09:00
10:00

Opening Ceremony

10:30
11:30

Opening Plenary: Beyond the Crisis: ICT as an Engine for Economic Growth

Description: Despite signs of economic recovery in some countries, the return to growth is likely to be slow, weak and uneven. In telecommunications, the global economic slowdown is threatening telecommunication revenues and demand and has imposed major funding constraints on industry and governments alike, at a time when massive investments are needed for the upgrade to digital infrastructure. And yet, ICTs can play a major role in generating long-term economic growth, with ICTs featuring in many of the stimulus plans announced to date. The financial crisis has thus revived broad debate over the role of government in the provision of telecommunication services, with government closely involved in the funding and roll-out of new telecommunication networks.

 This Opening Plenary examines the implications of the financial crisis for the CIS region. To what degree have CIS countries shared in the widespread economic pain? Are their telecommunication sectors badly affected and which technologies have been most severely impacted? Are broadband stimulus plans relevant to CIS? CIS economies usually already have a high degree of state involvement in the planning and funding of new infrastructure. This means that policy-makers have a key role to play in strategic decisions about investments in national infrastructure. The Opening Plenary listens to some of the pivotal players and policy-makers on the key policy options for investing in the digital future.

Moderator: Sami Al-Basheer Al Morshid, Director, ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau

Overview Presenter: Yury Grin, Deputy Director, ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau

Panelists:

• H.E. Ali Abbasov, Minister of Communications and Information Technologies, Republic of  Azerbaijan
• Michelle Senecal de Fonseca, Director - Telecommunications, Media and Technology, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
• Martin Raiser, Director for Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine, The World Bank
• Antonius Broek, UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative in the Republic of Belarus

Group Photo, Envelope Issuing Ceremony

(11:30 – 12:00)

14:00
15:00

Panel 1: Building a Broadband-Enabled Future

Description: This panel examines the current status of broadband infrastructure in CIS countries in regional and national backbone and access networks. It considers the potential opportunities offered by high-speed broadband networks, as well as some of the challenges associated with their deployment. Broadband Internet access can enable a host of exciting advanced online services, but availability and affordability are key issues for realization of the full benefits. Above all, this panel will examine how governments, industry, financial institutions and other stakeholders can most effectively stimulate and leverage public and private investment in broadband infrastructure and services across the CIS region.

Moderator: H.E. Igor Shchegolev, Minister, Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications, Russian Federation, and Chairman of the Board, Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications

Overview Presenter: Emamgholi Behdad, Chief, Projects and Initiatives Department, ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau

Panelists:

• Konstantin Tikar, Director-General, Beltelecom, Chairman of RCC Council of Operators, Republic of Belarus
• Vladimir Bondarik, Deputy General Director, Svyazinvest, Russian Federation
• Valery Anatolievich Rostokin, Vice-President, International Sales, TransTeleCom
• Harald Gruber, Head of Division, Projects Directorate, European Investment Bank
• Alexander Bogomolov, Country Director, Nokia Siemens Networks (Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Georgia)

15.30
16:30

Panel 2: Fostering an Enabling Environment

Description: This Panel reviews the regulatory frameworks for telecommunications in the CIS region and examines measures that Governments can take to harmonize regulatory frameworks and attract investment. What are the vital measures to promote an enabling environment for growth and the expansion of telecommunication networks across the region? How can policy-makers help and the industry manage the digital transition? Should VoIP be viewed as an opportunity or a threat, and what are the regulatory approaches that can be adopted for it?  Should broadband services be included in definitions of universal service, and which key policies can help broadband services grow and expand? This Panel examines the regulatory challenges posed by the transition to digital networks and converged technologies and considers some of the key policy options remaining for CIS governments to consider: notably, in the simplification of licensing regimes and measures to reduce barriers of entry and promote competition.

Moderator: Vladimir Molojen, General Director, Center of States Information Resources REGISTRU, Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications, Republic of Moldova

Overview Presenter: Mario Maniewicz, Chief, Policies and Strategies Department, ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau

Panelists:

• Vladimir Karpovich, Director General, Mobile TeleSystems, Republic of Belarus
• Igor Milashevskiy, Chairman, Intervale, Russian Federation
• Ross Bateson, Senior Regulatory Adviser, GSM Association
• Sergey Portnoy, Regional Director of WiMAX Forum for Russia and CIS  

16.30

17.30

Bilateral Meetings

18.00

19.00

Leaders’ Statements: Towards a Sustainable Information Society

09:00
10:15

Panel 3: Strengthening Public Services through ICTs

Description: This panel introduces some of the new and exciting services and applications enabled by high-speed broadband infrastructure that are becoming available. Governments is not only a front leader in the adoption of new applications, it must also invest in the development of broadband networks and advanced applications. This Panel will consider some of the issues surrounding e-government and the transition of public services online and how governments can use interactive services to build relationships with their citizens. It will also consider developments in other advanced services and applications, such as telemedicine and e-health, online education and learning and e-commerce.

Moderator: Kuanishbek Esekeev, Chairman, Agency for Informatization and Communications, Kazakhstan

 Overview Presenter: Orozobek Kaiykov, Head, ITU CIS Area Office

Panelists:

• Valery Zubakha, E-government Project Director, Rostelecom, Russian Federation
• Andrei Ilyin, Director of Informatization Department, Ministry of Communications and Informatization, Republic of Belarus
• Alexey Domracheev, Adviser, Department of State Policy in the area of Informatization and Information Technologies, Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications, Russian Federation
• Pavel Shinkariuk, Director of the Department, Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications, Moldova
• Almazbek Abekov, Director, Digital Interactive Multimedia TV, Kyrgyz Republic
• Oleg Veremeychik, IT Director of National Bank of the Republic of Belarus

10:45
12:00

Panel 4: Strengthening a Knowledge-based Society

Description: This panel considers some of the essential ingredients for building a knowledge-based society and examines how CIS countries can best invest in and build upon their human capital strengths and advanced skills. This includes investing in a range of on-the-job training activities, skills development and lifelong learning. Related to this, the panel also considers what are the requisites to stimulate the development of local content in local languages, and how can governments help ensure adequate incentives?

Moderator:  Sergei Ablameiko, National Academy of Sciences, Rector, Belarusian State University

Overview Presenter: Susan Schorr, Head, a.i. Special Initiatives Division, ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau

Panelists:

• Walter De Brouwer, President and CEO of OLPC Europe Foundation
• Veronika Prikrylova, General Manager for Market Development in Central and Eastern Europe, Microsoft
• Yoni Mizrachi, Digital Inclusion and eGoverment Officer, Foris Telecom
• Mehmet Zorlu, Director of Wholesale, Turk Telekom
• Adilbek Sarsenov, Chairman of the Management Board, National Infocommunication Holding, Republic of Kazakhstan

14:00
15:00

 Panel 5: Building Trust and Confidence in the Use of ICTs

Description: This panel considers some of the risks and challenges associated with the emerging Information Society and “Building Trust and Confidence in the Use of ICTs.” As the Information Society grows, so too have the menaces and dangers associated with the online world. The Internet offers a borderless environment in which cyberthreats can be instantly launched and transmitted. Cyberthreats can arise anywhere, at any time, causing immense damage in a very short space of time, before they are tackled. This Panel considers how the dangers and risks associated with Internet access can be mitigated and how best to promote cybersecurity and in particular, the well-being and protection of children, one of the most vulnerable groups online in the virtual world.

Moderator:  Oleg Chutov, Director, Department of Scientific and Technical and Strategic Sectoral Development, Ministry of Telecommunications and Mass Communications, Russian Federation

Overview Presenter: Mario Maniewicz, Chief, Policies and Strategies Department, ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau

Panelists:

• Nikolai Mikulich, Department Head, Information and Analytical Centre under the President of the Republic of Belarus
• Ilias Chantzos, Director EMEA and APJ Government Relations, Symantec
• Alexander Donos, Director General, Centre of Special Telecommunications, Moldova
• Ezekiel Chidi Odiogo, Investment Officer, Energy & ICT Division, Infrastructure Department Islamic Development Bank Group

15:30 16.30

 Panel 6: Moving from Analogue to Digital Broadcasting

Description: This session examines the issues associated with the digital switchover and liberation of radiocommunication spectrum in the “digital dividend”. ITU’s GE06 Agreement provides for a deadline for the digital switchover of 2015, Europe is aiming at 2012 and other countries have already made or are making the transition (e.g. Finland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and the US). In many cases, government strategy for managing the digital switchover has included considerable subsidies to support the switchover. This Session examines the issues and timetable for CIS countries in making the switchover.

Moderator: Valery Timofeev, Director, ITU Radiocommunication Bureau

Overview Presenter: Emamgholi Behdad, Chief, Projects and Initiatives Department, ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau

Panelists:

• Baiysh Nurmatov, Deputy Director, National Communications Agency, Kyrgyz Republic
• Albert Nalbandian, Advisor to the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Armenia
• Valery Butenko, General Director, FSUE NIIR, Russian Federation
• Altay Aitmagambetov, Professor, Faculty of Radioelectronics and Telecommunications, Tynyshpaev Kazakh Academy of Transport and Communications, Kazakhstan
• Oleg Kopiyka, First Deputy Director General, Broadcasting, Radiocommunications and Television, Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ukraine

16.30
17:00

 Closing Plenary: Towards a Digital Future