TELECOMMUNICATIONSTELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY IN A RAPIDLY POLICY IN A RAPIDLY EVOLVING MARKETEVOLVING MARKET

CTO conference on implementing the WSIS Action Plan, NAIROBI, 25-26th March,2004.

Presented by

Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaah

Minister of Communications

Ghana

Role of GovernmentRole of Government

Previous role:

- supplying telecom services - albeit through

public sector telecos.

- procuring ICT equipment, etc. Today’s role:

- development of forward-looking policies

- encouraging competitive regulatory environment

- promoting investment in the sector.

Ghana’s Accelerated Programme Ghana’s Accelerated Programme 1994/951994/95

Objectives

-bringing about a sustained improvement in availability and quality service to meet demand.

-improve public access in rural and urban areas,

-expand coverage of mobile services,

-promote Ghanaian ownership and control of telecommunications companies

-public regulatory control of sector through the creation of a single agency, NCA.

Accelerated Programme - FeaturesAccelerated Programme - Features

Authorisation of two national network operators: Ghana Telecom and new independent operator,

Privatisation of GT through sale of a strategic stake.

Liberal policy towards authorisation of value-added services such as payphone, mobile services and data,

Removal of restrictions on private network construction,

Creation of a single regulatory agency: the NCA.

Outcome of LiberalisationOutcome of Liberalisation

Licence obligations were not met Failure of Duopoly to introduce effective

competition, Long waiting periods for new applicants for

service, High access charges and corruption, Poor quality of service Weak Regulatory Agency Poor interconnection and spectrum

management

Post-Exclusivity Development- Post-Exclusivity Development- PrioritiesPriorities

The development of countrywide broadband infrastructure,

Promotion of competition,

Revision of licensing requirements,

Attraction of investors, and

Development of Human Resource capacity.

New Telecommunications New Telecommunications PolicyPolicy

Context To develop infrastructure to improve

universal access and service and the creation of necessary legal and regulatory and institutional enabling environment.

WSIS TargetsWSIS Targets

To connect villages with ICTs etc To connect Universities, colleges, schools

with ICTs, To connect Health Centres and hospitals

with ICTs To connect all local and central

government depths. To ensure access to TV and radio for the

population, etc etc etc

Sector StrategySector Strategy

To review current status of sector and prepare on that basis, a sector diagnostic

identifying the bottlenecks and opportunities

Objectives of PolicyObjectives of Policy

Promote development of reliable and robust national ICT infrastructure

Encourage the development of infrastructure to promote access to ICTs for the whole community

Define Universal Service Promote competition Stimulate local content development

Contentious Issues in PolicyContentious Issues in Policy

How Policy will provide risk/reward approach to regulation to facilitate infrastructure development

How to establish effective interconnection in the absence of credible information.

How to establish an optimum number of players.

What guarantees are required to persuade the private sector to play expected role.

Contentious Issues (contd)Contentious Issues (contd)

Introducing transparency to the management of Spectrum.

Treatment of VoIP. Who manages Universality Funds for

telecom development. How can the industry strengthen R & D Protection of national defence and

security interests.

ConclusionConclusion

Telecommunications Policy is regarded as “Works-in-Progress”

Telecom Policy should be made within the wider context of national ICT Policy and Plan

Policy should help develop Information Society and Economy

Pursue Multi-sectoral ICT development Goal Develop ICT sector to use ICT as broad-based

enabler of Development Goals

THANK YOU