After the end of the civil war in 2002 and due to the growing of political, economic and social stability, the Republic of Angola became one of the developing countries with the greatest potential for economic and social development.
In the last fourteen years, one of the largest challenges of the Angolan government has been the Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Taking into consideration the importance of the ICT as a driving force for the access to knowledge and development of society, this government has sought partnerships with other countries and companies willing to invest in Angola. The purpose is to improve the human and technological resources so that, in the medium term, Angola can subsist on his own in this important sector.
Main purposes:
- To create and develop e-government;
- To upgrade the existing infrastructures in the public administration as a means to provide a better service to the citizens;
- To increase training for young individual in the area of information technology so that they can be able to develop their own country in the future;
- To encourage the foreign companies willing to invest in this area in Angola in order to create a developed and prosperous country in the communication sector, and finally, to allow and foster the creation and management of a national industry of the ICTs.
The Angolan government initiated some years ago an Action Plan for the Information Society, in line with the recommendations of the 2005 World Summit on the Information Society, that contains 10 action pillars with impact in different sectors of society in which the ICT expansion is the priority in all the provinces. Some structuring projects are still being implemented.
In this context, National Work Programmes were defined, each one with several projects, amongst which we will highlight those with the greatest growth according to the recommendations of the World Summit on the Information Society. These programmes correspond to the implementation of the strategy approved by the Council of Ministers and mentioned in the Action Plan for the Information Society and in the ICT White Paper updated in 2011.
The Action Plans for the Information Society and for e-Government present some of the large and most structured programmes gathering several cross-sectorial and nationwide subprojects that allow for:
- The standardisation of the processes and services, which will lead to a significant reduction in the ICTs State investments;
- A greater integration and convergence of rural regions in the sustainable growth of the country;
- Equal opportunities to all Angolans no matter where they live.
Thus, these results will foster the government's main objectives which are the proliferation of opportunities and public services (health, education, etc.) provided to the citizens by the Government, improvement of the quality of life, and the relationship of transparency and trust of the Angolan people.
Development of the Telecommunications Sector:
- Fibre-optic National Project;
- Submarine International Connection Project (WACS);
- Angola-Brazil International Connection Project;
- Sub-Saharan Communications Project via national satellite;
- Standardisation and migration to DTT (Digital Terrestrial Television);
- Standardisation and migration to NGN (New Generation Network);
- Launching of the ANGOSAT;
- Construction of the National Data Centre;
- Creation of the State’s Private Network.
Digital Inclusion Programmes:
- National Network and Angola's Multimedia Library;
- “N’gola Digital” Telecentres;
- Free internet: "Angola Online";
- Computer related project: "Meu Kamba";
- Service and capacity building mobility: “Andando com as TIC”.