Regional : SASEC Information Highway

Sovereign Project | 40054-012

The objective of the project preparatory (PP) TA is to help SASEC countries prepare an investment project that will (i) establish robust data interchange capacity between all four SASEC members with reduced cost and an increase in reliability and competition, replacing some microwave facilities and providing efficient access, with redundancy, to submarine cables for Nepal and Bhutan, and also reduce the dependency on satellite, enhanced local peering and reduction of latency; (ii) establish village networks for SASEC regional village communities to enable rural ICT development consistent with the Millennium Development Goals; and (iii) establish a regional ICT training and research center to provide a focal point for teaching, research, professional development and industry and government advice.

Project Details

  • Project Officer
    Nishimura, Taku
    South Asia Department
    Request for information
  • Country/Economy
    Regional
  • Modality
  • Sector
    • Information and communication technology
Project Name SASEC Information Highway
Project Number 40054-012
Country / Economy Regional
Project Status Closed
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Technical Assistance
Source of Funding / Amount
TA 6358-REG: SASEC Information Highway
Republic of Korea e-Asia and Knowledge Partnership Fund US$ 500,000.00
Strategic Agendas Inclusive economic growth
Regional integration
Drivers of Change Governance and capacity development
Partnerships
Sector / Subsector

Information and communication technology / ICT industries and ICT-enabled services - ICT infrastructure - ICT strategy and policy, and capacity development

Gender No gender elements
Description

The objective of the project preparatory (PP) TA is to help SASEC countries prepare an investment project that will (i) establish robust data interchange capacity between all four SASEC members with reduced cost and an increase in reliability and competition, replacing some microwave facilities and providing efficient access, with redundancy, to submarine cables for Nepal and Bhutan, and also reduce the dependency on satellite, enhanced local peering and reduction of latency; (ii) establish village networks for SASEC regional village communities to enable rural ICT development consistent with the Millennium Development Goals; and (iii) establish a regional ICT training and research center to provide a focal point for teaching, research, professional development and industry and government advice.

The TA outputs will include (i) an investment plan for the SASEC regional exchange including in-country gateways and cross-border access links together with applicable peering arrangements and organizational model for operating the regional exchange; (ii) an investment plan for establishing village networks over SASEC countries including its operational design; (iii) an investment plan for establishing a regional research and training center including its mandate and organizational set-up and a business model to operate it on a financially self-sustainable manner; and (iv) a feasibility assessment of the integrated investment project package.

Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy
Impact
Project Outcome
Description of Outcome
Progress Toward Outcome
Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs
Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)
Geographical Location Regional
Safeguard Categories
Environment B
Involuntary Resettlement C
Indigenous Peoples C
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects
Involuntary Resettlement
Indigenous Peoples
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
During Project Design
During Project Implementation
Business Opportunities
Consulting Services

The TA will require international consulting services of 12 person-months and national consulting services of 43 person-months engaged from an international firm in association with national firms in each SASEC country using the biodata technical proposal procedures based on the quality- and cost-based selection method in accordance with ADB?s Guidelines on the Use of Consultants.

The international consultants will be (i) an ICT sector policy specialist (5 person-months), (ii) an ICT network specialist (5 person-months), and (iii) a telecenter specialist (2 person-months). The national consultants will be (i) four ICT technical specialist (5 person-months in India and 4 person-months in other countries), (ii) four telecenter specialists (2 person-months in each country), (iii) a project economists (3 person-months in India), (iv) a financial specialist (3 person-months in India), (v) four social development specialists (2 person-months in each country), and (vi) four environmental specialists (1 person-month in each country).

Responsible ADB Officer Nishimura, Taku
Responsible ADB Department South Asia Department
Responsible ADB Division Transport and Communications Division, SARD
Executing Agencies
Asian Development Bank
Timetable
Concept Clearance 11 Aug 2006
Fact Finding 20 Sep 2006 to 20 Sep 2006
MRM -
Approval 01 Dec 2006
Last Review Mission -
PDS Creation Date 06 Dec 2007
Last PDS Update 17 Oct 2008

TA 6358-REG

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
01 Dec 2006 - 01 Dec 2006 30 Jun 2007 31 Dec 2008 31 Mar 2009
Financing Plan/TA Utilization Cumulative Disbursements
ADB Cofinancing Counterpart Total Date Amount
Gov Beneficiaries Project Sponsor Others
0.00 500,000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 500,000.00 17 Jun 2022 453,394.35

Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.

The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.

The Accountability Mechanism provides a forum where people adversely affected by ADB-assisted projects can voice and seek solutions to their problems and report alleged noncompliance of ADB's operational policies and procedures.

In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of, or reference to, a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.


Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.

None currently available.


Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation

None currently available.


Related Publications

None currently available.


The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.

Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.

Tenders

No tenders for this project were found.

Contracts Awarded

No contracts awarded for this project were found

Procurement Plan

None currently available.