Regional Initiatives on ICT: The ASEAN Institutional Framework

1. Regional Initiatives on ICT: The ASEAN Institutional Framework Regional Workshop on Community-based ICT Integration: Lessons and Possibilities 13 -14 March 2008 Nur Sulyna Abdullah Director ASEAN ICT Centre

2. What to expect . . . • ASEAN 101 • An ASEAN Economic Community • What is ICT in ASEAN? • The ICT Players: TELMIN, TELSOM, ATRC • Five Strategic Pillars for ICT • Other institutional initiatives • Initiatives for Rural Communities

3. ASEAN 101 • The Association of Southeast Asian Nations • Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam • ASEAN is 40 years old • Robust economic growth, healthy trade and investment flows due to regional integration

4. An ASEAN Economic Community • Target 2015 • A regionwith free movement of goods, services, investment, skilled labour, and freer flow of capital • Series of economic integration measures – fast-track of 12 priority sectors including agriculture, electronics and ICT • Developed a suite of Action Plans as ICT acknowledged as a crucial factor to realise the ASEAN Vision • To realise the ASEAN Vision, ICT sector’s target is to create a “connected, vibrant and secure ASEAN Community.”

5. What is ICT in ASEAN? • Infrastructure, hardware and software systems, needed to capture, process and disseminate information to generate information-based products and services. • For society, ICT is the development of the information society which constitutes all information entities, their properties, interactions, processes and mutual relations. • For the commercial sector, ICT represents the form in which business operates.

6. Enter the players … • In May 2000, the ASEAN telecommunications ministers agreed to strengthen cooperation in telecoms and IT and address the digital divide within ASEAN • Hence the establishment of the ASEAN TELMIN and TELSOM (Senior Officials) • The ASEAN Telecommunications Regulators’ Council was set up in 1995 and “adopted” by TELMIN in 2001 at the 1st TELMIN • One significant undertaking is to promote and enhance cooperation platforms for ICT policy makers and regulators

7. Our efforts are targeted at … • Establishing an advanced information infrastructure with a variety of cross-border online applications and services • Why? Because ICT is a prime enabler for economic development • Need to enhance the competitiveness of ASEAN’s ICT sector and reduce the digital divide within the region • Initiatives were first laid down in the e-ASEAN Framework Agreement of 2000 which called for cooperation between public and private sectors and for a common e-ASEAN market • The e-ASEAN market is defined broadly to encompass goods, services and investment

8. The Five Strategic Pillars for ICT • The establishment of an ASEAN information infrastructure; • The facilitation of electronic commerce and ICT trade; • Establishing an e-society and capacity building; • E-government, universal access and bridging digital divide; and • ICT regulation for economic development and integration with liberalized trade in ICT goods, service and investment

9. The Institutional Framework

10. Other Institutional Initiatives • The e-ASEAN Business Council – platform for CEO-level industry players to engage with TELMIN and advise on latest trends and technology • The ASEAN ICT Centre – virtual centre established in March 2007 to implement the TELMIN projects • The ASEAN ICT Fund – set up in 2005 - a dedicated, fast-track funding mechanism to accelerate the implementation of TELMIN programs; initial funding base of USD 5 million - equal contributions by all ASEAN members over 5-year period

11. The Institutional Framework The AICTC

12. Intiatives for Rural Communities (1/5) • Projects are undertaken annually • Based on recommendation of the TELSOM Working Groups (WGs) and ATRC • TELSOM WGs are on: • ASEAN Information Intrastructure • e-Commerce and ICT Trade Facilitation • e-Society and ICT Capacity Building • Universal Access, Digital Divide & e-Govt (Note: List of projects from 2005 – 2008)

13. Intiatives for Rural Communities (2/5) • ATRC WGs are on: • Workplan Implementation • Mutual Recognition Arrangements for Telecoms Equipment • Network Security • Resource Planning and Management – RFID, WiMax, etc. • Technology Trends - Broadband, NGN, 3G, WiMax, etc. • Economic Regulation – Competition, Access • Rural Communications – Universal Service • International Engagement - WTO, Internet Governance • Consumer Protection • Others – prepaid registration, public consultation, implementation of national strategies

14. Intiatives for Rural Communities (3/5) WG on Universal Access, Digital Divide & e-Govt • Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) Distribution Kiosk • e-Learning and e-Learning Technologies • Digital Divide Database • The ASEANconnect website • ASEAN-China Universal Service Forum • Use of Wireless Technology to Bridge the Digital Divide • Satellite Based Tele-Education System For ASEAN Countries • e-Procurement and e-Government systems in ASEAN • Establishment of ASEAN USO Forum • Framework of indicators to measure Universal Access &DD • ASEAN Cyberkids Camp • Study on Information Usage and ICT Adoption in Rural Areas

15. Intiatives for Rural Communities (4/5) WG on e-Society and ICT Capacity Building • EURO-SEA Information And Communications Technology Forum 2006 • ASEAN-India Seminar on e-Learning & e-Learning Technologies • ASEAN-China Seminar on Universal Services & Rural Communications • VSAT based Tele-education & Tele-Medicine Network for Connecting CLMV Countries (India) • ASEAN Network For Software Multi-Lingualization (Japan) • Rural Knowledge Management System (RKMS) • ASEAN Workshop on Public Domain and Content Development

16. Intiatives for Rural Communities (5/5) WG on e-Society and ICT Capacity Building (cont.) • Empowering Home-workers in ASEAN countries through the usage of ICT • ASEAN Teacher Capacity Development Focusing on ICT – Pedagogy Integration: University Facilitating Models • ASEAN-India Seminar on e-Learning & e-Learning Technologies • Digitization of ASEAN Cultural Content: E-culture/E-heritage for Youth • ASEAN ICT Skills Standard Development • Studying the Dynamics of Women in the ASEAN ICT sector • International Domain Name at the ccTLD Project • Strategic Study to Promote ICT R&D in ASEAN

17. Conclusion • ASEAN TELMIN institutional framework provides platform for development of rural communities within ASEAN • Engagement with Dialogue Partners, International Organisations, private sector and other stakeholders is important to leverage on strengths and avoid duplication • Cooperation among ICT stakeholders will maximise PPPs towards a vibrant, innovative and sustainable ICT sector and bridging the digital divide in ASEAN

18. Thank You