DEVELOPING STRATEGIES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WSIS ACTION PLAN: A West African Perspective on the Challenges for

1. DEVELOPING STRATEGIES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WSIS ACTION PLAN: A West African Perspective on the Challenges for Regulators. BY Ernest Ndukwe CE, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) & Chairman, West African Telecommunications Regulators Association (WATRA)

2. INTRODUCTION • The whole essence of WSIS plan of action is to extend the benefits of ICT to all nations, communities and peoples of the world. • Without modern ICT infrastructure a nation will find it difficult if not impossible to achieve sustainable economic growth. • Countries in Africa therefore must have, as priority, the rapid modernisation of their ICT infrastructure in order to be active players in the emerging global information society.

3. INTRODUCTION contd The challenge therefore is how to make ICT available to all. Certain factors become critical in achieving this goal: • Infrastructure Development • Policy and Regulatory Framework • Political Will • Regional Co-operation

4. INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPEMENT • The WSIS plan of action stated that: “Infrastructure is central in achieving the goal of digital inclusion, enabling universal, sustainable, ubiquitous and affordable access to ICT”

5. INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT contd • It is therefore important to consider the structures that must be available to facilitate rapid development of ICT infrastructures. • It has been generally agreed that government neither has the financial resources nor the structures required for building the required infrastructure for the information society.

6. INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT contd • In the modern setting therefore, the responsibility for funding and building the infrastructure must therefore rest on the private sector. • This however must be in a public, private partnership that has government providing the policy and enabling framework while the private sector provides the funding requirements.

7. INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT contd At the centre of this, is the regulatory agency whose duty is to ensure the implementation of government policy through licensing of private operating companies under clear rules and guidelines that will ensure that the citizen is the ultimate beneficiary.

8. MARKET LIBERALISATION • There have been tremendous changes in the global telecommunications landscape since the early 1980’s with the wave of liberalisation of telecommunication market in many advanced countries of the world. At the close of the 20th Century this became more of the standard internationally. • Nations/regions that restricted market reforms found themselves losing out on technology, advancement, foreign & local private investment and network growth.

9. MARKET LIBERALISATION contd • The liberalisation of the telecommunications markets was further encouraged by the growth and development of international trade in telecommunications services which are increasingly provided by transnational and global service providers. • Moreover the active participation of the private sector also brought with it, innovation, knowledge and more importantly, financial resources to build networks generally.

10. NEED FOR POLITICAL WILL • Africa, however, has been rather slow in taking advantage of the benefits of market liberalisation mostly due to one political reason or the other. • Yet the continent is one that needs the most, major inflow of private sector funds to develop her telecommunications infrastructure and in turn stimulate economic development and the achievement of the WSIS action plan.

11. NEED FOR POLITICAL WILL contd • The worldwide trend towards market liberalisation is definite and no region or nation can achieve universal service if it is not part of this trend.

12. REGIONAL COOPERATION • The treaty establishing the Economic Community of West African states (ECOWAS) recognized the need for regional cooperation to facilitate trade and economic development among member states. • Telecommunications and Information technology is no doubt central to progress in the region both in socio-economic and political fields, and provides the vital medium for sharing common interests and exchange of information about their different developmental activities.

13. REGIONAL COOPERATION contd • It must be a case of stating the obvious to say that ICT can contribute not only to free trade and economic development but also to promoting peace, security, stability and integration in the region. • It is therefore necessary to adopt appropriate policy measures that will create a conducive environment that encourages massive build-out of ICT networks and system across the region.

14. TELECOM REGULATION • With the dynamic nature of the ICT industry, Regulation has also become a very specialised and continuously evolving undertaking. • The worldwide Trend towards transformation of sole state ownership of telecommunications networks into competitive and liberalised markets requires strong and purposeful regulatory intervention. • Without it, viable competition may not emerge.

15. TELECOM REGULATION • Regulatory intervention is usually required to curtail or remove barriers to market entry by new operators including interconnection of new entrants with incumbent operators. • Regulatory intervention is also required to ensure that telecommunications facilities are spread to the rural and less viable areas in pursuit of Universal Access • Regulatory bodies therefore require having highly skilled and trained personnel that are sufficiently empowered to enforce adherence to rules and ensure that the telecommunications services provided are supplied in a manner consistent with national or regional interest.

16. TELECOM REGULATION • While regulatory functions may very from nation to nation or region to region, the main objectives are often similar. • To save costs therefore and benefit from shared experience, regional regulatory bodies or associations become necessary.

17. WEST AFRICAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATORS ASSOCIATION • The West African Telecom Regulators Association (WATRA) was formed with the purpose of establishing cooperation among West African States regarding telecommunications regulation. It is intended to promote the continuing development of ICT in the West African sub region. • Another consideration was the fact that if the countries in the region were to have any significant input into the molding of the global telecommunications environment now and in the future, there is need for a platform for coordinating regional positions prior to their participation in global ICT conferences.

18. WATRA • It is the intention of the founding fathers of WATRA that the body will grow to become a leading forum for governments in the region to exchange ideas and formulate plans regarding regulatory and technical issues that will accelerate development of infrastructure across the region. • WATRA also seeks to encourage uniform standards that will facilitate the deployment of interoperable ICT systems and services and therefore accelerate infrastructure development across the region.

19. WATRA • This is in consonance with the worldwide trend in regionalization of economic and political activities across nations, thus harmonising the structures and functions of national regulatory bodies. • Moreover, Multilateral and Bilateral Development Agencies that have interest in ICT regulation and with focus on developing countries find it easier and more cost effective to channel assistance to regional institutions. • With WATRA, more countries are likely to benefit from limited resources available for developing regulatory frameworks aimed at promoting ICT Sector development.

20. The Challenges facing ICT Regulation in West Africa: • Harmonizing existing national ICT Policies, including regional spectrum, licensing, etc • Evolving common principles for interconnection, universal access, etc • Establishing common responsibilities for NRAs • Safeguarding the interest of citizens (control of content, maintaining standards, etc) • Encouraging investments to develop infrastructures & networks for access to services & information • Using ICTs to reduce barriers of distances among the dispersed populations

21. FUTURE DIRECTION: • Harmonise local regulatory frameworks and institutions • Evolve regional regulatory framework • The ECOWAS ICT Task Force has been established to harmonize ICT policies of member countries • Advantage can be taken of regional economy of scale to encourage local manufacturing of ICT equipment and systems

22. THE FUTURE: ECOWAS ministers have as priority, resolved • To facilitate the building of a Regional Backbone Infrastructure that is Robust and Big enough to support seamless cross-boarder connectivity. • The installation of fibre optic cable on power lines that carry electricity supply between countries (where they exist) must be made mandatory to reduce costs associated with Rights of Way. • Investors who have interest in setting up operations in several countries in the region should be accorded priority status in the Issuance of Operating Licences • There is need to encourage competition

23. Conclusions: Critical Success Factors To accelerate Infrastructure Development include: • Political Will • Market Liberalisation • Strong Regulatory Structures • Good Enabling Laws • Regional Co-operation

24. Thank You!!! Ernest Ndukwe ndukwe@ncc.gov.ng