1 Regulatory Associations Meeting GSR-17, Nassau, Bahamas 12 July
2 Agenda Welcome RemarksReview of Past Activities and Future Plans of Regulatory Associations Affordable Access to ICTs for SDGs : the role of Regulatory Associations in unlocking the potential of the digital world of tomorrow? Recommendations and Concluding Remarks
3 Welcome Remarks Good Morning and welcome to this year’s Regional Regulatory Association Meeting. I am pleased that the ITU has once again include this as a critical agenda event In this regard I am honored to welcome Mr. Brahima Sanou, BDT Director, to extend welcoming remarks. Mr. Sanou, you have the floor.
4 Focus of Discussion As Mr. Sanou said, the topic for discussion this year will focus on the role of regional and international organizations in achieving affordable access to ICTs, addressing in particular Universal Access and Service Strategies in a collaborative regulatory environment, and International Mobile Roaming. Participants will also be granted the opportunity to present their activities, in particular in terms of exchanging relevant information with other Regional Regulatory and International Organizations. A summary of discussions will be included in relevant panels at GSR-17.
5 Overview of OOCUR/Regional ActivitiesSo if I may be allowed to invoke the privilege of Chair by presenting a summary of OOCUR activities in my position of of that association after which I will invite the different associations to provide an overview of activities.
6 ICT SINGLE SPACE CARICOM Heads of Government have approved the creation of the CARICOM Single ICT Space and OOCUR has been participating actively in this initiative. The objectives of the ICT Single Space are to: Deepen markets for new entrants, and enhance competition. Collectively build a single broadband market. Establish a single mobile numbering plan for the region, remove mobile roaming charges (to allow cheaper communications) and remove mobile termination for data and voice. Create a common regional spectrum space with equitable sharing of resources and income. The Work Plan and Budget for the implementation of the Single ICT Space was approved at the recently concluded Thirty-Eighth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government.
7 ICTs for Persons With Disabilities (PWD)CTU is currently collaborating with regional stakeholders to introduce Caribbean Video Assistance Service (CVAS), which enables people who are deaf not only to call each other and communicate directly, but also to speak with agents (trained sign language interpreters) who relay conversations between them and hearing parties. The proposed system uses a technological platform to facilitate communication via an individual’s smart phone, computer or wireless device from virtually anywhere.
8 Strategy for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)An essential component of developing a strategy for SDGs is the monitoring framework. The countries in CARICOM are at different stages of implementing a national monitoring framework and establishing multi-stakeholder advisory groups to support implementation. The ongoing activities include the assessment of the data availability to monitor the SDGs and of the capacity of the public sector to provide the required data based on international standards. The assessment will determine the gaps which exist in data production and highlight areas which may need strengthening.
9 RA Initiatives to foster technology access and availability, improve live & and bridge the digital divide Network regulation - Collaboration on regulatory policy to address technical standards, competition issues and consumer protection with the aim of improving market efficiency and achieving universal access. Spectrum Policies: Regional coordination on spectrum policies to efficiently manage scarce resources, allocate new spectrum to highest value and harmonize spectrum usage to decrease cost of technology by increasing economies of scale. Cyber Security: Trust in ICTs is essential to achieving SDGs and the path to attaining those goals would be significantly undermined if the appropriate cybersecurity practices are not implemented. It is therefore important to promote regional cybersecurity collaborations. Initiatives such as capacity building, development of information sharing mechanisms, strengthening of cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the coordination of cyber-crime investigations are all in the shared interest of RA members. Data protection: RAs can also collaborate on data protection policies to address the transfer of data across national boundaries.
10 Current Developments & Upcoming Regional EventsDevelopment in Guyana - New Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), which regulates the ICT sector appointed – Ms. Dela Britton who replaced Justice (Retd.) Prem Persaud, who retired this year after heading that entity for 27 years. OOCUR Annual Conference will be hosted by the Regulated Industries Commission of Trinidad and Tobago this year and is scheduled tentatively November The Call for Papers is currently in circulation.
11 Review of Activities and plansARCTEL-CPLP Aregnet Caricom Fratel OOCUR Regulatel SATRC others
12 Discussion points Vision and Strategy Connectivity: AffordabilityDigital Agenda/National ICT Pln UAS for SDGs Connectivity: Access to International Fiber IXPs Affordability IMR Vision and Strategy Digital Agenda – ARCTEL/Trinidad UAS for SDGs – ITU projects Connectivity: Access to International Fiber IXPs Affordability IMR What can RAs do to help? What can ITU do to help?
13 What can we do together? Discussion points What is ITU doing?What are RAs doing? What can we do together? Vision and Strategy Digital Agenda – ARCTEL/Trinidad UAS for SDGs – ITU projects Connectivity: Access to International Fiber IXPs Affordability IMR What can RAs do to help? What can ITU do to help?
14 ITU – Regulatory The main purpose of our work is to provide the tools for an effective policy, legal and regulatory environment for the ICT sector. We convene global and regional forums to discuss global trends in regulation for Sector Members and other national and international stakeholders, through organizing the Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) as well as strategic dialogues on topical policy, legal, regulatory, as well as on economic and financial issues and market developments. We provide data, research and analysis and tools to support our members in defining, elaborating, implementing and reviewing transparent, coherent and forward-looking strategies, policy, legal and regulatory frameworks as well as in moving towards evidence-based decision-making. We provide knowledge exchange tools and platforms to enable inclusive dialogue and enhanced cooperation to help countries achieve a more inclusive information society and to raise national and regional awareness about the importance of an enabling environment. We provide direct assistance to countries and regions on an enabling environment for smart connected societies.
15 Private Sector: Telecoms, Insurance, Pharma, Wellness, ITICT Applications: e-Agriculture, e-Health, e-Government, e-Education, etc. Example: Be Be Mobile Initiative A Multi-sector Partnership Structure And Engages In Country Partners And Governments To Maximize Success. Running programmes Knowledge Content Funding Communication & promotion Governance Policy & strategy Technology M&E Funding Intellectual property Technology Recruitment Marketing Knowledge Private Sector: Telecoms, Insurance, Pharma, Wellness, IT Government NGOs , Civil Society, Philanthropies Academia UN Content Communication & advocacy Best practices Knowledge Convening Policies
16 Sample of Key Projects INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENABLING ENVIRONMENT: ITU-EC Projects – Assessing the Digital Dividend in Africa Broadband Wireless Network Connect a School, Connect a Community Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) Master Plan for Wireless Broadband Access in Africa CYBERSECURITY CIRTS Establishment Regional Cybersecurity Centers EMERGENCY TELECOMMUNICATIONS Early Warning Systems Emergency Operation centers DIGITAL INCLUSION PWDs: Establishment of an Arab Regional Information and Communications Technology Center for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) 21st Century Coding Skills for Decent Jobs for Youth E-APPLICATIONS: Smart Healthy Cities: Global Initiative to improve health conditions in urban settings; Upscaling e-Agriculture: Support countries to develop and implement national e-Agriculture Strategies Arica e-Health Initiative: to build technical capacities in order to implement e-Health strategies in Africa (and Arab Region) OTHER AREAS
17 Conclusions What more can we do together? Vision and StrategyDigital Agenda – ARCTEL/Trinidad UAS for SDGs – ITU projects Connectivity: Access to International Fiber IXPs Affordability IMR What can RAs do to help? What can ITU do to help?