A two day workshop on Bahir Dar Digital Infrastructure Initiative (BDDII) was hosted by Bahir Dar Technology Institute in collaboration with Cambridge University from 12 -13 March, 2019.The work shop is part of the initiative taken as one of the activities under the umbrella of the partnership between the Bahir Dar Institute of technology and the University of Cambridge’s network for the UN SDGs, Cambridge Global Challenges to provide the opportunity in designing and rolling out digital infrastructure and allied services.
Forwarding his remarks in his opening speech, Dr. Seifu Tilahun, Scientific Director of Bahir Dar Technology Institute, expressed his thanks to the University of Cambridge for taking such an initiative that, he hopes, contributes to designing cutting-edge digital infrastructure that helps develop the economic condition of the city’s residents and maintain their wellbeing.
Dr. Lara Allen, director of Cambridge Global Challenges, on her part, asserted that one of the specific aims of this project is to initiate and create the necessary fertile ground for innovative business models that can immensely contribute to the provision of technologies (internet and related services) cheaply and reliably.
Among the participating stake holders are Dr. Sebsibew Atkaw, Commissioner of the Science, Technology, Information and Communications Commission, Office of the Amhara Regional State Government, and Dr. Dawit Bekele, ISOC Regional Bureau Director for Africa, who illuminate the workshop with their brief and vital exploration of an over view of ICT in the Amhara Region, and of the challenges and opportunities for the community network approach in Ethiopia respectively.
Different papers were also presented by the participating sectors, and questions were raised and thoroughly discussed by the participants. Among these were an overview of Bahir Dar, its present infrastructure and the city’s structural plan by Dr. Mengistie Abate, and an exploration of the vision of community networks in Bahir Dar by Dr. Tesfa Tegegne both from Bahir Dar Technology institute.
Finally, a new initiative called community networking initiative that aims to connect Ethiopia in 10 years time was established by setting up a committee from different stakeholder institutions.
