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Effective strategies for ICT development. WTO & the Role of Regulators ITU-WTO Workshop on Telecom & ICT Regulation 1-7 December 2004, Geneva. The ICT Trade Implications Why telecom remains a priority. Agriculture/ commodities. Other Services. Industrial goods. Transport. Insurance.
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Effective strategiesfor ICT development WTO & the Role of Regulators ITU-WTO Workshop on Telecom & ICT Regulation 1-7 December 2004, Geneva
The ICT Trade Implications Why telecom remains a priority Agriculture/commodities Other Services Industrial goods Transport Insurance Software Banking Telecommunications
E-tradeA pilot study Source:E-Commerce - beyond 2000 , Australian National Office for the Information Economy, 1999
Why WTO? • GATS obligations & commitments- allow market signals to favor innovation & affordability • TBT Agreement – make new technology standards non-discriminatory & transparent • ITA Agreement - reduce cost of the equipment permitting extended access • TRIPS Agreement - protect intellectual property to stimulate innovation
Why GATS? • Customer uses a computer or other access device: computer services • Logs onto internet: communication services • Goes to a web site with product information: advertising services • Orders a product: distribution services • Pays for it: financial services • Downloads it or has it mailed: delivery services
ConvergenceGATS Negotiations Negotiators have noted... • Blurring lines between telecom, computer & audiovisual transmission services • Increasingly integrated service offerings • Resulting challenges for classification scheme, overlap of different scheduled commitments, scope of regulatory obligations
ConvergenceGATS Negotiations Negotiators suggest... • Fullest possible liberalization across the broad spectrum of telecom & ICT services? • Technology neutral telecom commitments? • Apply reference paper to broader range of telecom services? • More commitments on cross-border supply?
GATS: Cross border access today (By number of governments)
Implications for regulatorsAs more business & consumers go on-line • Ensure reasonable and non-discriminatory access to basic telecoms for all – Telecom Annex access & use guarantees • Foster competitive communications market place – lock-in effect of scheduled GATS market access commitments • Facilitate innovation – technology neutral GATS commitments and regulations • Maintain effective competition safeguards – Reference Paper on regulatory principles