REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FORUM FOR AFRICA KIGALI, RWANDA

1. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FORUM FOR AFRICAKIGALI, RWANDA Trends in ICT: The role of Terrestrial backhauls, access networks and Institutions in ensuring equitable access to ICT Thomas Senaji ITU Consultant

2. Outline • Overview and background of implementation of resolutions relevant to Access • Development of broadband in Africa • Challenges and achievements • Technical and commercial opportunities and challenges which require stakeholder attention

3. Issues, best practices and concepts in backhauls and access infrastructure development • Implementation aspects to facilitate equitable access in Africa

4. Overview • The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) highlighted the role of ICTs as progressional and developmental means that should be given a priority all over the world.

5. WTDC’ 02 (Istanbul, 2002) • Resolution 17 (Rev. Istanbul, 2002) of the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC) adopted by the WTDC-06 required that the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) identifies possible ways and means of implementing regionally approved initiatives at the national, regional, interregional and global levels ;and

6. Actively assist the countries in elaborating and implementing the regionally approved initiatives that form part of this resolution.

7. WTDC’ 06 (Doha, 2006) • It was further resolved that BDT should assist in the implementation of these initiatives at all levels, integrating as far as possible those initiatives that have the same content or objectives, taking into consideration the Doha Action Plan.

8. Connect Africa Summit (Kigali, 2007) • In an effort to achieve the implementation of this initiative, Connect Africa Summit was organized and held in Kigali, in October 2007. Goals 1 and 2 which are integral parts of the Summit’s outcomes also underscore this point.

9. WTPF-09 Opinion 2 on “The implications of the advent of next-generation networks (NGNs) and advanced broadband access” in recognition of the Plenipotentiary Conference 2006 adopted Resolution 137 (Antalya, 2006) on next-generation network deployment in developing countries.

10. The Opinion 2, s.3(c)specifically invited ITU Sector Members to support ITU’s and Member States’ capacity-building initiatives related to NGN environment and applications, broadband technologies and security technologies and measures

11. 4th WTPF (Lisbon, 2009) • Besides Opinion 2 of the 4th WTPF (Lisbon, 2009) which recognised the Plenipotentiary Conference Resolution 137 (Antalya, 2006) on next-generation network (NGN) deployment in developing countries a Master plan for migration to IP based networks is considered as being very important in accelerating the migration of networks in Africa (e.g. ATU-SG, 2011) .

12. WTDC’ 10 (Hyderbad, 2010) • There was consensus at the WTDC-10 (in Hyderabad, 2010), that the issue of the migration from existing networks to next-generation networks is of extreme importance to all countries, particularly developing countries and needed to be continued as a revised Question in the next study period 2010-2014 with a view to highlighting the impact of NGNs on this issue.

13. Question 26/2 – Migration from existing networks to next-generation networks for developing countries: technical, regulatory and policy aspectsis a merger ofQ.6-2/1 and Q.19-1/2 for the 2010 -2014 period

14. Follow up on Connect Africa Summit Kigali, 2007 Goals • For example, the ITU has ITU Regional Development Forums (RDF) in Africa such as those held in Accra, Ghana (May, 2008), Lusaka, Zambia (May, 2009) and the ITU/BDT Workshop on NGN conformance and interoperability (Nairobi, 2010) and a subsequent meeting in Accra, Ghana (July, 2011).

15. Development of broadband in Africa • Submarine systems: EASSY, SEACOM,SAT-3, TEAMS, LION, WACS etc • Deployment of Backhauls from the landing stations into the hinterland • Collaboration between countries is ongoing • Broadband access over mobiles, OFC, xDSL, radio etc

16. Policy, legislative and regulatory reforms; • Institutional reforms to promote ICTs including backhauls and access • ITU support of programs according to Resolutions

17. Highlight of challenges and achievements • Technical: interoperability and conformance, QoS • Policy: harmonisation of ICT policies • Regulatory: technology neutral - still more to be done • Commercial issues: pricing and lowering of interconnection charges • Regional integration initiatives to create larger markets

18. Technical and commercial opportunities and challenges which require stakeholder attention • Opportunities • Facilities sharing • Customisation of migration plans • Benchmarking best practice • Interconnection regimes • Spectrum pricing

19. Authorisation/Licensing regimes • government initiatives on broadband

20. Challenges • conformance and interoperability • inadequate legislation regarding ICT matters such as vandalism and security • uncompetitive practices tendencies • financing backhauls • seamless quality of service across boarders • human capacity for deployment and use of services

21. Issues, best practices and concepts in backhauls and access infrastructure development • Institutions: strengthening institutions to deliver on synergistic mandates ( government, regulatory authorities, service providers, consumer organisations ) • Equitable access to scarce resources: spectrum high points, way leaves

22. equal and non-discriminatory access to networks • integrated infrastructure development • innovative financing of backhaul and access projects

23. Implementation aspects to facilitate equitable access in Africa • Partnerships: governments/ private sector (PPPs) and governments and the development partners • innovative funding • benchmarking best-practice (no re-inventing the wheel)

24. development of master plans covering the complete range of ICT backhaul e.g. The Rwanda NICIs • strong institutions (policy, regulatory, legislative, operational, and consumer) to promote equitable access to ICTs

25. Access to ICT for life endeavors • e-applications in health, education, security, disaster management, finance, agriculture etc … for social, economic and political development

26. Concluding Remarks • We need to emphasise each element of the ICT value chain • Applications - ITES • core network – converged, NGN • transport networks (including backhauls) – high capacity • access networks – broadband with integrated access devices • access devices for use by all e.g. those with disability

27. Important Enabling infrastructure for backhauls and access networks • policy – sound policy • regulation – level playing field, predictability • legislation – law makers/parliaments • human capacity – centre of excellence • leadership – promoting ICT agenda at the very top

28. technology – innovations • financial institutions – • leadership

29. Contacts of Speaker Dr. Thomas Senaji P.O. Box 41033 Nairobi 00100 +254-722-772-400 tsenaji@gmail.com