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Alison Gillwald: Why Policy Matters. Power point presentation: Click here to download.
Summary
Policy Policy determination shifted to multilateral organisations - commitments/best practice Failure of ownership by many developing countries Best practice based on democratic assumptions Lack of capacity to implement policy From government to governance Recapping international telecom reform - policy outcomes International regime undergoing change into a supranational regime with a shift from protectionist model to market access model regional and multilateral agreements telecom area of trade in which non-state actors should be permitted access to market non-discriminatory, level playing field and end to cross-subsidisation opening up of competition through privatisation, corporatisation and liberalisation competition between firms and countries in international services increased foreign direct investment, strategic alliances and joint ventures Key success factor market access and investment Macroeconomic and political stability Degree of reform but specifically establishment of independent regulator Efforts to enhance the credibility in the regulatory frameworks. Policies allowing for full cost recovery including reasonable rate of return. UN Human Development Report 2001 Telecom Reform: success or failure? "Three basic ingredients for reform: privatisation, competition and independent regulation… The difference between fast and super-fast growth is quality and timing of reform." ITU World Telecom Development Report 2002 Commitment to move swiftly - Chile vs. Argentina, Hong Kong vs. Singapore, SA vs. Morocco. Competition significant impact on international services with dramatically reduced calling charges. In national markets positive effects less dramatic and incumbents retain dominant market share. New millennium, new telecom world Reversal in telecom growth rates 2001 Technological change in context of new market reality New telecommunication world ….reform processes throughout the world resulted in telecom systems that are private, competitive, mobile and global… As one gap begins to close (telephony) another (Internet) opens Digital divide Access to information relates to power in society inequities of the access to and dissemination of information are extended to citizens differential ability to be effective, whether in their political or economic systems "The key for developing countries is adopting appropriate national ICT strategies based around private sector participation, market liberalisation and independent regulation - and developing ambitious universal access policies." ITU World Telecommunication Development Report 2002 Reinventing telecoms "A gale of creative destruction is currently blowing through the industry… The telecommunications sector must reinvent itself for a new age of plentiful and ubiquitous supply." ITU World Telecommunications Development Report 2001 New ICT targets by 2006 telephone penetration of above 90 personal and subscription rates at 50 NEPAD targets Double teledensity to two line per hundred by 2005 Lower cost and improve reliability of service Achieve e-readiness for all countries Develop ICT scholars and professionals Develop local content software.
Affordable access to increasingly advanced services remain central public interest issues Reduction of costs and improvement of quality of services critical for information infrastructure essential to effective participation in networked economy "way such challenges are tackled will determine whether the next generation technologies and infrastructures become a catalyst to overcoming the digital divide or whether they will reinforce the telecom divide dramatically for those not connected." WH Melody (2001) Rationale for regulation - Historically Reviewed Public utilities not delivered Private investment in infrastructure required Certainty and predictability required for long term investment Monopoly regulation - access Consumer access, affordability Private monopolies not delivered Private investment in services and solutions Flexibility and certainty required for investment and innovation Competition regulation Consumer access to range and broadband services Conclusions Policy needs to be owned at the national level and and harmonised at the regional level and lobbied at the international level. ICT policy needs to co-ordinated and integrated at the national level. Developmental applications of ICTs have to be moved to scale (requiring integrated approach). Enabling policy is a necessary condition of development but not a sufficient condition Good governance and human capacity indispensible to effective policy. |
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