When the first World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-94) adopted the Buenos Aires Action Plan (BAAP) in 1994, many were skeptical about the ability of the ITU Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU–D) to implement such an ambitious plan. Four years on, the Valletta Conference is to evaluate its results and set a course for the future.
Meanwhile, the telecommunication landscape has undergone dramatic changes. One of the first changes was brought about by WTDC-94 itself, since it was there that United States Vice-President Al Gore launched the concept of the global information infrastructure, now an integral part of any vision of the future of telecommunications.
Other changes include:
the liberalization of telecommunication markets and impact of the recent World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements on the sector;
the creation of new regulatory frameworks;
the first ITU World Telecommunication Policy Forum, which adopted five Opinions aimed at paving the way for rapid implementation of GMPCS (global mobile personal communications by satellite) services;
the calling into question of the existing accounting rate system;
the Internet phenomenon, its development and the various parameters defining it in terms of economic relations, commercial aspects and structuring issues.
The Buenos Aires Action Plan will therefore be evaluated against an already very different backdrop.
From the documentation thus far available for the work of the Valletta Conference1, it is already clear that the BAAP has largely met its objectives and is to be followed by a new plan — indeed, there is already talk of a Valletta Action Plan. The objectives drawn up at Buenos Aires were fourfold: cooperation between Members of ITU–D, the 12 programmes (see Table 1) for assistance to developing countries, execution of technical cooperation projects and a special programme for the least developed countries (LDC).
Cooperation between Members of ITU–D
Cooperation between Members of ITU–D included two regional telecommunication development conferences in 1996, one in Abidjan and the other in Beirut. The ITU–D Study Groups worked on the 13 questions defined in the Action Plan, completing their work towards the end of 1997.
| 1. Policies, strategies and
financing
2. Human resources management and development 3. Guidelines for the elaboration of a business-oriented 4. Development of maritime radiocommunication services 5. Computer-aided network planning 6. Frequency management 7. Improvement of maintenance 8. Mobile cellular radio telephone systems 9. Integrated rural development 10. Broadcasting infrastructure 11. Information services 12. Development of telematics and computer networks |
The resulting reports and draft recommendations will be presented at the Valletta Conference, together with 38 proposals for new questions already submitted to the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT). One important task for the Conference will be to determine whether the resources available to ITU–D will suffice to cover all the questions. If not, priorities will have to be established.
Finally, the Telecommunication Development Advisory Board (TDAB) has met seven times to set guidelines for the work of ITU–D and advise the Director of BDT. In its report, TDAB presents the conclusions and recommendations of the Reflection Group and the Drafting Group on the working methods of ITU–D. It also contains a proposal to open up TDAB to all Members of the Sector, while maintaining a balance between developing and industrialized countries and between the various regions of the world. One of the things that TDAB advised was that the Sector’s activities should be publicized more widely; the BDT has since produced an information brochure to that end.
The 12 BAAP programmes
A detailed report will be presented to the Valletta Conference on the implementation and results of the programmes. They are too numerous to be described in detail here, but they generally provided for:
the collection of data (e.g. on telecommunication development worldwide, regulation, financing, training needs, etc.);
the creation of data banks and publication of analytical reports, manuals, guidelines, guides and teaching materials;
training programmes, workshops, seminars, round tables, study cycles and distance education;
ad hoc assistance on request.
Special attention was focused on human resources management and development activities, particularly through the creation of the Virtual Training Centre, which provides access to on-line training from anywhere in the world.
Alongside the pursuit of these objectives, other activities have been carried out over the past four years, such as colloquia on telecommunication financing, a world symposium on telemedicine and training workshops on mobile satellite communication systems. With needs evolving so rapidly, it was out of the question for ITU–D to adhere strictly to the programmes adopted in 1994 at Buenos Aires. The same flexibility will obviously be needed in the years to come.
The draft Strategic Plan for the ITU–D for the period 1999–2003, to be discussed at the Valletta Conference, currently comprises six programmes (see Table 2).
|
Table 2 Six programmes of the 1999–2003 draft Strategic Plan |
|
Preparatory meetings held in the various regions produced the priorities that are currently reflected in the programmes. It will be for the Conference to determine the final priorities and make any necessary adjustments.
Technical cooperation projects
The usual technical cooperation activities continued throughout the 1994–1998 period. With the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the traditional source of financing, having substantially reduced the funds available for telecommunication development, new sources had to be found: funds-in-trust in particular increased dramatically, largely offsetting the shortfall in UNDP funds (see Tables 3, 4 and 5).
