AFRISPA MEDIA RELEASE

[eosiakwan at bolt.com]

MEDIA RELEASE
August 3,2001                                                       
 Sabio Communications 

AFRICAN ISP ASSOCIATION FORMED AT ACT 2001
A meeting at the ISP Forum held at the ACT 2001 Summit saw the first
steps towards founding an African Internet Service Provider Association
(ISPA). To be known as afrISPA, the body will be comprised of ISPAs throughout
the African continent. It will represent the interests of member ISP
associations in negotiations with international, regional and national
Government bodies.

A key objective of the association will be to influence African IT and
Telecommunications policy, in order to create a positive regulatory environment
for the development of the Internet in Africa. One of the first tasks
of the group will be to reach out to all ISPs in Africa, and encourage
the formation of national ISPAs, where these do not yet exist.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Eric Osiakwan, Secretary of the Ghana
ISPA, said that the formation of the group was the outcome of intense
discussions regarding Internet development during the ISP Forum, which
brought together over 70 ISP representatives and other interested parties
from throughout Africa.  "This is an important step forward for Internet
development in Africa. It is vital for ISPs across the continent to co-operate
together to promote their common interests in relation to IT and telecommunications
regulation; to exchange knowledge and information; and where appropriate,
to develop national Internet exchanges to reduce international communication
costs."

The association will be contacting all ISPs across Africa to inform them
of the group's formation, invite existing ISP associations to join and
encouraging ISPs to form national associations where they don't exist.

Peter Van Roste, President of the European ISP Association, who had earlier
made a presentation to the Forum on ISP development in Europe, welcomed
the launch of the group and pledged the EuroISPA's support of the African
association's development.

The ISP Forum at the African Computing and Telecommunications Summit
(ACT 2001) organised by AITEC, was held with the support of the UK's
Department of International Development, which provided scholarships
to enable ISP representatives to attend.

 

Sean Moroney, Group Chairman of AITEC Africa, organizers of the ACT Summit,
pledged AITEC's continuing support for the association.

For further information please send an e-mail to discuss at afrispa.org

 Issued by:
Sabio Communications
Charnia Absil
Tel: (011) 476-8270
Cell: 083 260 4584
E-mail: charnia at ibi.co.za

AITEC
Sean Moroney
Tel: (011) 787 – 4991
Cell: 082 370 0360
 E-mail: sean at aitecafrica.com

GHANA ISP ASSOACIATION

ERIC M.K OSIAKWAN

eosiakwan at bolt.com, eosiakwan at visto.com

233-24-386792

PMB 208, ACCRA-NORTH

 

 

 


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