1. Regional Telecommunications Services

2. Increased Competitiveness through Telecom Services Regional and World Wide Trend: Increased recognition and emphasis on Telecoms and ICTs as one of the major drivers of economic growth and development, with a focus on access and affordability, across the economies

3. Telecommunications services recognized as not being limited to an industry, but as a key component to the development of other industries in the matrix of social and economic development, such as Manufacturing, Banking and Finance. Telecommunications services do not refer only to infrastructure and hardware but also to data, information and knowledge and the associated human resource skills that are required. Definitions and Scope Telecom Services

4. Definition and Scope Telecommunications Services Infrastructure ICT Manufacturing Business/Finance Other Productive Sectors Human Resource Skills/Knowledge Hardware/ Software/Data/ Information

5. Global and Regional Trends in Telecoms Communications intensive economies, with high demand for new, mobile technologies in support of the increasingly culturally based service economy; Increased demand for bandwidth to satisfy connectivity needs; Moves towards regional harmonization in regional policy and planning; and Increased telecommunications and ICT investments in the region

6. Global Advancements in Telecom Focus on mobile broadband and 3G / 4G services and now towards the 5G /IMT 2020 specifications Increasing demand for high- end wireless technologies such as LTE

7. ALL IP /Next Generation Networks (NGNs) Rapid growth and demand for NGN services which afford the convergence of a host of services on the computer, laptop, netbook or mobile phone including: o Media services o Real time e-transactions and other business services o Mobile marketing o GPS / GIS and Security services o Social Networking and virtual gaming

8. Regional Telecommunications Landscape Countries are at different stages on the ICT development continuum

9. “The most important factor that led to America’s stunning success in information technology was not the free market but government regulation… These actions opened the door to competition and lower prices. More important, they changed the industry’s structure, replacing monoliths with smaller, specialised companies which have to work with others with complementary skills. The result has been tremendous innovation.” Economist.com. June 2, 2009

10. Re-Thinking Regulation Legislation dated with many Acts and Laws governing the telecom sector pre-dating Telecom liberalization in many states Legislation to address convergence of sector with Information Technology and media and its interactions with financial sector Other severely outdated laws to be reassessed include: o Competition Laws o Broadcasting Laws E-Transactions and E-Government legislation still under development in a number of countries

11. WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services – provides legal framework for implementing policy reforms which would provide stability and regulatory certainty for investors in the Region UN Millennium Development Goals – social, economic and human development by 2015 Declaration and Action Plan of WSIS – framework for development of ICTs and its integration in to key social and economic sectors. The Global Policy Framework

12. The Regional Policy Framework SADC Connectivity Agenda (Digital SADC 2027) o Individually and collectively move towards expanding access to global knowledge and full integration with the knowledge society o Modernization of the telecommunications sector o Promoting and strengthening free and fair competition in telecommunications services o Facilitating access to and usage of computers and software in our learning environments

13. Affordable, high quality ICT services and equipment; Fair and competitive environment Reduced barriers for entry and simplified administrative rules; Government led adoption to the delivery of services Highly trained and skilled workforce The Regional Policy Framework

14. Key Issues and Challenges Policy and Legislative Framework Human Resource Requirements Infrastructure Requirements Access to and Use of Telecommunications Influencing Global Policy Financing Sustainability and Environmental Issues Regional Coordination / Cooperation

15. Pace of development of policy, legislative and regulatory framework not equal across the region Non-harmonized approach except in a few areas e.g. Spectrum policy. Technological advances often outpace the rate of change of the framework Policy, Legislative and Regulatory Framework

16. Developing a renewable cadre of skilled specialists in technology and policy of the telecoms sector Identifying training and development gaps as well as the opportunities to fill those gaps within the region collaboratively Expanding existing training facilities Facilitating OPEN ACCESS cross-regionally Human Resource Requirements

17. Redressing the broadband Infrastructure Gaps through regional level connectivity infrastructure Adequate investments needed in providing affordable region-wide broadband coverage However, the cost of capital for indigenous firms to compete in providing telecommunications services at affordable prices to the end users is often prohibitive. Infrastructure Requirements

18. Mobile telephony penetration grew at a rapid rate in the region especially 2G 3G and 4G need strategies to increase uptake However there is a slower pace of growth in the adoption of more advanced business-oriented technologies Challenges include: o Adopting regional policies that facilitate the move from basic telecommunications services to more advanced 3G/4G applications o Addressing pricing issues that make access and affordability of these services a deterrent to adoption Access to and Use of Telecommunications

19. Influencing global policy o Un-coordinated regional participation in international processes, including WSIS, EPA, WTO discussions o Missed opportunities to influence the global agenda Financing o Enabling access to funding from indigenous financial institutions through tax incentives and otherwise o Often unsuitable terms and conditions are associated with funding from multilateral agencies Other Key Issues and Challenges

20. Sustainability and Environmental Issues o Mitigating adverse effects, including: carbon emissions, climate change, e-junk, etc. Regional Coordination / Cooperation o Redressing the regional approach to telecom services Other Key Issues and Challenges

21. Creating a Strategy for Telecom Services E-Business and Industry: Enabling regional e-business environment E-Government: Citizen-centric, participative governance Research and Development: For evidence based policy and applied research Regional Framework

22. Organizational Implications Common vision for telecommunications services across the region Public/Private sector/Civil Society partnership model Evidence-based policy making through Research and Development Mechanisms for measurement and evaluation of progress

23. Closing Thoughts A pro-active regional strategy for telecom services will require three key elements; harmonization at all levels, co-ordination and co- operation among all stakeholders including operators and service providers, governments, businesses, civil society and international and multilateral interests.

24. Thank You!