ICT For Economic Development A View from the CTO

1. ICT For Economic DevelopmentA View from the CTO By Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah CEO, CTO Presentation To British Computer Society London, 12th July 2007

2. The CTO and Why I am here What We Mean By ICTs Definitions of “Development”—MDGs The WSIS and CAPDD/CC What Are ICT Priorities of Governments How Regulators Support ICT Growth Roles of Operators in ICT Growth Actions of Some Other ICT Stakeholders How the CTO Helps In ICT Growth Possible Collaboration with BCS Conclusion Overview

3. 106-year old London-based ICT organisation Since 2002, inter-governmental Partnership of governments, regulators, operating companies, suppliers, and others Facilitates Knowledge Sharing/Exchange Training and Capacity Building Research and Studies Advisory and Consultancy Services Information, Conferences and Workshops Came to Learn, Share and Collaborate The CTO and Why I Am Here

4. 4-Pillars: Telecoms, Broadcasting, IT, Internet Global Development Agenda: MDGs/PRSPs Various Definitions of “Development” International Accords: WSIS-GAID/CAPDD-CC Decisions of ITU, CTO and similar bodies: WTDC, Plenipot, WRC, WTPC, Regional bodies Priorities of Funding Agencies Political Campaign Commitments National Development Plans National ICT Plans/Projects/e-Strategies Industry/Private Sector Roles What Is “ICT” and What is “Development”

5. Achieve WSIS “Connectivity” Targets (villages, etc) Governments to develop and implement sustainable national e-strategies Promote communications infrastructure and media Develop multi-stakeholder partnerships Promote Access, Affordability, Availability Develop guidelines for Cyber-crime, cyber-security and misuse of ICTs Promote ICT Applications: the various “e-s” Set up of Internet Governance Forum Mobilise Funding, e.g. Digital Solidarity Fund Examples of WSIS Action Plan/Agenda

6. Mandate from Heads of State - 2003 Malta Declaration on ICTs - 2005 Support from 5 Commonwealth Agencies Five Thematic Areas of Focus Policy Development and Regulatory Capacity Modernising Education and Skills Development Entrepreneurship for Poverty Reduction Promoting Local Access and Connectivity Regional Networks, Local Content and Knowledge Project Identification/Implementation Reports to CHOGM and ICT Ministers CAPDD/Commonwealth Connects

7. Eradicate Poverty and Hunger Achieve Universal Primary Education Promote Gender Equality and Empowerment Reduce Child Mortality Improve Maternal Health Combat HIV/AIDs/Malaria and Others Ensure Environmental Sustainability Develop Global Partnership - using ICTs Overarching Role of MDGs: 2015

8. Governments seek global best practices Want PPPPs in policy planning Regulatory functions/USFs Private sector, technology and know-how Managing/Monitoring national e-strategies Include local, regional and national needs Target Access, Inclusion, sustainability Mobilising financial resources for e-projects Human Capacity Building/Skills Training e-Government/nance, e-applications Rural Access, Disaster Management, etc Some ICT Priorities of Governments: National e-Strategies

9. Competition Policy, SNOs, TNOs, etc Licensing: How many operators per market? Privatisation of incumbents: implications Spectrum/Frequency Crunch/Migration USOs, USFs, Rural Access and Connectivity Infrastructure ownership/Layered Structures Convergence issues, Open Access Networks Dispute Resolution Quality of Service/Consumer Complaints Costs, Prices, Tariffs, Taxation Human Capacity, Skills Development Internet Governance, IXPs, Internet Costs Technological innovation/Content Issues (3Gs vrs 3Es) Concerns of Policy-Makers and Regulators

10. Global Technological innovation - 3G, 4Gg, Local Industry Priorities/Interconnection/Tariffs/… Foreign Investor Needs - Licensing/Spectrum/… Government Priorities - USF/e-applications/… Need to Uphold Legislation/Regulations Consumer Power/Complaints/Enforcement/Media International Trends - Internet Gov/Standards Regional cooperation/Harmonization Desire for Resources/Capacity to Keep Up Interest in benchmarking best practices Drivers of Regulatory Issues

11. Regulatory Governance/ Independence/ Best Practices/GSR Harmonisation of Activities Mandates from ITU Sector Events WRC Issues WTSA, WTDC WTPC Issues for Regulators 2007-10 Licensing • License Terms • Interconnection • Tariffing • Numbering Plan • Roaming • NGNs/Conergence • Type Approvals Spectrum Policy and Frequency Allocations • Digital Broadcasting & Migration Issues • Frequency Trading/Auctioning • Civil/Military/Marine Frequencies • Unlicensed/exempt band Capacity Building/ Skills Development Organisational effectiveness Recruitment/Training

12. Global Transition from Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions to Information/Knowledge Economies Impact of Mobile Telephony on Economic Growth Impact of Radio, TV and IT Reductions in Transaction Costs Using ICTs—in e.g. rural communications, ICT4DM, e-applications, e-services, m-services, terrorism Efforts to Promote low-cost handsets, lower cost roaming, number portability, lower ARPUs Importance of training and capacity building programmes for governments and regulators. BCS Exec Volunteers? Need To Promote local e-content in 3Es not 3Gs Need to avoid dependence on imports for some countries ICT Risks in Privacy, Fraud and Security of Transactions Possible Health and Environmental Risks/Issues in ICTs---- possible effect on sight, hearing, waste, etc Impact of ICTs On Development

13. HIV/AIDS, TB Administering of drugs in rural community Monitoring and recording of patients data sent to Central database held at Ministry of Health ICT4D – Telemedicine Application in Rural Community

14. Working through Community based organisation – Samurdi Implemented 3 community based ICT hubs in different rural locations Each facilitated with Computers, Phone, Fax, Printers, etc Least cost solution to serve local community with ICT Trained staff to serve and train locals on the use of Web / Communications facilities for private & commercial use ICT4D – Rural Telcoop in Sri Lanka

15. Mobilise human, financial, techno resources, develop business models Invest resources, take risks Transfer knowledge/technology Compete, lower prices, satisfy consumers Produce desirable goods and services Support “development” in various ways Corporate Social responsibility roles Role of Operators/Suppliers

16. Jointly help to develop national e-strategies Ensure success of USFs, rural comms Help mobilise wider resources to assist Help build human capacity and ICT skills Hold workshops and conferences on key issues, including fraud prevention Work in aspects of rural communications Promote mobile’s role in ICT4D & ICT4DM Raise awareness of taxation/health/environment Assist in “path-to market” strategic planning Joint studies on licensing, intercon/tariff, spectrum and frequency migration, etc Help promote new mobile use/services/3G/mainstream Vodafone issues How CTO Helps Development through ICTs

17. Ability to develop strong multi-stakeholder partnerships Potential to forge common interests amongst its members Political weight and lobbying capacity in global/regional ICT issues Facilitation of understanding amongst different ICT stakeholders Repository of ICT Knowledge for sharing Platform for exchanges on best practices and benchmarks Ability to pool scarce resources of its members to save costs Capacity to assist some members with their “path-to-market” strategies CTO Value Addition

18. ICTs Are Proven Facilitators of Development All Stakeholders Recognise Power and Risks Governments Are Using ICTs to Meet MDGs Regulators/Operators Assisting in Various Ways There R Global, Regional and National Factors Politics, economics, technology and social evolution amongst variables Key objective is to achieve Information Societies Resource mobilisation critically needed Next priority is developing skills/capacities CTO can work with BCS and other stakeholders to achieve mutual objectives, especially for benchmarking & sharing best practices. Conclusion

19. THANK YOU Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah CEO, CTO 26 – 28 Hammersmith Grove London, W6 7BA Tel.: +44 (0) 208 834-1566 Fax: +44 (0) 870-0345 626 E-mail: e.spio-garbrah@cto.int