Essence of connecting MDAs via Galaxy

Some Information and Communications Technology (ICT) editors were on tour of Galaxy Backbone Plc infrastructure recently. REMMY NWEKE, who was there writes on the essence of connecting ministries, departments and agencies of government to the network.

The essence of harmonizing the connectivity among government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as far as deployment of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is concerned came to the fore recently in Abuja, during a one-day media facility tour of Galaxy Backbone (GBB) Plc.

  GBB, a public enterprise of the federal government established to build and operate a single nationwide Information Technology (IT) infrastructure platform to provide network services to all Federal Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs). In addition GBB is to manage all database and transversal services with the goal of integrating people technology and best practices to operate a financially independent company.

  The company also has the mandate to provide connectivity and digital access that will enable relevant solutions for e-governance to rural areas and other underserved communities in the country.

  After the facility tour which covered the Network Operating Centre (NOC), otherwise known as the hub of Galaxy Backbone operations with switches, back-up imaging system and a 24 - hour network management centre for monitoring performance of satellites as well as the utilization system of the network, the Managing Director, GBB Plc, Mr. Gerald Ilukwe was summoned to throw more light in some grey areas.

  During his speech, the bottom line was that Nigeria as a country needs infrastructure standardization so as to strengthen various deployment for the overall benefit of the populace eventually.

  Some of the challenges faced by organizations in the extension of projects into rural communities could be overcome with the adoption of a holistic approach to infrastructure development.

  He recommended a holistic approach which entails that money previously earmarked for continuous building and civil works could be committed to projects with multiple utility advantages.

  Hence, at Galaxy Backbone, he said, the business model is to ensure maximization of facilities already on ground in the deployment of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to rural and underserved communities under the National Information, Communication Education Programme (NICEP).

  He explained, for instance, that NICEP is an ICT policy intervention project for the realization of the objectives of e-government and key objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

  “It is a platform for digital inclusion that provides benefits of ICT to all areas of the country particularly hard - to - reach areas and underserved communities through the deployment of 5,000 Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) nodes across the country,” he said.

  Mr. Ilukwe also revealed that over 2,300 connectivity points have been achieved by Galaxy Backbone with more underway, noting that in a mono - cultural economy like Nigeria, which is dependent on oil. ICT, he said, as a driver of technology has not been able to sell its value which is to achieve efficiency, stressing that Galaxy Backbone as a government agency has a responsibility to develop the ICT ecosystem in Nigeria and not to kill the private sector. Thus, Galaxy sticks to its core - competences and out-source services to others.

  The Galaxy Backbone boss confirmed that most federal ministries and departments have been connected to Galaxy Backbone common ICT network platform under the standard known as 1-GOV.net. Digital inclusion projects, he said, are ongoing in federal tertiary institutions and unity schools across the country, while five states are currently having active collaboration with Galaxy Backbone. The sites are in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Kaduna, Rivers and Lagos state. 

  Pointing out that GBB is doing is to provide the internet connectivity, data connectivity. Like in Kaduna State, he said what they did was to connect their board for internal revenue to help increase the revenue base of their internal revenue for the state. Just as Galaxy offers Virtual Private network (VPN) to some state governments.

As matter of fact, Rivers State government has gone ahead of other states in the South-south in terms of ICT, so we are working with them to improve the internally generated revenue and health programmes. He cited for instance that in Delta State, Galaxy helped them to connect to the state teaching hospital on their e-health through video-conferencing facilities. Equally, Galaxy provides services to a number of universities, including the University of Calabar and most of the universities have GBB services through the National Universities Commission (NUC).

  Earlier the editors were conducted round Galaxy Backbone facilities and equipment including the state of the art Data Centre, which has the capacity for 30 TB storage and dedicated carrier broadband connectivity, using wireless, fibre optic, satellite (VSAT), or a mix of the technologies to deliver excellent services to customers.

  As the business grows and the primary customers begin to appreciate the change Galaxy offers, the government policy makers agree with it, but the other government policy maker will need the IT edge and the customers and users on a day-to-day basis.

  In South Africa, a similar organization has 2,400 …. Nigeria has less than 10 per cent of that today but then again South Africa has a unitary system of government, so their job starts from the national government to the municipal and provincial government and still they have a 1,200 people on sub-contract.

  So, how to handle a service or an assignment or project is a function of the nature of that particular project, recalling that one of the responsibilities GBB shoulders is that of developing the ICT eco-system.

  “We are not here to deny the private ICT companies the opportunity to do business with government. In some cases, we are more of a clearing house or an arbitrator or a manager of service providers,” he said.

  He emphasized that ICT service provision is support service and is only useful in as far as the service makes you appreciate the value. If somebody tells that a particular laptop is fantastic and it does not help you then it is meaningless to you. One of the challenges that ICT has had in government and indeed in every part of our country is that ICT, in a way, has not been able to set its value. It has not connected to government that is one.

  He recollected that Nigeria is a mono-cultural economy, where all the talk is about oil, stressing that the unfortunate consequence of that is that irrespective of how inefficient your operations are, in so far as the oil is coming out everybody is carrying on.

  But the primary driver of technology is to achieve efficiency in business and that would mean focusing on performance and efficiency, which have not been critical drivers of government because the funding has always not been there.

  “That is why technology had a hard time penetrating government. Most of the time Nigeria has spoken about technology it has come in disjointed form when people tend to mix up bringing an IT economy for Nigeria with using ICT in government to enhance public sector service delivery. People mix that up. I know for a start that there are a few major initiative in this current administration that are user-led which is where ICT, like I said is disconnected, technology as an end in itself, does not work.

  Yet, that is what Galaxy is here to correct, recalling that hitherto, ministries build their own network, such as the ministry of education, for example, some years back wanted to have their own network for all secondary schools and have a network for all universities. Now, he said, GBB is working with them to say a single network and infrastructure platform could support them. Although peoples are still looking for budget to build their data centres, meanwhile they could bring their servers and put in one location. It is more efficient it allow for interoperability of systems.

  Today, he said, Galaxy is interested in NITEL, because it has a mission and does not believe in reinventing the wheel. “If we can achieve our mission given to us by the Federal Government through access that NITEL has, it will be more efficient for us in terms of time, more efficient for the federal government and more efficient for our eco-system as stakeholders who will benefit from our services.

  The truth is that any MDAs yet unconnected to the Galaxy’s NOC before the end of this 2011, will not only be missing in action, but have a lot to regret because when their contemporaries have gone a step further, it may be playing a catch-up. 

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