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Technology park boosts telecommunications sector in Tunisia

Five minutes from the Tunis-Carthage International Airport, the government is building the first communications and technology park of its kind in the country. Thanks primarily to the forward thinking and initiative of the minister of communications, Ahmed Friaa, this park will catapult Tunisia's telecommunications sector into the 21st century. When the first phase is completed at the end of 1998, this park will be the inception of Tunisia's version of the Research Triangle Park in North Carolina.

Just as North Carolina's Research Triangle was a concerted effort to become a leading development and research park built around leading universities, Tunisia's technology park has also incorporated the School of Communications into its design.

This environment will provide an ideal learning environment to study the theoretical aspects of telecommunications, while at the same time provide future engineers with an opportunity to work at the practical level with some of the leading telecommunications and software development and service companies.

One of the current obstacles for the high tech industry in Tunis is the lack of conducive office buildings, especially in terms of open workspaces and the necessary infrastructure. Taking into account these concerns, the buildings will follow an American design, allowing engineers to work in a very efficient and intelligent environment.

Common facilities such as conference centers and business incubators will also be included in the park with the intention of fostering an exchange of ideas and technology.

The overall objective of the park is to provide a potential synergy among companies and engineers, enabling them to compete on a par with their international counterparts.

In December 1998, Tunisia's largest software development company, Cynex Software, Inc., will be the first company to move into the park. Dr. Dhamir Mannai, president of Cynex, has brought 18 years of American experience in telecommunications and software technologies to Tunisia.

Having earned a doctorate from Penn State University, Mannai has taught at both Penn State and Northeastern University in Boston and worked in the U.S.'s top three research and development areas: Boston, Research Triangle and Silicon Valley.

In less than two years under Mannai's leadership, his company also holds the distinction of becoming the first Tunisian software development company certified ISO 9001.

Cynex Software is on the cutting edge of software development, able to transfer US$ 2 million dollars worth of software via the Internet. With partners at the Research Triangle, NC, Cynex operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to meet the demands of its international clients.

In the past two years, the government initiatives have allowed the more than 500 private communications companies, including Cynex, to grow in leaps and bounds.

The Tunisian government is extremely goal oriented and under The Ninth Economic Development Plan (1997-2000) there is a substantial investment in improving the telecommunications' infrastructure. Prices have been reduced, in some cases as much as 75%, and overall quality and rates have improved.

"I commend the government on what they are doing," comments Mannai.

Using GSM technology, the digital mobile network has currently more than 26,000 subscribers, and capacity will reach 200,000 by the year 2001.

The number of phone subscribers in 1987 was at around 220,000 and in 10 years has almost tripled to 720,000. International phone prices have also dropped substantially, in some cases, by 50%, and the average call to the U.S. is US$1.55 per minute.

Despite these awesome improvements, over such a relatively short time, most people are still unaware of the growth in Tunisia's telecommunications sector.

Friaa recounted how the British Ambassador to Tunisia told him that he would have his family call him from England, because he assumed that the rates were better from the UK. Friaa was quick to point out that at times it is actually cheaper to call from Tunisia to some overseas destinations.

Three to four years ago, companies like Cynex Software, Inc. would not have been able to function at the level they are today. The government has been quick to address the deficiencies in the country's telecommunications sector and make this sector a national priority.

If the past two years are any indications of Tunisia's potential in telecommunications, then the Technology Park may soon become the first real Triangle of the Maghreb.