In the centre, C. M. Lekaukau, Executive Chairman of the Botswana Telecommunications Authority, with members of
staff celebrating World Telecommunication Day shortly after the workshop
(ITU 990112)
During 1999, the Telecommunication Development Bureau held a series of successful workshops for policy makers and regulators. These events were organized under the leadership of BDT's Director, Hamadoun Touré, within the scope of the Valletta Action Plan programme on reform, legislation, and regulation.
Workshops have become all the more necessary with the dramatic rise in the number of regulators. Indeed, in 1990 there were only 12 autonomous regulatory agencies. Today, there are 84 (see ITU News, No. 8/99, pages 39–42). As a result, requests for assistance and information from many of the new regulators has rocketed sky-high. Workshops are contributing greatly to responding to these requests, bringing together as they do key players to share experiences and discuss critical issues facing their regions and subregions.
Gaborone, Caracas, Niamey and Rabat played host to this year's workshops.
Botswana
The meeting in Gaborone (3–5 May 1999) was organized for English-speaking African countries and was hosted by the Botswana Telecommunications Authority (BTA). It was held under the very capable chairmanship of Cuthbert M. Lekaukau (Chairman of BTA). Some 130 representatives from 17 African administrations attended the event.
The workshop focused on institutional reform, Internet regulation and universal service, and trade in services in Africa. A number of international and national experts presented papers. Kenya, Lesotho, and Uganda presented country reports.
The session on reform mainly revealed the challenges which Africa is facing in: putting in place proper policy, regulatory and operational frameworks; establishing regulations and rules that are consistent and transparent; establishing arrangements at national, regional, and global levels that promote positive participation and partnerships among all stakeholders; and putting in place quality leadership able to manage change for the "good-of-all-of-us tomorrow".
In the centre, C. M. Lekaukau, Executive Chairman of the Botswana Telecommunications Authority, with members of
staff celebrating World Telecommunication Day shortly after the workshop
(ITU 990112)
On the role of regulator, participants stressed that regulatory development required skills and financial resources. Just as the telecommunication market begins to grow, so will the regulator's role become broader. But this role will decrease as the market becomes fully competitive. What will remain constant are the functions of overseeing universal access/service, spectrum management and consumer/public interest.
Convergence was discussed in the context of the roles of regulator and of regulation. The convergence of services and technologies may warrant consideration of merging broadcasting and telecommunication regulators. South Africa's discussions on merging the South African Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (SATRA) with IBA were noted.
On the question of pricing, participants stressed the need to strike a balance between equity and efficiency. The essential areas of price control include ceiling prices for basic services to maximize coverage, and reasonable prices for interconnection by competitors. Many participants questioned the high cost of prepaid mobile services, leading to the suggestion to incorporate these services in the universal service.
Regional cooperation was recognized as an important way in dealing with such issues as commitments and offers on basic telecommunication services within the scope of the agreement of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Concerns were also raised about the large number of initiatives in the region and the inability of countries to support all of them. Participants emphasized the need to encourage cooperation between all stakeholders and to avoid duplication.
The meeting acknowledged the success of the Telecommunications Regulators' Association of Southern Africa (TRASA) and suggested that consideration should be given to establishing a region-wide association.
The Internet was a hot topic. To what extent, and why, should Internet services be regulated? One side of the argument was that if telecommunication services are regulated, why not regulate voice over the Internet Protocol (IP). The other side of the argument was that "regulating voice over IP would be like asking the Post Office not to deliver letters written in red ink!"
The message that resounded throughout the workshop was for countries to "take action", "get moving" and "avoid inertia".
Venezuela
The Americas regional meeting of regulators and operators (Caracas, 14–17 September 1999) was organized to exchange experiences and debate the most important subjects which form the current agenda of telecommunication regulators and operators in the Americas and worldwide.
From left to right: Messrs Hugo Chávez, President of Venezuela, Diosdado Cabello, Director-General of the Comisión
Nacional de Telecomunicaciones (CONATEL), and Roberto Blois, Deputy Secretary-General of the ITU
(ITU 990113)
It was opened by Julio Montes, Minister of Transport and Communications, Roberto Blois, ITU Deputy Secretary-General, and Hugo Chávez, the Venezuelan President.
Mr Montes reported on the status of reform in the telecommunication sector in Venezuela. Mr Blois focused on the theme of convergence and regulation. He called on the meeting to discuss the second edition of the Blue Book.
President Chávez made a very moving speech discussing the economic and political situation in Venezuela and how information technologies fit into the scenario. He emphasized the importance of universal service and access, and the need to give telecommunications a higher priority in Venezuela. He was eager to learn more about ITU's Blue Book as Venezuela has a similar book, the Simón Bolívar Blue Book.
More than 300 participants from 41 countries and several regional and subregional organizations attended the event.
During the special session on the WTO, questions of privatization, competition, interconnection and scarcity of resources generated the most interest. In particular, the WTO Reference Paper was considered a useful tool for the purposes of establishing a regulatory framework, provided that a set of principles is clarified further during the next round of multilateral negotiations.
Participants in the session on telecommunication reform focused on the effect of convergence. The telecommunication industry is being driven by the speed of technological change, deregulation and the revolution in customers' expectations, which points to three trends: convergence, specialization and expansion.
As a result of convergence, the traditional Latin American regulatory model is being re-evaluated and the introduction of competition is accelerating, one feature being a reduction in the periods of exclusivity initially granted to public monopolies that have been privatized. The regulatory trend is now towards regulation of networks, in particular access networks, rather than the former regulation of services.
The spectrum management session generated lively debate. Various aspects of frequency management were discussed, from the composition of the frequency spectrum to the role of ITU, standards and regulations, frequency assignment techniques (including the pros and cons of spectrum tenders), as well as the socio-economic aspects of frequency spectrum management.
The main output of the session on regional and international cooperation was an agreement on the draft outline for the revised Blue Book (Telecommunication Policies for the Americas). The revised version of the Blue Book will cover the impact of convergence, Internet, and IP telephony.
The revised Blue Book will be presented to the December meeting of the Executive Committee of the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL). The final version will be presented by Mr Touré to ITU Telecom Americas 2000 (Rio de Janeiro, 10–15 April).
In the tariff session there was general agreement between the participants that rebalancing in markets open to competition is becoming essential. Implementing rebalancing in a comprehensive form, with tariffs for different market segments reflecting costs, is a much more difficult task than many would have predicted. The experiences of Bolivia, Colombia, and Mexico were presented.
The session on interconnection was well covered through the participation of regulators and operators. The fundamental principles of interconnection were outlined by the Organismo Supervisor de Inversión Privada en Telecomunicaciones — OSIPTEL (Peru) and the Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Publicos — ARESEP (Costa Rica).
Perhaps the most important conclusions were that interconnection is good business for operators, and regulators must have greater powers in cases where they are obliged to impose interconnection arrangements or ensure access for all the subscribers in a system.
The Internet, electronic commerce, and universal service sessions were very well attended. A broad picture was painted of the power of the IP world, where regulation from the bottom upwards, is creating an environment that is regulated in many aspects. Two worlds which present a challenge to the regulators, with major economic and social implications and other aspects that are not easy to envisage in this pressing period of transition.
Electronic commerce and access to information are placing new question marks over universal service in societies of the "haves" and "have-nots", introducing new paradigms and proposing new paths for the new information society. Physical distance now appears to be a thing of the past owing to the drop in prices in open, unpatented networks. At the end of the millennium, a great challenge and a great responsibility has arisen in this field for regulators and operators which will have a major impact on the development of our new society. Universal service/access are fundamental to the new society.
Niger
The Niamey workshop (20–22 September 1999) was organized for French-speaking African countries. It was hosted by the Société nigérienne des télécommunications (SONITEL) and chaired by Moussa Mounkaila, Deputy Director-General of SONITEL.
Some 72 participants from 20 countries attended the event. They represented all facets of the industry, including ministries, regulatory organs, incumbent operators and other entities (private sector, trade unions and regional organizations).
The workshop was designed for high-level officials of the future regulatory organs. The main objective was to identify actual areas in the reform process where external assistance may be required. BDT would then endeavour to meet these requests in cooperation with other interested partners.
Three themes (interconnection, frequency management, and WTO matters) were discussed on the basis of the actual regulatory experience of regulators of Canada, Côte d'Ivoire and France. Participants were given the opportunity to present contributions on the situation in their countries.
A survey was conducted to identify areas where assistance is needed most. Five areas will have to be given the highest priority:
The workshop revealed the opportunities which exist for partnerships between BDT and other interested parties. Contacts made with the regulatory agencies of Canada, Côte d'Ivoire and France could constitute the initial nucleus for such partnerships.
From left to right: Messrs Mahamadou Danda, Minister of Communication, Culture, Youth and Sports, and Honoré
Vignon, BDT
(ITU 990114)
Morocco
As we go to press, a fourth workshop is taking place for the Arab States in Rabat (22–25 November 1999). High on the agenda of the meeting are questions of policy, regulation, and financing.
The future
The series of workshops will continue in 2000, with events planned for Europe and the Asia-Pacific. In addition, BDT plans to organize a global meeting for regulators in the last quarter of 2000 to facilitate the exchange of opinions, views and experiences between and among new regulators, more established regulators, and potential regulators.
Documentation on past and future events can be found at http://www7.itu.int/treg/Events/Events.asp.
Ellemberg V. (Argentina)
National consultant on standards and organization of consumer associations (4.10.99–3.12.99)
Martínez de Vedia R. (Argentina)
National consultant on standards and organization of consumer associations (4.10.99–3.12.99)
Touré P. (Senegal)
Specialist on tariffs (16.10.99–31.10.99)
Tomas N. (Sweden)
Senior expert in Y2K compliance (31.10.99–5.11.99)
Espitia D. (Colombia)
Consultant on community telecentres (31.10.99–28.11.99)
Prince J. (Trinidad and Tobago)
Senior expert in costs and tariffs (3.10.99–9.10.99)
Wilson S. (Trinidad and Tobago)
Senior expert in cost accounting and activity-based costing (3.10.99–9.10.99)
Soni A. (India)
Senior expert in finance and telecommunication regulations (1.10.99–8.10.99)
Doja Z. (Canada)
Consultant/lecturer in price setting (3.10.99–8.10.99)
Lemler M. (United States)
Consultant/lecturer in price setting (4.10.99–8.10.99)
Cave M. (United Kingdom)
Consultant/lecturer in price setting (5.10.99–6.10.99)
Purwar S. (India)
Consultant/lecturer in price setting (6.10.99–8.10.99)
Nait-Djoudi B. (Algeria)
Consultant on planning for sound broadcasting (12.10.99–2.11.99)
Afonso J. (Portugal)
Consultant in mobile telecommuni- cations (30.10.99–11.11.99)
El-Shemmy M. (Egypt)
Senior expert in manpower planning (3.10.99–29.12.99)
Shears A. (Canada)
Senior expert in training and survey (16.10.99–29.1.2000)
Nilsson S. (Sweden)
Consultant in telecommunication project funding (26.10.99–17.11.99)
Abu-Nijem S. (Jordan)
Senior expert in external plant rehabilitation (17.10.99–18.12.99)
Connolly D. (United Kingdom)
Consultant for broadband network framework — Technical (10.10.99–21.10.99)
Ure J. (United Kingdom)
Consultant for broadband network framework — Policy (10.10.99–21.10.99)
Seck I. (Senegal)
Senior expert on Year 2000 compliance (25.10.99–2.11.99)
Traoré M. (Senegal)
Senior expert on Year 2000 compliance (25.10.99–2.11.99)
Diakite D. (Mali)
Senior expert on management information systems (11.10.99–1.11.99)
Seck I. (Senegal)
Senior expert on Year 2000 compliance (17.10.99–24.10.99)
Traoré M. (Senegal)
Senior expert on Year 2000 compliance (17.10.99–24.10.99)
Palestinian Authority (Gaza)
Erlevent A. (Turkey)
Consultant in development of telecommunications and broadcasting (28.10.99–24.11.99)
Abu-El-Haija A. (Jordan)
Senior expert in Year 2000 compliance (1.10.99–15.10.99)
Machado N. (Brazil)
Projector director/consultant on telecommunication planning (16.10.99–20.12.99)
Hernández Lezana H. (Chile)
Consultant on private radiocommunication services (17.10.99–30.10.99)
Door R. (Argentina)
Consultant on frequency channelling plans (25.10.99–19.12.99)
South Africa (Johannesburg)
Moshiro S. (Tanzania)
Programme manager (1.10.99–31.12.99)
South Africa (Pretoria)
Stanev I. (Bulgaria)
Consultant in PLANITU (9.10.99–24.10.99)
Chouinard R. (Canada)
Consultant in telecommunication consumer needs (7.10.99–14.10.99)
Daly-Todd R. (United States)
Consultant in telecommunication consumer needs (7.10.99–13.10.99)
Leijon H. (Sweden)
PLANITU consultant (31.10.99–6.11.99)
Stanev I. (Bulgaria)
PLANITU consultant (31.10.99–6.11.99)
Valkovic M. (Croatia)
PLANITU consultantm (31.10.99–6.11.99)
Chou F. (United States)
Senior expert in international cost calculations (2.10.99–9.10.99)
Booth P. (Canada)
Senior expert in telecommunication economics (4.10.99–26.11.99)
Pavliouk A. (Russia)
Senior expert in radio spectrum management (4.10.99–28.11.99)
Brown W. (Zimbabwe)
Consultant in project design and partnerships for LDCs (31.10.99–21.11.99)
Habeenzu S. (Zambia)
Consultant on Internet services (31.10.99–13.11.99)