the team recommends conducting a full feasibility and commercial assessment1 given the
crucial importance of such infrastructure initiative in creating demand for the extra capacity
of connectivity and data hosting generated by EllaLink and current infrastructure.
Universal Connectivity Access: With extra available capacity, the aim will be to
significantly reduce Cabo Verde’s digital divide by providing universal connectivity access
within the various islands of the archipelago through public-private partnerships. This will
support high-speed connectivity and access to online academic content for higher education
institutions and secondary schools and enable more adoption of the WebLab program
which seeks to empower the next generation of digital leaders for government and private
sector.
•
Expanding Demand through monetization of new generation (NewGen)
infrastructure. Cabo Verde has significantly invested in establishing a world-class data
center at the Technology Park in Praia. With seven levels of security, it hosts and manages
data and already provides services to the Government of Cabo Verde, companies, banks,
national and foreign entities. It is also designed to offer cloud computing services (Cloud
services). According to NOSi, only 50% of the data center’s capacity is currently utilized.
While we recognize that the utilization has almost doubled in the last two years, there is a
significant potential for commercializing the remaining capacity and scale up the cloud
infrastructure either by opening new markets regionally and/or focusing on target sectors
with high consumption rates domestically (e.g., Media, Transport and Tourism). The
implementation of Amilcar Cabral project will also provide direct opportunities for
increasing data hosting demand and growing the market for cloud services. Four channels
can be considered for realizing an increase in such demand:
Neutral Data Port: Cabo Verde to establish a data port within the Techno Park. This
would allow data from other countries (e.g. Lusophone-speaking and ECOWAS countries)
to be stored and processed in Cabo Verde’s Data Center, but in accordance with their
individual country-specific data jurisdictions. This neutral governance will further the
position of Cabo Verde Cloud platform as an attractive alternative to other commercial
platforms that facilitate digital development.
Digital Government Services: Cabo Verde already has a head start with its digital
government solutions and services strategy. There is an opportunity in expanding the
development and adoption of such e-services nationally and regionally. New emerging
innovations and services from public and private sector in Cabo Verde can be used as
value-add plug-ins to the proposed Marketplace platform (i.e., IGRPweb).
Data-Driven Industries’ Clusters: A future-forward approach will be necessary to attract
businesses in selective high data-driven sectors (e.g., Media, e-Trade, Transport and
Tourism) at the Technology Park. Two enablers can enhance such approach: availability
of advanced skills and regulatory resorts. First, access to young talents with competencies
in data generation, aggregation and analysis will assist in supporting various emerging
digital clusters. Suggested initiative such as NOSi akademia can create partnerships with
1
The team was informed that ARME is currently preparing a pre-feasibility study with limited scope of the Amilcar
Cabral project.
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