“Regulatory Frameworks for Improving Access”

In general, this panel was dedicated to discussing the role of regulation in promoting equitable deployment and affordable access to communications infrastructure at international, regional and national levels. Many of the presenters talked about what they were doing to improve access in rural/remote communities around the world; and then offered recommendations or conclusions on what they feel is needed in order to successfully promote the growth of not only infrastructure, but local economic & social development.

The panelists included:

Abi Jagun:African ICT Policy Research Coordinator with the Association for Progressive Communications (APC).

Edwin San Roman: an independent consultant with 15 years experience in Internet applications, Rural Telecommunications and Regulatory issues.

Helani Galpaya: Director, Strategic Development at the Learning Initiatives on Reforms for Network Economies; Asia (LIRNEasia).

Radhika Lal:a Policy Advisor on ICT for Poverty Reduction & Millennium Development Goals in the Bureau for Policy Development, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 

Ilkka Lakaniemi: Head of Global Political Dialogue and Initiatives at Nokia Siemens Networks out of Finland. Nokia recently unveiled its “Village Connection” project designed to  bring connectivity to rural/remote areas by allowing local entrepreneurs to become local service providers thereby extending the network base. For more information check out:

http://ec.europa.eu/development/ICenter/Pdf/2007/interconnectivity_en.pdf

http://www.iweek.co.za/ViewStory.asp?StoryID=177042

http://allafrica.com/stories/200710180908.html

Some of the main recommendations that came out of this panel included:

1) Develop a new regulatory approach: treat rural/remote areas differently than  urban areas: including the recognition that there are different issues/challenges facing rural/remote areas than those faced in urban areas.

2) Simplify licensing procedures for smaller (local) operators: costs often create barriers for smaller operators that otherwise would not be there.

3) Increase collaboration: Create incentives for operators to help put an end to monopolies internationally, nationally and regionally. Including for example incentives for collaboration to facilitate resource development. Encourage infrastructure developers to work together and begin to look at things as a whole, not in pieces. It was said by Ms. Lal that roads (for example) are politically more popular than IT services, but by combining the infrastructure development of the two you could increase support. Also, by enhancing public-private networks there is the potential to enhance the priority of ICT investments in nations/regions.

4) Promote community-based development (capacity building): The creation of small cooperatives would encourage focus, knowledge, and  community input at the local level, thereby driving local development and the promotion of local re-investment. In the long run such a strategy could increase the sustainability of such projects.

2 questions that came out of the panel were:

What is the role for ICT in economic development?

Do the views of competition differ between vendors & operators?

Thoughts anyone?

For more information on the Panellists or a listing of recommended readings on this area, please visit http://www.intgovforum.org/wks_session_info.php?numes=16 

~ by cassondra on November 14, 2007.