Esis extension / Tunisia / Alternative Networks / Master Reports

Currently, Tunisie Telecom is the sole provider of telecommunications facilities. Therefore, at the moment there is no legal framework or regulatory authority for the application of transmission infrastructure or "alternative networks" owned by public utilities to Information Society.

The Ninth Plan whose main theme, as decided by the President of the Republic, is the global upgrading ‘mise à niveau’ of the economy, represents an important milestone in the country’s development process as Tunisia prepares to step into the 21^st century. This Plan has several distinguishing features that are the result of the prevailing national and international environment, the method used for its preparation and its objectives will prepare the Tunisian economy for greater integration into the international environment.

The world is in the process of undergoing significant changes. In particular, there has been an emergence of major regional trading blocs, and a growing tendency among countries to liberalise their economies and to adopt market system as the basis of economic organisation, management and policy making. In light of these developments, Tunisia decided to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and to sign a partnership agreement with the European Union (E.U.). Setting-up a free-trade area is among the major goals of that agreement since this is considered the most efficient way to reinforce relations between the signatories as it will create greater growth opportunities and attract more foreign direct investments (FDI).

In view of the fact that the free-trade area (FTA) with the E.U. is going to be set up over a period of 12 years, the Ninth Plan was designed on the basis of this long-term perspective and in light of numerous preliminary strategic studies. The studies focused on the preparation of different growth scenarios and the analysis of particularly important issues such agriculture, transport, communication, land management, population growth and others.

Given the legal impediments, which currently exist to the commercial exploitation of any alternative networks, no organisation was found to have consciously developed alternative networks on a commercial basis. Nevertheless, the anticipated liberalisation of telecommunications services, as well as the liberalisation of data transmission services provide the opportunity in the future for organisations other than the historical operator (Tunisie Telecom) to do so.

Investments in the telecommunications sector have almost quadrupled during the last ten years. In 1987, the amount of government expenditures totalled 400 million dinars; this year 1.5 billion dinars (roughly the same in US dollars) are earmarked for telecommunications investments.

The development strategy for Internet in Tunisia progresses along three main lines:

An overall approach to information technologies aims at giving the largest possible number of people access to modern means of telecommunication. This coupled with decisions that allowed for several reductions in phone and Internet access rates, have allowed Internet subscribers in Tunisia to enjoy some of the lowest rates in the Mediterranean (20 hours of local calls for only 12 Tunisian dinars, almost the same in US dollars).

1.3 Attitude of the incumbent operator towards alternative network providers

A vast action program launched in 1997 aims at the gradual connection to the Internet of all university and research institutions, the majority of secondary and primary schools as well as public libraries before the end of next year. Other programs intended at the public at large include the opening of public Internet spaces (called Publinet) all over the country as well as encouraging private initiative in investing in the new information technologies. These programs should allow greater access to the Internet as well as its availability in all parts of the country. These and other programs should enable Tunisia to enter the ranks of those countries with the highest Internet connection rates.

The National Health Network (RNS) administered by CIMSP, connects over 64 hospitals, including:

This network will be used also in Tele-medicine, allowing the quality of health services in rural areas to be improved by exploiting the skills of qualified medical staff concentrated in the big towns.

The National Agricultural Network (AGRINET) connects agricultural institutions and is administered by IRESA. This network connects 14 higher agriculture institutes as well as 7 regional research centres. It also provides connectivity to the various departments of the Agriculture Ministry as well as its various representations throughout the country.

The Tunisian Government has launched an ambitious program aiming to generalise the use of Internet in education and thus giving access to all children throughout the country. This program will allow teachers, researchers and students to be provided with communications tools to improve exchanges within this community and to encourage the use of modern pedagogical tools.

The National Research and Technology Network (RNRT) was set up in 1993. Today it connects 22 research centres. It is administered by IRSIT. Moreover, research groups in university and engineering school laboratories are concentrating research work on assessment of the design and performance of the new Internet protocols in order to improve the service quality of audio and video transmissions on Internet. Other subjects for research include the hierarchic management of routing in the big networks and how to improve service quality of the multimedia traffic services, and the design of mechanisms for checking network congestion. Other research work is directed to EDI and to exploring XML language as well as network security technologies.

There are 7 ISP for the public sector, i.e. government offices and agencies and 2 for the private sector, i.e. corporations, associations, individuals, etc.

These Internet Service Providers offer Internet connectivity via RTC, leased lines, X.25 lines and ISDN.

In October 1998, the Tunisian Government launched an ambitious project with two objectives:

Making access to Internet and Internet services general throughout Tunisia, especially in rural areas

Creating jobs for young university graduates. This project consists in setting up Internet public centres in every part of the country. It was aimed to open up 100 such spaces in 1999. To encourage young entrepreneurs, it was decided that for the first 100 Publinets, the Government contributes to the project by supplying grants covering 50% of the costs of the equipment and the rest of the amount should be covered through bank loans carrying low interest rates. For other Publinets, funding would be payable by the promoter.

Every Publinet is linked to the Internet network via one of the seven POP points of presence of the national Backbone through a leased Nx64 Kbps-line so as to ensure good quality service. Each Publinet offers access to the Web and e-mail accounts at a more competitive rate than that offered by Internet Services Providers. Thus giving access to the widest possible number of users especially those who cannot afford to have one.

2. Inventory of the major "public" utilities with a potential for use in I.S. applications

The state-owned SOCIETE TUNISIENNE DE L’ ELECTRICITE ET DU GAS (STEG) is a monopoly in Tunisia and is under the responsibility of the Ministry of Industry. The company has the responsibility for the production, transportation, distribution and sale of electricity and natural gas. It also holds the exclusive right to import and export electricity. The power capacity of the country is 1,680 MW with plans to add one 300 MW power station every two years. The electricity consumption in Tunisia is 741 kWh per capita (source: International Energy Agency, 1996), while the rate of rural electricity supply is 76% (source: Ministry of Economy, Tunisia, 1996).

The company employs a total staff of about 10,012 workers (energy and gas), operates through 36 districts covering 93% of the country. It has 2,044,779 of residential clients (2,034,767 energy / 100,541 gas), 11,196 of commercial clients (10,582 energy / 614 gas) and 26 industrial clients (12 energy - 14 gas).

The length of national grid and length of distribution network is 98,020 km. Concerning gas, a 790 km distribution network of high-pressure natural gas is operating in the country. The company uses a static Intranet as a corporate communication network for internal use, which was established in 1998. The department that is dealing with the corporate communication network is the computer department of the company.

The state-owned SOCIETE NATIONALE D’ EXPLOITATION ET DE DISTRIBUTION DES EAUX (SONEDE) is a monopoly in Tunisia and is under the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture. The rate of connection to the water distribution network in urban areas is 97.1%, while in rural areas the access to drinking water is 67.7% (source: Ministry of Economy, Tunisia, 1996).

The state-owned SOCIETE NATIONALE DES CHEMINS DE FER TUNISIENS (SNCFT) is a monopoly in Tunisia and is under the responsibility of the Ministry of Transport. The railway network totals 2,475 km and covers the country from North to South. It is connected to both the Algerian and Moroccan railway networks. A 20,000 km road system exists in Tunisia, including 150 km of highway. The highway program for the 1997-2006 period involves three segments representing a total length of 450 km.

Tunisia is a country with a fast growing economy. According to World Bank, Tunisia has recorded the highest growth rate in the Middle East and in Africa during recent years. A large privatisation program has started in Tunisia in recent years concerning mainly cement factories, mechanical construction and the textile sector. The public networks are still state-owned and this characteristic does not seem to change in the near future. Furthermore, there are no plans for the alternative networks to offer telecommunication

Please note that this report has been prepared under the sole responsibility of the ESIS II contractors.
It does not necessarily reflect the views of the Commission, nor does the Commission accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of information contained herein.
The ESIS Team of contractors welcomes any additional information or corrections.