stages of industrialization and transform her agro-based economy into a service, information-rich
and knowledge-based one that is globally competitive. In 1998, the Rwandan ICT for
Development (ICT4D) policy was adopted to implement policies and plans that would address
Rwanda’s developmental challenges in the information and technology age, in order to
accelerate the country’s socio-economic development. In 2000 GoR begun implementing the
ICT4D policy, commonly known as NICI, and subsequently developed and implemented NICI I
(NICI-2005 Plan), the first of the four five-year rolling plans. Emphasis in NICI I was placed on
creating a conducing environment by establishing the institutional, legal and regulatory
framework for ICT development, putting in place the necessary mechanisms, liberalization of the
telecoms market, reduction of entry barriers to the telecom market as well as an effective
implementation and coordination mechanism.
The just concluded second plan NICI II (NICI-2010 Plan) focused on providing world-class
communications infrastructure as a backbone for current and future communications
requirements. Several projects ranging from increased nationwide coverage of
telecommunications networks, versatile and high capacity national optic fiber backbone
network, national data center as well as a centralized monitoring and operations center were
among the accomplishments of NICI II.
The third plan NICI III (NICI-2015 Plan) will build on the two previous phases and propel
Rwanda to the fourth and final phase of the NICI process. In this phase, emphasis will be placed
on services development across five focus areas identified to fuel continued growth. This plan is
more flexible than previous ones in that it allows for easy adaptation to emerging technologies
and sectoral changes. This approach ensures coherence and continuity throughout
implementation of NICI III. As such, projects will be implemented annually or biennially
compared to the previous plans in which projects had 5-year life cycles to ensure easy adaptation
to emerging technologies and changing national priorities.
Figure 2 below illustrates the NICI process to date. NICI I and II provided the foundation for
Rwanda’s ICT development. The third level illustrates the NICI III framework, which focuses
on five key areas defined as focus areas. The fourth level denotes the fourth plan NICI IV (NICI2020 Plan), which will complete the NICI process by consolidating the country’s ICT
transformation.
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