Regional workshop on ICT-policies , Mbodiene 20-21, 20041

Africa and the global changing environment of ICT

With support from:

Gaston Zongo

gzongo@sentoo.sn

Regional workshop on ICT-policies , Mbodiene 20-21, 20042

Content

I. Dynamics of change

II. Sample of recurrent policies issues

III.Translation into Africa

IV. Recommendations: food for thoughts

Regional workshop on ICT-policies , Mbodiene 20-21, 20043

I. Dynamics of change

Technology Services

Market

Regulatory policy

I.1 The global picture

e.applications

e.commerce, e.trade; e.government; e…

Liberalization, privatization

Standards,

Deregulation, regulation

Hardware

Software

Infrastructure

Monopoly

Constestability

CompetitionMoore’s law

Metcalfe’s law

Regional workshop on ICT-policies , Mbodiene 20-21, 20044

I.2 Market power shift

G lobal G lobal T elecom sec to r T elecom sec to r revenuerevenue

390

410

460

490

530 610

670

700

740 92

0

1010 1110

110 110130 130

160180

210 230260

290310

335

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 2000 2001 2002

Services Equipments

Source: ITU-BDT

the market is definitely shifting from the Infrastructure to services, and is boosted by the continuing development of innovative technologies in response to demand for new services. The service-market accounts for more than two-third of the year-2002-total revenue of the telecom sector.

Regional workshop on ICT-policies , Mbodiene 20-21, 20045

I.3 Policy implication

Technological neutrality in regulatory policy, i,e: Regulatory policy to focus on services rather than on technology

Rebalancing powers between competing international regulatory policy drivers

UN System Non-UN inter-gov

Hybrid/private

Corporation

ITU WTO ICANN

WIPO ITSO

ILO

Regional workshop on ICT-policies , Mbodiene 20-21, 20046

Other influent players

-Competition Authorities

-Consumer's organizations: (INTUG, Consumers international)

-Research firms

Industry (associations), e.g.: GSM associationAlliance of Business intelligenceOpen Mobile Alliance

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I.4 Significance of market size and induced regional approaches

European Commission -Competition commission

-Information society commission

APEC, CITEL, APT, etc.

USA

Canada

Japan

Technology and market allow great influence

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Transition from monopoly to competition, regulating contestability markets

Governance of internet

Licensing and Spectrum management

VoIP

Regulatory policies and Convergence of technologies

Open source

II. Sample of recurrent policies issues

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III. Translation into Africa

III.1 Challenges

No or weak manufacture industry

Tiny or narrow markets with weak purchasing power

Individual participation at the international policy debate and shaping instead of favoring regional approach that would ensure louder voice;

Weak involvement of universities and research institutions;

Lack of sound data and analysis to serve as foundation for the policy formulation

Regional workshop on ICT-policies , Mbodiene 20-21, 200410

III.2 Immediate consequences

ICT-policy treated as a specific sector or industry

Use of stereotypical reform-models and policies with shy customization

Co-existence while non coherent policy on telecom and ICT in general, in addition to isolated tentative e.application strategies (e.commerce,

e.government, e.education etc.)

ICT-policy where defined, is not correlated with the national development policy (e.g. : PRSPs, MDGs);

Lack of relevant data and analysis of the global environment change does not allow re-active or pro-active measures (inertia at all levels).

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IV. Recommendations: food for thoughts

IV.1 Seizing opportunities

The unstoppable technology revolution and its impact on Africa

The recent move at the regional organizations; TRASA, WATRA

Dynamic and innovative NGOs

The NEPAD and the WSIS process

Lessons from developed and emerging economies

Continuing support of the international community

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IV.2 Immediate objectives, purpose and activities

Objectives

Purposes

Activities : what should be undertaken and accomplished to attain the purposes

What is looked for through the definition of the objective

What is the core strategic and policy component to address or to tackle

Regional workshop on ICT-policies , Mbodiene 20-21, 200413

Objective Purposes Activities

1 Building regional coalitions

Knowledge sharing

Regional policy harmonization

- creation of networks and info. Dissemination.

2 Sustainable growth and competitiveness

ICT-enabled socio-economic development

Mainstreaming ICT policy into PRSP and MDGs

- (national and regional)

3 Research and development

Customization to local context and addressing local needs

Labellized indicators, analysis, and measuring impact (quant.qual. assessment

4 Technology Common position on recurrent issues and trends

VoIP, OSS, Wi-FI, 3G, 4G, 5G

Nanotech, Grid comp. Etc.

5 Development of competition

Increase of FDI

Foster innovation

-Market definition

-Interconnectivity

X Security

IPR

? ?

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Merci de votre attention