Lagos — A coalition of information technology (IT) bodies in the country has urged the federal government to build a 10,000-kilometre high bandwidth (transmission capacity) data network projected to cost $290 million ( about N30.0 billion) that will serve as a backbone for a National Information Infrastructure (NII).

The proposed backbone expected to be 5,000 to 10,000 times the speed of the existing national communication infrastructure will use optical fibre cable using broadband technology for connectivity across the nation. While seeking a direct involvement of the Presidency to realise the initiative, US-based computer whizkid, Dr Philip Emeagwali is being tipped to lead the project team.

The proposal that is currently under consideration by the government, noted that the NII project if implemented and priority attention given to the development of software products, Nigeria stands to achieve an accelerated IT development and check her marginalisation in the emerging IT revolution. The group also urged government to explore the alternative of utilising the excess optical fibre infrastructure of the national carrier, the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) to build the proposed network.

Under the auspices of the Committee of IT professional Bodies of Nigeria (CIT-PBN), the group identified that the only hurdle to achieving these goals is the political will at the highest level of government. In this regard, the body wants President Olusegun Obasanjo to chair the National IT Main Committee. In the alternative, the Minister or Minister of State for Science and Technology should shoulder the responsibility. The coalition consists of the Computer Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), the Information Technology Association of Nigeria (ITAN), the Computer Association of Nigeria (COAN) and the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON).

In a Special Brief on the National IT Policy by the CIT-PBN forwarded to the Federal Government through the Minister of Science and Technology, Chief Ebitimi Banigo the coalition underlined the urgency of the project which it noted should be implemented in two phases. When implemented, the NII will serve as a channel carrying and distributing knowledge-based data, multimedia applications, information, commerce, education, among others.

THISDAY checks revealed that the first phase of the infrastructure will involve the establishment of a National Internet Backbone using fibre optic technology with a bandwidth of 2.5 to 5 Gigabit per second (GB/p/s). This segment of the bandwidth will be dedicated exclusively for data and voice transmission.

The second phase involves building major urban data networks (Urban links) connecting no less than 100 urban areas and metropolis to the NII. This aspect of the infrastructure is to be made up of scaleable high-speed connection points.

CIT-PBN said that the first phase of the project involving the establishment of national backbone would range between $55 to $85 million. The next phase of developing the urban links ranges between $125 to $205 million.

According to the proposal, "Available studies suggest that the program to build a network topology of approximately 10,000 kilometres with 6 to 8 nodes located at major cities and 15 high bandwidth points of presence (POPs), expandable to 50 or 100 POPs" justify the multibillion naira cost structure.

While noting that the NII can be deployed as a totally new system designed to extend to the six major geopolitical zones in the country, CIT-PBN also proffer an alternative option.

According to the body, "A national backbone can be set up by freeing a few existing fibre from NITEL and laying additional new bundles of advanced fibre to enhance the capacity of existing fibre to large bandwidth and multiplexing the aggregate of freed fibre exclusively for the backbone".

CIT-PBN also noted that government could explore the knowledge asset of Nigerians abroad, particularly the US, in the design, development and management of the NII adding that, the option is "feasible if through committed political will the nation mandates Dr Philip Emeagwali to lead to lead the project team as Chief Consultant for the NII Project".

"Alternatively, the NII can be undertaken as a partnership project with IUNet Inc. by forging a close collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), a leading global Internet Backbone Institution based in Pittsburgh, USA. CMU can be approached for joint design, develop and management of the high technology Internet backbone as a joint venture", noted the body.

Highlights of the other recommendations of CIT-PBN include:

*Creation of incentives for investment in local information infrastructure networks;

*Creation of six regional software development centres;

*Establishment of a National Institute of Information Technology to enhance the potential capacity building in IT;

*Encouragement to private sector through incentives to invest in a public quoted entity stock for the establishment of medium PC assembly plants with market guarantee;

*Government should adopt a strategy of investing in domestic and international IT companies as a means of improving quality;

*Establishment of IT Development Fund to create centres of IT R& and upgrade standards;

*Government should establish a global IT Software Consortium to be sited in the US as a framework for responding to the global IT competition;

*Government should establish a National Merit Award for Creativity in software products.