Partnering For ICT Development in the Caribbean

by Dr Ekwow Spio-GarbrahCEO, CTO

Presented at CANTO 22nd Conference Punta Cana, Dominican Republic19, June 2006

CONTENT…

Overview: Global Communications Growth Global Accords—WSIS and CAPDD Drivers of The Knowledge Economy ICT Issues in the Caribbean Priorities of Governments Operating Companies and the Future How Partnerships Can Help The CTO as a Unique Partnership Mission Statement Current Programmes Programme for Development and Training Conclusion

Global Communications Growth--The Mobile Example—

• Mobile Exceeded Fixed in 2002• Mobile Growing 5-10x faster in most countries• China, India, Brazil, Nigeria, —highest growth• Manufacturers $30 handset, $10 SIM card propel growth• Mobile operators market nimbleness prevails• Technology improves use of limited spectrum• New mobile/wireless products gain market share • Liberalisation, regulation, competition foster growth• Government’s see mobile as killer for rural communications • Mobile Sector assists with ICT4D and E-applications• Improved collaboration btw Govts, Regulators, Operators• Technological, Policy and Regulatory Convergence

Overview: Global ICT Growth • Failures of Fixed Lines and High Pent-Up demand• 3bn subscribers; 2.2 billion mobile• Lower costs of roll-out and customer access• Favourable Governmental Policy decisions• Legislative and Regulatory Support (Spectrum use)• Operational and interoperability aspects• Technology, R&D, installation, maintenance• E-Applications and Uses—esp. for development• Implications of Convergence • Financial, Technological, HR and Managerial

IMPACT OF WSIS AND CAPDD

- Recognise ICTs as Development Facilitators (MDGs)

- Provide time-table and targets for achievement

- Call for Public-Private-Partnerships

- Promote entrepreneurship and private sector

- Identify Roles for Financial institutions- Focus on Access and Affordability- Rmpower international organisations- Support Democratisation of Technological

Innovation

- Seek inclusiveness for marginalised

Drivers of the Knowledge Economy• Need to Inform, Educate, Entertain• To Distribute, Transmit and Share • To Network, Empower, Coordinate• To Develop, Transform, Grow Economies• To Reduce Costs, gain Time Efficiencies• To Compute, Analyse, Process, Store data• Reduce distances, bring together nations• Build nations, companies, communities

ICT ISSUES IN THE CARIBBEAN

-- The challenges of geography, SIS, multi-culture

-- Continued ICT national linkages to colonial-era capital

-- Need for greater integration in spirit of CARICOM/CSME -- Commendable regional initiative in ECTEL creation

-- Late development of regulatory capacity/institutions

-- Developing/Implementing National ICT Policies

-- Developing/Implementing regional broadband agenda

-- Satellite dependencey, vrs fibre and wireless networks

-- National public/private vrs international loans/equity

-- Network and operations management; HR challenges

-- Need to collaborate with rest of developing world:

ACP, ITU/UN, Commonwealth, etc

PRIORITIES OF CARIBBEAN GOVERNMENTS Reduce costs of ICTs in nations/region, by fostering

liberalization and competition Leverage ICT opportunities to attract investment Foster Liberalization and competition, Make ICTs contribute to broader development,

especially for tourism, financial services, media and entertainment

See to the needs of marginalized, rural and poor Ensure high standards and consumer satisfaction Reduce over-dependency on Western nations Recognize impact of convergence on variety of

services and offering Use Regulators to ensure level playing field

Regulatory Issues Affecting Operators

LicenceFees

Predictabilityof Regulatory

Policy

UnexpectedChanges

Numbering Plans

USOFunding and

Provision

Interconnection

SpectrumAllocation

LicenceRenewal

Mobile Operator’sBusiness

Plan

ICT PARTNERSHIPS IN THE CARIBBEAN—THE FUTURE

• Convergence in National/Regional Regulation • Collaborative competition—sharing of infrastructure • Technology convergence & push for price reductions • Pooled procurement to reduce Capex• Promote BPOs, ITES industries, develop ICT skills• Focus on Public-Private-Peoples-Partnerships• Resolve Interconnection Issues Quickly---ADR• Manage Spectrum Efficiently to facilitate growth• Consider USFs for rural/marginalised access• Managing IP, VoIP, NGN, Wi-Fi,Triple/Quad Play• CTO ready to offer collaboration/partnership

THE CTO AND ICT GROWTH

• 104-year-old London-based IGO• Unique multi-stakeholder partnership, owned by

governments, regulators, operators, etc.• Caribbean, African, Asian, Pacific members—

facilitates learning, sharing and pooling resources• Not part of COMSEC but collaborates with it• Highly democratic structure, members making equal

contributions for equal voice in decisions• Focussed on promoting ICT development of

members: Policy, Regulatory, Techno Neutral

THE CTO AS A FACILITATOR OF PARTNERSHIPS

National and regional ICT development programmes Training and capacity building (policy, regulation,

technology and business development)—e.g. BDO Advisory and consultancy services—NEDAD/WB study of

22 COMESA countries backhaul options International and regional conferences and seminars Country and company specific ICT events Research (e.g. VoIP, Telecoms Impact on Rural) Information and publication services

Fixed – Fiber-- Mobile – Wireless - Satellite

CTO’S MISSION STATEMENTS

Offer the highest quality programmes for capacity development, knowledge sharing and information services to member countries

Deepen, expand and diversify the partnerships between governments, businesses and other organisations to reduce global poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals for ICT

Help bridge the digital and knowledge divide especially in the five key sectors of food & agriculture (e-nutrition), education (distance learning), health (telemedicine), e-government and e-commerce

Facilitate the successful development of telecommunications and other businesses to support social and economic development objectives of governments and civil society

PROGRAMME FOR DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING (PDT)

“Enabling professional capacity and expertise in ICT”Over 30,000 ICT professionals trained since 1985

Needs-led consultancy and professional training Annual cycle of pooled procurement of skills development Non-profit, high-value, best-fit, least-cost services Caribbean, Europe, Asia and Africa Some 1,500 middle and senior professionals trained each year Governments, regulators, operators and service providers Technology, regulation and business development Welcome training arrangements with Providers

Opportunities exist to collaborate with Caribbean operators!!

CURRENT CTO MEMBER PRIORITIES

Programmes for Development and Training (PDT) Portfolio of Training/Capacity Building Courses National ICT Planning and Implementation – ICT

Road Map Rural Communications – Rural Tel-Coop, based

on mostly wireless/mobile applications ICT Dispute Resolution – CTO ADR Centre ICTs for Disaster Management—Guyana 9/2006 International conferences, workshops and

seminars Policy/Regulatory advice to 23 African Nations

(on common broadband fibre-optic cable)

CTO’s SEAGATEWAY PROJECTObjective: Improving maritime security and safety through

more interactive wireless communications systems.

Beneficiaries Large container vessels, oil tankers, etc Coastal, maritime and port administrations Ship and cargo Insurers and underwriters Exporters and importers National security, immigration and law enforcement

Key Features Real-time data, voice and video for land-sea connectivity

and in support of Inter-modal door-to-door transportation Technical and Financial Partners Welcome

SUMMARY

• Global Communication Growth Provides Opportunities• International community supportive (WSIS/CAPDD)• Policy, legislation and regulation must help operators• Operators Must Be Sensitive to National/Regional

aspirations; also share facilities and collaborate• CTO has decades of experience, including Caribbean • CTO ready to work with Caribbean ICT community—

governments, regulators, operators, consumers-- to integrate region with global Knowledge Economies

THANK YOU

Dr Ekwow Spio-GarbrahCEO, CTO

Clareville House, 26 – 27 Oxendon StreetLondon SW1Y 4ELTel.: +44 20 7930 5511Fax: +44 20 7930 4248E-mail: e.spio-garbrah@cto.int