Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT)
Fourth Meeting of the TDAG Working Group Document WGPS-4/2-E
dealing with Private Sector Issues (WGPS) 15 November 2005
Geneva, 8-9 December 2005
Original: English
Chairman’s Report of the 3rd Meeting of the TDAG Working Group dealing with
Private Sector Issues (WGPS) for consideration by the TDAG
Geneva, 13-14 December 2004
General Statement
In its January 2004 Meeting WGPS adopted an organizational structure with a two-fold objective
• To reconcile Member States and Sector Members interests in Private Sector Issues in
each of the five BDT regions
• To provide assistance and advice on Private Sector Issues within the framework of the
IsAP Programmes and initiatives and the preparation of WSIS phase 2. To this end,
the main actions of the Working Groups on Private Sector are focused on
implementation of those commitments as follows:
1. Organization and implementation of the Regional Working Parties (RWPs)
In closed collaboration with ITU-D Sector Members and ITU Regional Offices, Regional Working
Parties have been organized in the Africa region, Arab States region and the Asia Pacific region.
Due to several economic/financial constraints the organization of the Regional Working Party for
the Americas region has been postponed to Q1 2005. The Europe and CIS region started its work in
November 2004 to be prepared for a full implementation in the 1st Quarter of 2005.
The WGPS heard presentations from each of the ITU Regional Offices about their 2004 activities
that involved private sector participation and their plans for 2005. Each of the RWPs presented their
reports for consideration by the WGPS and the TDAG. We ask the TDAG and the BDT Director to
note the activities of the RWPs in consideration of how to implement the 2005 Operational Plan.
The WGPS noted with particular interest the quality of the work that had been accomplished in
Africa, Arab States and Asia Pacific by RWPs. Their respective conclusions and recommendations
are available for due consideration as the BDT Director implements the ITU-D Operational Plan for
2005. Ref. Africa RWP Report, Arab RWP Report and Asia Pacific RWP Report:
http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/partners/WGPS_Docs_Dec.htm.
The Africa RWP focused on 4 priority issues:
1. Regulatory issues relating to the attributes of an independent regulator and the appropriate level
of spectrum and licence fees and universal contributions that encourage ICT investment.
2. Importance of a coordinated identification of regional and sub regional ICT infrastructure
projects that would facilitate resource mobilization and implementation.
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3. Ways to better promote NEPAD Programmes and increase the contribution of the Private Sector.
4. Main areas of Human Resource Development that should be given a priority to overcome the
lack of capacity in the sector.
The Arab RWP has organized its work around 6 main issues:
1. Least Developed Countries that should be given top priority on the ARWP Agenda;
2. Transparent decision process by Regulatory Authorities and implementation of public
consultations;
3. Need to connect Arab countries with fiber optic regional backbone and create Arab region
network access point;
4. Development of Human Resource policies and programmes and “shared area” in the region;
5. Promotion of programmes that facilitate participation of women and youth in the Arab ICT
sector;
6. Contribution of Arab Sector Members to the preparation and implementation of WSIS phase 2.
The Asia Pacific RWP members decided to concentrate their work around 3 key regulatory
issues:
1. Spectrum allocation and pricing;
2. Interconnection policies, tariffs and infrastructure sharing;
3. Cost of duties and levies.
Once more, I would like to encourage every one to take into due consideration all detailed report of
the RWPs.
2. WGPS Programme Groups (PGs) conclusions and recommendations
The WGPS has organized its conclusions and recommendations according to the structure of the
ITU-D Istanbul Action plan. Taking into account relevant recommendations of the RWPs and
considerations based on the presentations by BDT staff on their proposed plans for 2005, the RWPs
reached the following conclusions, detailed in Annexes 1, 2 and 3 to this report. We ask the TDAG
and the Director to consider the conclusions in the execution of the 2005 Operational Plan. We
draw special attention to Annex 1B, which recommends expanded participation of Sector Members
in the Global Symposium for Regulators while respecting the desire of regulators to preserve some
time just for regulators.
3. WGPS Programme Groups (PGs) conclusions and recommendations
Following guidance from Council Decision 519, and in the interest of simplifying the consideration
of the issue for the TDAG, the WGPS has developed a recommendation to the TDAG as to how it
might nominate up to three Sector Members to be Observers to Council 2005.
The WGPS invited the Chairman of the RAG to brief it on the conclusions of the RAG’s
discussions of the SM Observer issue. Following discussion, the WGPS agreed to recommend that
the TDAG:
Adopt the same qualifying criteria as were adopted by the RAG. They are that a proposed
SM Observer would:
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Agree to attend Council 2005 in its entirety and at its own expense
Submit a letter to the Chairman of the TDAG:
- confirming agreement with above
- naming the proposed Sector Member and the designated individual
- stating the qualifications for being chosen as nominee, based on Annex 1 of Council
Decision 519, taking into account:
- geographic distribution
- SM contribution
- SM category
- commercial affiliation
The WGPS recognized that there are certain considerations that distinguish the TDAG and the
ITU-D from the TSAG and the RAG and the other Sectors that should be taken into account during
the process of choosing nominees from the ITU-D. These are:
- the substantial participation of SMs from developing countries in the ITU-D, and
- the existence of the WGPS to advise the TDAG, and the organization of the WGPS into
Regional Working Parties.
The WGPS therefore recommended that the nomination process should proceed as follows:
- the Director of the BDT would be invited to notify all Sector Members and the Chairmen
of the RWPs of the nomination process;
- the applicants would submit their applications by 28 February 2005 to the Chairman of the
TDAG, who, along with the Chairman of WGPS and others who the TDAG Chairmen
might choose, would review the applications and propose up to three nominees for the
BDT Director to nominate for acceptance by the Council;
- the Chairmen of the RWPs of the WGPS would be invited to propose nominees as would
all interested SMs be invited to apply.
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ANNEX 1
Program Group on Regulatory Reform and the Program Group on WSIS
Chairman: Mr. Riad Bahsoun, Director General, TIT, Lebanon and Chairman of WGPS
Program Group on WSIS
1. The plenary has requested from each of the various Programs Groups to hold special
session aiming at reaching agreements on issues that could be of a particular interest for the WGPS
and to issue some recommendations that would be submitted to the TDAG as part of the
Chairperson’s Final Report. Consequently, the Program Groups on Regulatory reform and the
Program Group on WSIS have held on 13th December 2004 from 16:00 to 17:30 a joint-session
chaired by Riad Bahsoun, Chairman of the Special Group for WSIS assisted by M. Jean-Yves
Besnier (ITU-BDT).
During the session the discussion which had occurred during the morning plenary session of 13th
December on Regulatory Reform issues and on WSIS issues has been put forward to the
participants for further comments recalled and the meeting reached the following agreements:
A. The reports coming from the regional working parties should serve as the main basis for the
recommendations that the WGPS shall forward to the TDAG for discussion and hopefully
approval. In consequence, the BDT has been requested to produce a compilation-document
structured in two different chapters: the first chapter representing a sort of synthesis of the
recommendations coming from the RWPs on issues discussed by all the various Regional
Working Parties and a second chapter where recommendations of the RWPs on issues
specific to a given region, but not necessarily discussed in other regions, shall be
mentioned. This compilation-document shall be annexed to the present report
B With respect to the participation of Sector Members in the forthcoming Global Symposium
for Regulators, the meeting reached some important conclusions:
1. The GSR is an event organized for regulators and should remain as such (unanimous
support)
2. Regulators need to keep and enforce their ability to engage discussion just among
themselves as it is granted by the current formula adopted for the organization of GSR.
3. Regarding technical workshop organized within the framework of GSR, these should
be opened to an increased participation of the industry.
4. The formula for the organization of GSR could be reviewed in order to allow greater
interactivity between Regulators and Sector Members, for example by having four days
instead of three with the first day and the final day open to Sector Members and the two
medium days strictly limited to Regulators.
C. With respect to the WSIS Declaration of Principles adopted during WSIS Geneva Phase 1,
the meeting agreed that paragraphs of this Declaration of Principles dealing with regulatory
reform which are of a particular importance from private sector’s perspective should be
identified and put forward, under the form of a table, to the TDAG for discussion (Chair,
ABF-ICT, India). This recommendation should be reflected in the sector position that the
Director of the BDT is in charge to express within the Council WG on WSIS (Arab RWP,
ABF-ICT, Chair). A discussion has been engaged with the intervention of the BDT aiming
at clarifying what is the difference between this table and the global stocktaking exercise
conducted by BDT in relation with the WSIS Plan of Action.
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D. With respect to the participation of ITU-D Sector Members as Observers in the work of the
Council, the meeting agreed that this issue should be discussed by the plenary before going
to smaller working sessions bearing in mind that RWPs have produced some
recommendations in this regard and also that it would be important for the TDAG while
defining its position to take into account the results reached by other Sector (RAG) or to be
reached later on (TSAG).
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ANNEX 1A
Summary of main recommendations by RWPs on Regulatory Reform and WSIS
1. Independent Regulatory Authority (Africa and Arab RWPs)
• Elaborate a charter that captures the attributes of an independent regulatory authority
based on best practice, and use this to improve the current classification of national
regulatory authorities (NRAs)
• Recommend that public consultations be one of the criteria of transparency and
independence
• Suggest guidelines for the transition of NRAs to complete independence.
2. Spectrum Recommendations ( Asia Pacific RWP)
2a Harmonization:
- Facilitates global roaming, economies of scale, wide competition & benefits to end-
users
- Provides regulatory certainty to operators, investors, manufacturers & administrators,
facilitates development of global standards
- National spectrum plans to consider ITU-R globally harmonized spectrum &
technological evolution paths of different wireless systems in given market
- Accommodation of these requirements in national spectrum allocation would give
operators certainty in their long-term plans and strategies
- While ITU has identified bands for IMT-2000/3G without precluding their use for
other wireless applications, as per ITU expert, thrust for ITU Recommendations was for
achieving global harmonization
2b Contiguous allocation
- Spectrum allocated to any particular service should preferably be contiguous so as to derive the advantages of efficient
utilization of spectrum
2c Pricing
- For Asia Pacific region, affordability and accessibility are key objectives
- No one perfect model, important to identify principles
- Entry mechanism to be worked out based on Government and Regulatory policy,
availability, level of competition and international practices
- Options include recovery of administrative & regulatory costs, auction, beauty
contest, revenue share etc..
- Choice of option should ensure achievement of end-objectives
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2d Quantum
- Inadequate spectrum leads to inefficient utilization, higher costs, degraded QoS
- Administrations to make available clear roadmap for allocation of spectrum should be
made available upfront to the operators to facilitate efficient network planning and
design
- ITU to facilitate detailed information on international practices w.r.t. optimal
spectrum per operator
2e Upfront allocation
- Ensures savings in capex and this increases affordability
- Desirable in principle, may be difficult to implement in practice
- In such a case a clear roadmap should be available to the service providers
2f Comparative study (Africa RWP)
- Conduct a comparative study on current spectrum and licence fees and universal service
contributions and make suggestions on what levels would be appropriate; participants
drew attention to the fact that the costs of spectrum and licence fees and universal service
contributions in many cases act as a brake on the development of Its and the economy as
a whole.
3. Interconnection recommendations (Asia Pacific RWP)
3a General:
- Regulator can ensure effective interconnection by ensuring interconnection between
the operators is made mandatory
- RIO is published by all operators. RIO is based on principles of non-discrimination,
transparency and availability in a time bound manner
3b - Interconnection
- Interconnection should be made mandatory by to ensure fair competition & level
playing filed
- Interconnection required for all types of services in a non-discriminatory manner
- All operators should comply with QoS standards for all services as laid down by the
Regulator
- Operators should enter into Service Level Agreements for provision of
Interconnection facilities and services
- In the event the interconnection seeker & the provider are not able to reach
agreement, Regulator can intervene at request of either party or suo moto
- A dispute resolution with regard to interconnection related issues should be left to the
jurisdiction of the Regulator,
and the regulator in turn should prescribe a time bound process for final resolution
- Regulator should intervene in case of anti-competitive interconnection policies and
actions by incumbent
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3c - RIO
- While RIO is mandatory, there should be flexibility for mutual negotiations to arrive
at a better commercial arrangement
- Time schedule for providing interconnection should be a part of RIO
- Cost of unbundled network elements should be part of RIO
- Sensitive cost based data can be provided to Regulator, who in turn can make
available non-sensitive data to the interconnection seeker if required. This would
also help Regulator to keep a check on costs depicted in the RIO
- Time frames and penalties as decided by Regulator should be part of the RIO
3d - IUC charges
- Fixed by regulator and preferably be based on the LRIC model
- Charges be reviewed periodically based on data made available by operators
- Interconnect capacity should be cost based
- For all up-gradation services, including emergency services, regulator to fix IC
charges, based on the information provided by the interconnection providers
3e - Carrier access code CAC and pre-selection
- Subscriber should have "choice of service"
- Need for CAC and pre-selection be examined based on country requirements
- Least cost proposals be explored, only incremental costs to be taken into account
- Incremental cost can be passed on to the subscriber as a surcharge on a per call
basis
-
3f - CDR billing
- CDR billing be mandated by regulator for all operators
- Settlement can be on a call-by-call basis or a bulk basis as mutually agreed
- Settlement should be on a reciprocal basis
3g - POI and level of Interconnection
- Guidelines for level of IC to lay down by regulator
- Provision of POIs should be enforced in a time bound manner
- Important to maintain level playing field for provision of POIs
3h - Infrastructure sharing
- Should be encouraged by Regulator/Licensor
- Certain type of passive infrastructure needs to be necessarily shared
- Electronic infrastructure be left to mutual negotiations between both parties
3i - Co-location of equipment
- Should be encouraged and should be on a reciprocal basis
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4. Recommendations on costs of Duties and Levies (Asia Pacific RWP)
4a - General:
- No common yardstick can be applied for countries at different stages of economic
growth
- Lowering of tariffs ensures increase in usage
- Minimizing entry barrier for the take-up of service would lead to greater investment
in telecommunication sector, which in turn will lead to GDP growth
- Government focus should be to grow telecom sector and earn revenues from increased
usage
4b - Entry cost
s
- Developed economies: charge as determined by market forces and service provider'
ability to pay
- Emerging/developing economies: Nominal to cover administration charges, eliminate
non-serious players by eligibility criteria
- Least developed countries: encourage investment by nil entry fees
4c - Annual fees on operators
- To cover the administrative and regulation cost around 1% of gross operating
revenue,
- Excludes revenue from non-operating sources e.g.: sale of handsets etc..
4d - Universal Service Obligations
- It is a necessary levy and should be properly utilized exclusively for rural
telecommunication
- Levy to be determined by Government from time to time to be capped at 5%
4e - Indirect taxes on capital
- Telecommunication being an important infrastructure sector preferential treatment to
be given
- All indirect taxes cumulative should not exceed 12%
4f - Handsets, spares, components and accessories
- All applicable duties and levies put together should not exceed 10% (developed and
developing economies)
- Nil in Least developed countries
4g - Usage fees to subscribers (VAT/service tax/GST)
- Between 5 to 8% depending on the state of economic development of the country
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5. Building capacity on regulatory matters (Africa RWP)
Develop the Staffing of the existing centres of excellence with regulatory experts; most
regulatory authorities are suffering from a lack of skilled human resources
Create opportunities for ITU Sector members and private sector’s participation in seminars and
workshops, with the objective of building proficiency in new skills and procedures, including
policy and regulation
6. NEPAD (Africa RWP)
NEPAD is often considered as an array of programmes and actions shared by the policy
makers of the different governments, with the private sector not fully informed or involved.
Therefore it is recommended that ITU/BDT, in cooperation with ATU, help achieve the NEPAD
objectives as follows:
• Promote NEPAD projects to the private sector in order to obtain commitments.
• Invite the relevant parts of the African private sector to participate in the work of the future
ITU public-private sector forums.
• Create a brand or label for NEPAD projects and define awarding criteria.
• Harmonize and coordinate the implementation of regional and sub regional projects which
share or have similar development objectives.
• Develop synergies between policy makers and the private sector through the
implementation of an appropriate regulatory framework that favours fair development and
fast implementation of NEPAD projects.
• Facilitate the implementation of an interface at NEPAD that would develop contacts and
raise visibility and awareness on NEPAD projects and activities.
7. Participation in Global Symposium for Regulators (Africa, Arab and Asia Pacific
RWPs)
The WGPS proposes to facilitate and extend the opportunities of dialogue between
Regulators and Operators & the Industry at the occasion of the annual GSR. It is proposed
to have 2 days of the GSR open to ITU Sector Members. Companies CEOs and GMs would
also be invited to participate in a one day Telecom Industry meeting in parallel with
Regulators’ meeting.
8. Contributions to WSIS (Arab region RWP)
The recommendations from the working group on WSIS are the following:
1. Role of the ARWP in the ITU preparatory process for WSIS
a) The ITU Council has tasked the Council WG on WSIS on defining and elaborating the
contribution of the ITU into the WSIS PrepComs. Nothing that the ARWP is an
emanation of the TDAG, its contribution can be put forward to the next ITU Council
WG on WSIS by the Director of the BDT through a liaison-statement annexed to the
report presented by the Director. The ARWP WG on WSIS therefore recommends that
the present document with relevant annexes be submitted to the next meeting of the
TDAG-WGPS (13-14 December 2004) for consideration and if adopted, requests from
the WGPS Chairperson to include it in the final report that shall be sent to the next
meeting of the TDAG asking for endorsement and requesting from the Director of the
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BDT to include it in the report he shall put forward for the next meeting of the Council
WG on WSIS.
b) The ARWP WG on WSIS has taken note of and supports the decision of the ABFICT
to contribute directly to the work of the Council WG on WSIS and therefore
requests from the ABFICT to convey the views of the members in this contribution.
c) The ARWP WG on WSIS has taken note of and supports the decision of the ABFICT
to submit its contribution for WSIS to the Arab WG on WSIS working under the
umbrella of the Arab Telecommunication Council of Ministers and therefore
requests from the ABFICT to convey the views of the members in this contribution.
2. Mechanisms for the participation of ITU Sector Members from the Arab region in the
international and regional preparatory work for WSIS: role of the Arab Business
Forum for ICT (ABFICT)
The ARWP has taken note of and supports the decision made by the ITU Sector
Members involved in the work of the WP to unify their contribution to the next
PrepCom 2 and to the forthcoming Arab Regional preparatory conference for WSIS
using the ABF-ICT, acting as ITU Sector Member as well as member of the ICC-
CCBI and therefore requests from the ABFICT to convey the views of the members
in these contributions.
3. Views of the Private Sector from the Arab Region on issues addressed within the
framework of WSIS
The ARWP has taken note of the outcomes of the recent 2nd ESCWA regional
preparatory conference for WSIS (Damascus, 22-23 November 2004) and of the
recent seminar on e-governance and IP protocol for the Arab region organized in
Dubai from the 22 – 25 November 2004 by the ITU jointly with ETISALAT (UAE)
and supports these final outcomes in particular the conclusions related to the
leading role of the private sector in building the Information Society in the Arab
region.
The ARWP members support the creation of a Digital Solidarity Fund under the
condition that these funds feed projects paying a full respect to the basic
stakeholder partnership criteria and on the leading role of the private sector in the
implementation of projects composing this Plan of Action.
4. The contribution of the private sector for the implementation in the Arab region of the
WSIS Declaration of Principles
The WG on WSIS has considered the table elaborated by the ABF-ICT identifying
projects or questions referring to the various paragraphs of the WSIS Declaration of
Principles and supports the adoption of this approach for the Arab region.
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5. The contribution of the private sector in the elaboration of the Arab segment of the
WSIS Plan of Action to be adopted by Summit-Phase 2
The WG on WSIS supports the approach of having regional segments for the WSIS
Plan of Action to be adopted by the Tunis phase of the Summit.
The WG on WSIS insists on the fact that the projects composing the Arab segment
of the WSIS PoA should match with the declared objectives of the WSIS.
The WG on WSIS supports the crucial role of the private sector in the
implementation of projects composing the WSIS Plan of Action and claims a
leading position when these projects are business or market oriented.
6. The importance for the ARWP Working Groups working on programmes composing
the Istanbul Action Plan to liaise with the preparatory work for WSIS and with the
stocktaking exercise conducted by the ITU-D
The WG on WSIS recommends that the groups working within the framework of
the ARWP liaise with the WG on WSIS since the WSIS basic documents, in
particular the Declaration of Principles, since they have been adopted by Heads of
State, shall now serve at the natural policy and regulatory basis for building the
Information Society and address all the issues that are dealt with within these
Working Groups.
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ANNEX 2
Report of Programme Group on Infrastructure, Services and LDCs
Mr. T.V. Ramachandran, Chairman of the Regional Working Party for Asia Pacific and
General Manager, COAI, India
I. Objective: To evolve recommendations concerning Private Sector Perspectives for the
expeditious growth of Infrastructure & Services throughout the global community.
II. To consider that:
1) The issue is more relevant to developing/emerging economies & LDCs.
2) Adequacy and healthy growth of ICT Infrastructure & Services is necessary for
improved economic development of such economies.
3) Is also required for the enhancement of the quality of life.
III. Suggested Perspectives: (common to all regions).
1) A stable and predictable policy, legal and regulatory environment which provides clarity
to investors, is a fundamental prerequisite to attract the huge investments required to
create infrastructure and services
2) An independent and empowered Regulator is necessary to ensure the above
3) Inadequate availability of financial and other resources generally is a major challenge in
developing/emerging and least developed countries
4) Flow of investments would inevitably occur if the business case is attractive. Hence to
help achieve this, the costs imposed by Policy and Regulation need to be kept as low as
possible
5) In the context of infrastructure creation and the funds required for the purpose, there
may be a need to review and relax the caps, if any, on foreign investment
6) Rather than replicating infrastructures, it is considered beneficial for policy and
regulation to encourage sharing of infrastructures among service providers, subject to
adequate safeguards against collusive and anticompetitive practices
7) Should be ensured that the development of infrastructures occurs in a manner that
attracts increased investment towards rural and underserved areas and helps reduce the
digital divide
8) Development of human resources and human capacity building in key areas is extremely
important to support growth of ICT infrastructure and services
9) Broadband is a key requirement for the delivery of several important services like
telemedicine, tele-education, e-governance etc. All suitable technologies should be
explored to meet those objectives in a cost efficient manner
10) Spectrum is a critical resource for the development of ICT infrastructure and needs to be
available at most appropriate and reasonable cost.
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IV. Key issues specific to each region
A – Arab RWP
Least Developed Countries
ITU and ITU Sector Members of the Arab region should encourage and support stronger
participation of LDC representation in their work. A focal point within ARWP will develop
those contracts early 2005 (Governments – ITU Members – Private Sector).
ARWP with ITU to call for special events on a dedicated investment in Arab LDCs in 2005
with appropriate contacts with Arab investors and international investors interested in
participating in ICT development opportunities in the region. To that end promote Arab
LDC countries, including Iraq & Palestinian Authority, to showcase their respective market
potential.
It is also recommended that ITU, in coordination with the Arab league, the World Bank and
other Funding Agencies, call for the creation of a special ICT Fund to channel the money
needed for infrastructure investment in Arab LDCs.
Infrastructures and Services Investments
1. Arab world Connectivity
AWRP recommends that all stakeholders involved give top priority to ICT project
connecting the Arab countries with fiber optic regional backbone;
Create an Arab (region) network access point (NAP);
Seek the assistance of the ITU to rent less than full circuit instead of the current
practice where Arab operators pay full circuit for internal curriers;
Reduce cost of laying fiber by possibly using the power grid (analysis & feasibility
study to be undertaken);
Strengthen ITU-LAS-ABFICT cooperation and partnership on the fiber optic
project since the ABFICT has initiated the ICT Project with the Arab League
already.
2. Call Center opportunities
Due to the importance of call center business and opportunities provided by
outsourcing of non-core activities in many corporations/business, the ARWP
recommends ITU/BDT to assist them (infrastructure and e-strategies units in
particular) in establishing a Center of Excellence on Call Centers in the Arab region.
3. Arabic content
The regional working group has noticed that since Arabic contents are not in the
core mandate and activities of the ITU, it recommends the use of the Arab Business
Forum on ICT (ABFICT) for dealing with this issue.
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4. Strategic alliances
The ARWP would like to encourage investment within the Arabic countries through
strategic alliances
o Encourage Arabic consortiums in bidding for new licenses;
o Encourage strategic alliances between Arab operators;
o Encourage the use of a low cost operation model for the telecom sector;
o Encourage operators to assist SMEs in their IT & Telecom activities by
either creation of an IT Fund or a capital venture company.
B – Africa Region
Infrastructure investment and resource mobilization
The regional working group proposed to establish, in coordination with all stakeholders
and in particular with the African regional and sub regional economic organizations, a list
of regional and sub regional ICT infrastructure projects.
Financing mechanisms will then be considered with funding and financial institutions after
project identification (e.g. EASSY, RASCOM, SRII, COMTEL).
Leveraging existing ICT infrastructure within and amongst countries and regions is
considered crucial to facilitate new investments.
Delegates also considered the issue of mobilizing resources within the African continent. It
has been noted that even where funds are made available by funding institutions, the
deployment of those funds is generally slow. This is an issue for future discussion within
the investment and resource mobilization working group.
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ANNEX 3
Report of Program Group for Human Capacity Development, Gender and
Youth
Chairperson – Mr Patrick Mpapele, Rapporteur, Regional Working Party for Africa (RWP
for Africa) and Executive Head of Division, Vodacom Group (Pty) Ltd, South Africa
A. A synthesis of Issues Common to All Regions
i) May concerns or challenges stems from lack of capacity amongst regulators.
a. This requires the creation of and sharing of database on best practices on Human
Resources policies, training programs and on ICT applications.
b. Consequently, best practice should be tailored to the specific needs of regulators
in each country and take into account local circumstances.
c. In addition to ITU/BDT providing advice on Policy and regulation, this must be
complemented by a continuous support in the implementation of such policies
and regulation. i.e. after decisions have been taken to determine whether these
are being implemented appropriately based on such advice.
d. The ITU/BDT is requested to provide various forms of assistance on special
training programs from the various regions. The RWPs in each region will work
with the ITU/BDT to identify such special programs and the type of assistance
needed.
ii) The ITU/BDT should provide training for regulators and private sector on aspects on:
a. Legal and regulatory frameworks and institutional capacity building including
training on new technologies, transition from legacy networks to Next
Generation Networks, Interconnection, Spectrum management, internet etc.
b. ITU/BDT should provide training on appropriate solutions for meeting universal
access and service needs.
iii) Training and programs should be targeted to Rural Communities, Women and the
Youth
iv) Contribution of stakeholders should be reflected in regulatory policies at national level.
v) ITU/BDT should assist with the creation of awareness amongst youth and women and
develop specific training and programs on ICT applications and use in the various
regions.
B. Key Issues specific to each Region
1) Africa: Training on
a. ITU/BDT to assist in
i.development of Regulatory Frameworks for converged markets
ii.with provision of relevant education and training programs on specific areas
such as costing of Interconnection, Spectrum Management.
b. Appeal from private sector to ITU/BDT to assist with the development of light touch
regulatory approach in order to spur on ICT development.
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2) Americas
a. The ITU/BDT should assist in the development of indigenous programs for ICT
development and fostering of broadband internet access amongst rural communities.
3) Arab States
a. Private sector to be encouraged to develop special programs for youth and women on
e-learning, e-work, e-business and other ICTs applications.
b. Government and private to develop awareness and expertise amongst youth on ICT
use and applications. RWP for the region will assist the ITU/BDT to identify areas
of need.
4) Asia Pacific
a. There are programs for training on rural telecommunications in certain countries
focusing on Institutional Capacity Building which are continuing in partnership with
BDT/ITU. The ITU/BDT should continue to assist the members to implement such
programs.
5) Europe/CIS
a. ITU/BDT may assist with training programs for operators and regulators staff
throughout Centres of Excellence.
Conclusion
a. Private sector must clarify areas of need to be addressed and types of training programs and
interventions to address such needs.
b. All training must not be targeted at private sector alone but must include regulators and
other stakeholders.
WGPS-4/2 -E