

Unserved / underserved locations
 Provide wholesale internet bandwidth
 Provide large bandwidth at rural locations and wireless internet at high speed in the rural areas at wholesale and at the same time serve as a catalyst for the uptake of other technologies centered around the internet in those locations e.g. e-library, ehealth, e-government etc.
15

CURRENT PROGRAMMES
SN PROJECT DESCRIPTION
5 Connectivity for Development
School Access Programme (SAP)
(C4D):
The project promotes e-learning in secondary schools by facilitating technology-enabled learning. Students are able to collaborate with other students and the teachers would be able to give each student the required attention.
TARGET BENEFICIARY
Unserved and underserved primary and secondary schools
IMPACT
 1000 schools have benefitted from the project
 It has improved computer literacy in the various schools that benefited from the scheme.
 Rural schools can now register for WAEC and
NECO examinations on-line without travelling to the city.
 It has enhanced capacity of rural schools to check WAEC and NECO results on-line.
 It has instilled digital life style in rural schools and communities.
 It has improved teaching and learning process.
 The internet connectivity has provided global source of information to students
 It has generally improved the quality of education in the beneficiary schools
16

CURRENT PROGRAMMES
SN PROJECT DESCRIPTION
6 Connectivity for Development
(C4D) : Tertiary Institution
Access Programme(TiAP)
The project is in higher institutions.
aimed at facilitating a digital lifestyle in the institutions and enhances teaching and research works amongst students and lecturers
TARGET BENEFICIARY IMPACT
Unserved and
 193 institutions have benefitted from the underserved institutions tertiary project
 It has facilitated access to information super highway for knowledge acquisition.
 Enhanced Research and Development in our higher institutions.
 It has improved teaching and learning process.
 It has opened up opportunities for creativity and self development amongst our youth.
 It has provided avenue for entrepreneurship skill development.
17

CURRENT PROGRAMMES
SN
7
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
E-library Programme
The e-library project would provide the platform for sharing online access to a wealth of educational materials on a wide range of subjects in order to facilitate the building of an e-society in Nigeria and also promote digital lifestyle among the citizenry
8 Health Informatics
TARGET BENEFICIARY IMPACT
Students, Lecturers,
 It is expected to facilitate access to
Community information super highway for
Communication knowledge acquisition.
 It is expected to enhanced Research
Centers and Development in our higher institutions and the populace.
Teaching Hospitals in
Nigeria
 It is envisaged that the project will:
Improve health care delivery
Reduce mortality rates.
The project is aimed at providing world-class and expert health care to patients in target health institutions.
Skilled medical practitioners from established health institutions in the world will be consulted on a real-time basis via video conferencing facilities provided via broadband transmission systems.
18

19