YAOUNDE DECLARATION

We, African ministers responsible for telecommunications and information technologies, meeting in Yaoundé on 28 May 2001 within the framework of the Africa Regional Preparatory Meeting for the 2002 World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC–02), organized to identify and analyse obstacles to the development of telecommunications and information technologies in Africa and to identify strategies, priorities and other appropriate means of overcoming those obstacles,

Considering

— that digital technology and the development of high-capacity telecommunication media such as optical fibre and satellite systems have led to the advent of the global information infrastructure and to convergence between telecommunications, information technology and broadcasting;

— the relatively low level of development of the basic telecommunication infrastructure, telephone penetration and the use of new services derived from information technologies;

— that the digital divide is now widening the gap that already exists between developed and developing countries in terms of access to, and the use of, telecommunication services and services derived from information technologies;

— the role played by ITU in the development and harmonious use of telecommunication services and information technologies,

Reaffirming

   the particular importance and central role of telecommunications and information technologies in political, economic, social and cultural development in the age of globalization and the information society,

Noting

   the efforts deployed by African countries, despite a particularly difficult economic context, to stimulate the development of the telecommunication sector,

Further noting

— with satisfaction, ITU’s initiatives and other initiatives, including the African Information Society Initiative (AISI) and African Connectivity;

— ITU’s participation in, and contribution to, the meetings of “Dot Force” – a working group set up by the G8 Summit in Okinawa,

Declare

— that we welcome the actions undertaken on behalf of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) by South Africa, Algeria and Nigeria, particularly their fruitful participation in the Okinawa G8 Summit, and invite them to continue with such actions;

— that we undertake to devote more actions to the timely addressing of issues relating to telecommunications and to information and communication technologies, these being issues which we consider to be of prime concern;

— that bridging the digital divide must of necessity entail development of the telecommunication and sound and television broadcasting infrastructure, and that development partners must consider this parameter, in particular with respect to rural areas;

— that it is essential that African countries, given the importance of telecommunications and information technologies in political, economic, social and cultural development, adopt innovative strategies and policies designed to stimulate development, particularly through reform of the telecommunication and information technology sector;

— that each African country should henceforth define a common, or at least coordinated, national policy and strategy for the development of telecommunications and information technologies that takes account of multimedia convergence (telecommunications, information technology and broadcasting),

Recommend

   that African administrations take the necessary measures to stimulate the development of the private sector as well as measures to encourage private investment,

Appeal

— to ITU to pay particular attention to the urgent development needs of African countries and to continue to implement activities and programmes that will make a concrete and tangible contribution to reducing the digital divide in Africa;

— to ITU to assist African countries in developing their human resources and strengthening their capacities in the area of information technologies;

— to subregional economic integration institutions to work towards the harmonization of policies and regulations in the field of telecommunications and information technologies;

— to development partners, African regional institutions and international institutions to strengthen cooperation and coordination between all projects and initiatives with a view to ensuring the harmonious use of resources.