Outcome Indicators: 1. Number of ICT funding mechanisms 2. Number of companies receiving funding from established mechanisms 3. Number of ICT companies in the country by 2013 PSD Project 5: Virtual Landing Point Purpose: To increase Rwanda’s international capacity and eliminate additional costs of acquiring international capacity for operators Description: A Virtual Landing Point (VLP) is a central location where telecommunication providers can meet and acquire submarine bandwidth capacity to distribute through their networks. Countries bordering the sea generally construct fiber cable landing stations. Being a landlocked country, Rwanda cannot construct such a facility. However, a virtual instance of the same is possible and would be the point of choice for all international link providers to terminate their networks and deliver their services to local network providers. Coupling the VLP with the existing local Internet Exchange Point (IXP) is efficient since operators’ networks are already reaching the IXP thereby eliminating additional costs of acquiring international capacity. Activities: 1. Prepare VLP site 2. Acquire and install VLP hardware (Racks, Routers, Switches, Servers, Transmission equipment) and software Expected Outcome: 1. VLP fully operational by 2013 2. Low throughput from VLP to end users 3. Simplified international capacity acquisition for telecommunication providers 4. Reduction in cost of Internet and a boost in ISP industry Outcome Indicators: 1. 50% reduction in wholesale bandwidth costs 2. 99.5% reliability and availability of bandwidth by 2013 PSD Project 6: Access Network Purpose: To extend Internet access across the country in order to bridge Rwanda’s digital divide Description: The national fiber optic backbone network has been completed and is available in all 30 districts. However, not all end-users i.e. schools, hospitals, government offices, commercial buildings etc. are centrally located in districts. This project aims to bridge the gap between the backbone nodes and end-user premises by means of wireless or fiber. In doing so, it is expected that all telecommunication providers will expand their customer base using the same access points thereby increasing their revenue streams while transforming businesses and lives across Rwanda. Page 37 of 85   © No part of this document can be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise - without the permission of Rwanda Ministry in charge of ICT in the Office of the President.