working meeting on ict for development in liberia georgia institute of technology the role of the...
TRANSCRIPT
Working meeting on ICT for Development in Liberia
Georgia Institute of Technology
The role of the World BankBy
Boutheina GuermaziGICT
A snapshot of the sector 2004: Key characteristics of a post conflict Environment
Demolished fixed network and distressed incumbent Vibrant mobile sector:
High return in high risk environmentLow entry fees: license fees negotiated downHuge unmet demand
Lack of policy, legal and regulatory framework→Ad hoc liberalization process →Duplicative/conflicting spectrum assignment
Access Indicators
Category 2000 2005 SSA AfricaTelephone NetworkMain telephone lines in operation 6,048 2,084 22,740,320 71,932,420Main telephone lines per 100 inhabitants 0.22% 0.06% 2.68% 6.20%Mobile ServicesCellular mobile subscribers n/a 210,000 18,004,001 51,441,20Cellular subscribers per 100 inhabitants n/a 6.00% 2.78% 6.12%Internet ServicesInternet users n/a 650 4,4703,21 10,358,10Internet users per 100 inhabitants n/a 0.01% 0.70% 1.48%
World Bank involvement in a nutshell:
1. Objective: Promoting an enabling environment for the sector through TA and policy dialogue No investment involved
2. Approach: holistic and phased policy, legal, regulatory, institutional, market structure, market
players Immediate, medium and long terms plans
3. Methodology Reflects best practice: post conflict, ECOWAS guidelines, WTO responds to the unique needs of Liberia participatory to ensure buy-in and local ownership
World Bank Involvement 21. Spectrum Management - GSM Assignments Rationalization -20042. Telecommunications Policy and Strategy Project – June 2005
Draft Policy & Strategy Report Validation Workshop/ Public consultation Finalize Policy and Strategy June 30
3. Authorizing Instruments – June 2005 Bill 18 Model Mobile License Draft Telecommunications Act
4. Spectrum Revenues – Methodology and Recommendations – August 20055. Telecom Network Infrastructure Study and Recommendations – August
20056. Fixed Network Rehabilitation Tender – 20067. Technical Assistance to the LTA – Ongoing 20068. Ongoing Policy Dialogue
Policy reform: Guiding Principles Promote development of the Liberian telecommunications
sector markets, investment and infrastructure; Through market liberalization, private sector expansion,
and fair and effective competition throughout the telecommunications sector;
Embracing technological neutrality to promote Access By creating and establishing an independent Regulatory
Agency responsible for telecommunications and spectrum regulation;
Adopting universal access strategies for telecommunications services throughout Liberia.
Affordable prices, high quality services & responsive customer service;
Legal Reform Builds on policy and strategy work Adopts a two-phased approach to sector reform:
“Authorizing Instrument” creating interim regulatory framework: Developed and approved by the NTGLNeeded for immediate certainty for the sector without long
term implications for the new Government “Transitional License” for mobile operators
Need to bring license terms and conditions in line with international best practice
Draft Law establishes regulatory framework in longer term
Objectives of Legal reform Reform telecoms regulatory framework to:
Provide better guidance for regulatory authority and operators alike
Improve quality, transparency and predictability of regulation
Implement best international practices Further encourage operator investment and
development of services
Institutional Framework
An independent regulator as a referee between market players
Regulator separate from Government, particularly because Government owns a telecoms operator
Characteristics of independence include separate exercise of authority, appointment, budget and other operating independence
But given importance of telecoms to broader economic & social interests, Government has legitimate role in sector policy and development
Licensing Licenses to be issued and enforced by Regulator License is a grant of permission, not a contract (standard
international practice) Regulator to set license conditions
License conditions not to discriminate among operators Initial licenses to include detailed conditions In longer term, include conditions in regulations of
general application (i.e. not individual licenses)
Spectrum Management Radio spectrum shall be recognized as a strategic
national public resource. LTA is responsible for Spectrum Planning, Frequency
Allocation, and Spectrum Assignments and Authorizations and will establish rules and guidelines to ensure effective management of the radio spectrum resource
Spectrum pricing: Ensure efficient use of the radio frequency spectrum Maximize the economic benefit derived from spectrum use Cover the costs of spectrum management activities
Competition Policy Duties of Regulator
Designate Dominant Service Providers (DSPs) Control abuse of dominance
Examples include refusing to supply essential facilities, predatory pricing and misuse of competitor information
Powers granted to regulator to control abuse Prevent other anti-competitive agreements and practices
Examples include price fixing, bid rigging, market sharing
Merger and ownership review powers (again, DSP emphasis)
Interconnection Regulator to:
Facilitate interconnection Supervise interconnection and enforce rules
All SPs have a duty to negotiate interconnection agreements DSPs have additional duties
Cost based interconnection charges; other costing rules as defined by Regulator
May not discriminate between SPs or between an affiliate and an independent SP
Must prepare a Reference Interconnection Offer Must publish interconnection agreements
Consumer Protection Quality of Service
Create Technical standards Develop penalties and recourse regulations
Fraud Prevention Protect consumers from unfair and deceptive practices
and services Create a Formal Complaint Process
Public Participation & Access to Information
Challenges of Reform
Difficult policy dialogue in a challenging governance environment
Managing transition between Governments Winning over concerns of market players and pressing
needs for predictability, transparency and consultation Finding the right balance between government needs
and sector needs
Unique Opportunities Government with a clear vision for sector reform and
commitment to use ICT for economic and social reconstruction of post war Liberia Telecom reform in the 150 day plan
Possibilities for technological leapfrogging: Legacy networks Vs. new technologies
Possibilities of regulatory leapfrogging: Implementing converged regulations Including competition policy and consumer regulation
Moving Forward How to revitalize the fixed network? Dealing with the incumbent Approaches for building a backbone infrastructure Connecting Government Ministries Bringing the benefits of connectivity to Liberian citizens:
need for universal access policy and implementation strategy
Promoting ICT applications in education, health Government services
From Telecom Reform to an e-agenda
The building blocs for an e-agenda for Liberia Access Layer: responding to the access deficit
Infrastructure: fixed, mobile and broadbandInnovative approaches to access (community
based vs. individual) other access tools ( hardware and software)
Application layer: E-government, health and education Trust and confidence: e-security, e-transactions, IPRS..
Conclusion:Conclusion:ICT enabler for economic and social developmentICT enabler for economic and social development
Health
social cohesion Business Services
Education
PublicServices
ICTFinancial
Sector
Less isolation in poor and rural areas
ICTPrivate Sector Social
En
viron
men
tT
ransp
ort
Urban
Agriculture
Poverty
Educatio
n
Energy
Trade Health
Governance
Fin
anci
al
Gen
der
Ru
ral
Water
MD
G 1
MD
G 5
MDG 2
MDG 6
MDG 3
MDG 7
MD
G 8
MD
G 4
MDG 1 Eradicate extreme
poverty and hunger
MDG 2 Achieve universal primary education
MDG 3Promote gender
equality and empower women
MDG 4 Reduce child
mortality
MDG 5 Improve maternal
health
MDG 6 Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other
diseases
MDG 7Ensure environmental
sustainability
MDG 8 Build a global
partnership for development
Conclusion 2Linking ICT to the MDG’s
Thank youBoutheina Guermazi
Global Information and Communication Technologies Department (GICT)
Policy Division (CITPO)The World Bank GroupTel: + 1 (202) 473 9729fax: +1 (202) 522 3001
e-mail: [email protected]