I am delighted to announce that ITU and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) supported the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA), and the Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) of Papua New Guinea (PNG). With ITU's coordination, TRAI has kindly agreed to provide technical assistance to NICTA, which culminated into the drafting of the Draft Consumer Protection rule (amendment), 2021. This is an excellent model of South-South cooperation, capitalizing on India's vast and deep knowledge and experience in consumer protection and collaborative regulation.
Background
Affordable and meaningful connectivity is a necessary condition for digital transformation. However, new technologies, and services may develop rapidly without an adequate consumer protection framework or mechanism or fully understanding the implications on users. . Therefore, policymakers need to do more to keep up with the pace of technological changes and innovations inherent to digital transformation and to provide consumers with well-tailored protections and tools that safeguard consumer interests.
Similar to other countries, consumers in PNG face challenges related to affordable connectivity and new technologies. It was in this context that NICTA requested ITU's assistance to formulate policies and regulations on consumer protection. ITU called upon the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to assist, with their extensive technical knowledge and experience in consumer protection and collaborative regulation
TRAI's Support
Through ITU's coordination, TRAI kindly agreed to provide technical assistance in developing rules/procedures/policies to promote information transparency and create awareness among and protect users in PNG. In the first instance, the focus was on addressing i) Bill Shock and ii) Rules for advertisement.
To address these issues, TRAI, ITU, NICTA and ICCC worked closely to draft consumer protection rules. Several virtual consultations were held to identify and design rules linked to those two issues. Once the consultations were completed, the draft rules were formulated to become the Draft Consumer Protection rule (amendment), 2021, with ITU's coordination and review at every step of the process.
These draft rules are now undergoing public consultations as required under section 214 of the National ICT Act, 2009 (Act) for any rule making, in close coordination with (ICCC
Next Steps
I am grateful for TRAI's exemplary partnership with ITU in this support to NICTA and ICCC. This collaboration truly highlighted the importance of South-South Cooperation in helping developing countries update their policy and regulatory environments to harness the benefits of digital transformation. I look forward to our continuing partnerships with TRAI, NICTA and ICCC.
I am also appreciative of the opportunity to meet TRAI Member, Ms. Meenakshi Gupta, Secretary Mr. V. Raghunandan, and other colleagues physically in New Delhi in August 2022to discuss collaboration opportunities. Our conversations touched upon the importance of capacity development and partnerships to accelerate digital transformation. Our collaboration to support Papua New Guinea was highlighted as a great example to build upon, for future technical assistance to other countries.
I hope that this example will encourage broader South-South and Triangular Cooperation opportunities, especially with the upcoming opening of the new ITU Area Office and Innovation Centre in New Delhi, India.
Ms Atsuko Okuda
Regional Director for ITU Regional Office in Asia and the Pacific​​
