Uganda Telecommunications Sector Policy Review.

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• Uganda Telecommunications Sector Policy Review.
• Regional International ICT policies and
  Initiatives
• BY
• Ssemboga Ann Rita Namyalo
• Economist UCC.

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Outline of the Presentation

• 1. Introduction
• 2 COMESA
• ICT Policy
• Initiatives
• 3 East African Commission
• ICT policy issues
• ICT Initiatives
• Other PPP Initiatives
• The Energy for Rural Transformation Project.

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1. Introduction

• In reviewing the policy for the sector, due
  recognition has been placed on the regional and
  international ICT policies and initiatives in
  place
• Uganda is part of these bodies and as such our
  telecom policies should be in line and address
  concerns at regional and international level.
• COMESA has developed an ICT policy
• East African Community(EAC) has proposed a number
  of policy changes for the region
• This presentation present a highlight for
  considerations in the new policy for the sector.

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2. COMESA

• ICT Policy
• policy model for the harmonious development and
  application of ICT within member stated with a
  view of turning the COMESA into information
  society.
• Key issues to be addressed by members
• Affordable, ubiquitous and high quality services
• Building a competitive regional ICT sector
• Creating an enabling environment for sustainable
  ICT diffusion and development.

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COMESA ICT Policy Cont.

• Members states are encourages to
• adopt new approaches that can enable
  interconnectivity between all operators and
  service providers within the region,
• promote universal service and or access,
• encourage competition in the sector through the
  removal of barriers to entry,
• and establish an appropriate licensing regime
  that is transparent and conducive to investment
  in the sector.
• The current policy address some of these objects
  but particular emphasis should be placed on
  Universality, regional interconnectivity and full
  liberalisation in the new policy

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COMESA ICT Initiatives

• For the effective implementation of the ICT
  policy framework, COMESA has ICT model guidelines
  and regulations on
• Interconnection
• Licensing
• Universal Service/Access
• Fair Competition
• COMTEL Project The First Pan-African Carriers
  Carrier Regional Terrestrial Fibre Optic Cable
  Backbone Network project
• conceived by 21 National Telecom Operators (NTOs)
  and facilitated by COMESA to provide
  interconnectivity Services towards seamless
  delivery of Regional and International Digital
  Voice and High Capacity Data Traffic

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The EAC ICT Initiatives

• The EAC Secretariat, has instituted a study on
  regional communications strategy which
  recommended
• The harmonization of the EA Communications
  regulation strategy
• Lowering of tariffs in the sub region common
  tariff regime
• Review the current interconnection regimes
• Competition to be permitted immediately
• Implement universal service fund

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The EAC ICT Initiatives Cont.

• Study recommends for
• A harmonised and holistic ICT Policy
• The creation of a separate body to foresee the
  implementation of each respective countrys ICT
  policy
• Promote ICT in training
• Resurrect the implementation of a high capacity
  link of Erst while EAC Digital Transmission
  Project
• Support the Submarine cable EA Submarine and
  COMTEL project
• Licensing of regional links

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The EAC ICT Initiatives Cont.

• The Africa Submarine System (EASSy) cable project
• establish a fibre optic undersea cable system
  connecting the region with the rest of the world.
  
• The project is driven by 15 telecommunications
  entities from 13 countries
• EASSy will link to the global submarine cable
  network through other regional undersea systems
  including SAT3, SAFE, SEA-ME-WE 3 and SEA-ME-WE 4
  and encircle Africa by high capacity optic fibre
  telecommunications networks
• Its supported by NEPAD, World Bank, French
  Development Agency and Development bank of SA.

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Regional Initiatives Cont.

• Regional African Satellite Communications
  Organisation (RASCOM)
• An ICT infrastructure development initiative
  established in 1993 dedicated to providing Africa
  with its own satellite for relaying telephone,
  data and television signals
• The project when complete will provide space
  segment required for national and international
  telecommunications services in all African
  countries and will enable rural connectivity at
  low tariff rates

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Regional Initiatives Cont.

• The Energy for Rural Transformation Project- ICT
  component.
• Project is supported by World Bank, as a public
  private initiative for the development of in
  ICTs.
• Subsidy funding close to US 5 million for at
  least
• 1 public pay phone to the 154 sub counties
  declared not to be covered by the major operators
• PoP and public access to 30 districts
• Establishment of 7 Vanguard institution
• Implementation of the project is underway, bids
  have been received for the provision of public
  pay phones in the 154 sub counties

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Conclusion
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• Thank you