LIRNEasia » Ewan Sutherland

Diversifying Participation in Network Development

Ayesha Zainudeen — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:15:00 +0000

The final report from the World Dialogue on Regulation (WDR) 3rd research cycle has been released and can now be downloaded or ordered in hardcopy. Edited by Amy Mahan and William H. Melody, this most recent collection of the network’s research and case studies elaborates on inclusive and propoor strategies for extending network development.

Title: Diversifying Participation in Network Development: Case studies and research from WDR Research Cycle 3
Editors: Amy Mahan and William H. Melody
Document date: September 2007
Pages: 230

The book is divided into three sections. The first, entitled Affordability and Use, opens with a study on affordability – definitions, analysis and issues. This is followed by two demand side studies, the first focusing on mobile use by the poor; and the second assessing communication expenditures across four developing countries. The final chapter in this section reports on a survey of ICT use by SMEs in eight African countries.

Section 2, Models to Extend Participation in Network Development considers microfinance, smart subsidies, community owned microtelcos and the extension of research networks. The countries used to highlight these alternative approaches include Bangladesh, Nepal, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Ghana.

Section 3, Regulatory and Information Practices, begins with two chapters dedicated to the information provision and communication practices of regulators – which are important for cultivating informed participation in regulatory processes. Next regional regulation in support of national regulators and to ensure competitive markets is examined using the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States as a case study. Further perspective on this is provided by a chapter on multinational operators in African mobile markets. The section concludes with a case study on the regulatory environment in Guyana.

This report is the third in a series of research cycles that WDR is undertaking to assess different approaches to regulation in a rapidly changing telecom environment. With the advent of privatisation, competition, and converging infrastructure sectors, the role of the regulator is in a transitional phase. The first World Dialogue on Regulation research cycle assessed two emerging regulatory trends and the report, The Next Step in Telecom Reform: ICT Convergence Regulation or Multisector Utility Regulation; and the second cycle, Stimulating Investment in Network Development: Roles for Regulators – are both available for download and hardcopies of the second can be ordered from WDR.

Diversifying Participation in Network Development, A.K. Mahan and W.H. Melody (eds), Uruguay, 2007. ISBN (printed version): 978-9974-8067-0-2

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1. Introduction | William H. Melody
Section 1 – Affordability and Use
Chapter 2. Improving Affordability of Telecommunications: Cross-fertilisation between the developed and the developing world | Claire Milne
Chapter 3. Telecom Use on a Shoestring: Expenditure and perceptions of affordability amongst the financially constrained | Avanti Moonesinghe, Harsha de Silva, Neluka Silva & Ayoma Abeysuriya
Chapter 4. Variations in Expenditure on Communications in Developing Countries: A synthesis of the evidence from Albania, Mexico, Nepal and South Africa (2000-2003) | Sebastian Ureta
Chapter 5. ICT Usage and its Impact on Profitability of SMEs: A case of eight African countries | Steve Esselaar, Christoph Stork, Ali Ndiwalana & Mariama Deen-Swarray
Section 2 – Models to Extend Participation in Network Development
Chapter 6. An Investigation of the Replicability of a Microfinance Approach for Extending Telecom Access to Marginal Customers | Malathy Knight-John, Ayesha Zainudeen & Abu-Saeed Khan
Chapter 7. Smart Subsidies – Getting the Conditions Right: The experience of expanding rural telecoms in Nepal | Harsha de Silva & Ratna Kaji Tuladhar
Chapter 8. Microtelcos in Latin America and the Caribbean | Hernan Galperin & Bruce Girard
Chapter 9. Research and Education Network in Ghana: Promoting ICT in developing countries through research cooperation | Reza Tadayoni & Knud Erik Skouby
Section 3 – Regulatory and Information Practices
Chapter 10. Benchmarking National Telecom Regulatory Authority Websites of the Asia-Pacific Region | Chanuka Wattegama
Chapter 11. An Institutional and Practical Evaluation of URSEC – Uruguay’s Communication Regulator – and its Relationship with Citizens | Gustavo Gómez & Amy Mahan
Chapter 12. Regional Regulation of Telecom Markets in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States | Andrew Barendse
Chapter 13. Multinational Operators in African Mobile Markets | Ewan Sutherland
Chapter 14. Privatisation, Regulation and Investment: A case study of the telecom regulatory environment (TRE) and investment in Guyana | Samuel Braithwaite

Foundation Partners | About the Authors
Diversifying Participation in Network Development

LIRNEasia training course: Catalyzing change: Strategies to achieve connectivity and convergence

Ayesha Zainudeen — Sun, 09 Oct 2005 06:29:23 +0000

LIRNEasia’s maiden telecom reform course was successfully completed by 36 participants from 18 countries. The 10^th telecom reform course was co-organised with LIRNE.NET, in association with the School of Communication and Information of Nanyang Technological University, and the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) of Singapore. Themed ‘Catalyzing change: Strategies to achieve connectivity and convergence,’ the course took place at the Elizabeth Hotel in Singapore on the 24^th-30^th September 2005.
see pics
The course aimed to prepare regulators to face the challenges that lie ahead to achieve connectivity and convergence. One of the key issues that much of the discussion focussed on was VOIP or voice over internet protocol, an application that is revolutionizing the voice market, bringing down costs significantly; this will have an enormous bearing on universal access, given the ‘right’ regulation. In fact, IP networks are becoming the universal means of transporting any type of communication service; as Bill Melody put it, soon we will be talking of ‘EOIP,’ or everything over IP. A tour of the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) Proof of Concept Lab, facilitated by Andrew Haire, Assistant Director General (Telecom), where a brief presentation of the technical aspects of VOIP complemented the course content.
Participants were welcomed by Randolph Kluver, Executive Director, Singapore Internet Research Centre & Associate Professor, Nanyang Technological University and Tan Geok Leng, Chief Technology Officer, Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore. The course was inaugurated with a talk by Mr Satish Ranade, the first Company Secretary of Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL), the Indian international telecom giant, now a part of the Tata Group of Companies. Mr. Ranade recounted his experiences of VSNL’s two recent acquisition bids (acquisition of the Tyco Global Network (TGN) and Teleglobe) drawing on experiences of facing varying regulatory environments, illustrating the importance of effective regulation in the telecom sector.
A WDR Expert Forum was held on Friday 30^th September, to present current research to the participants, and also obtain their feedback. This included an assessment of the first Asian least-cost subsidy auction, an Asian Backbone study, a study of universal service instruments in India, studies of innovative access models in Indonesia and Bangladesh, and telecommunications user studies in African and Asia.
In addition to lectures delivered by Professors William Melody, Managing Director LIRNE.NET and WDR, and Rohan Samarajiva, Executive Director, LIRNEasia, several guest lecturers conducted sessions over the four day course. Amongst these were Ewan Sutherland, Executive Director, International Telecommunications Users Group (INTUG); Rajendra Singh, Secretary, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI); Professor Jens Arnbak, former Chairman OP TA ( Netherlands Regulatory Authority); Milagros Rivera Sanchez, Associate Professor & Head of Communications and New Media Programme, National University of Singapore (NUS); and Chanuka Wattegama, Senior Researcher, LIRNEasia . The combined experience of the lecturers includes that of past and current regulators, policy advisors and researchers in the ICT field.
Participants came from regulators, government, civil society, operators and academia, from top and junior levels. A range of countries throughout Asia, as well as Africa, Europe and North America were represented: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Canada, Denmark, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Tajikistan and Thailand. This was the most diverse group that LIRNE.NET has had in its history of training courses, bringing to the table a wider set of perspectives and experiences to share.

LIRNEasia course filling up fast

Rohan Samarajiva — Mon, 22 Aug 2005 12:43:51 +0000

LIRNEasia, in association with LIRNE.NET, Nanyang Technological University and the InfoComm Development Authority of Singapore is offering an executive course in regulatory strategy in Singapore, Sept 25-30, 2005. This limited-enrollment course is 70 per cent subscribed at this time. Participants representing government, regulatory agencies, telecom operators, universities and civil society from 14 countries ranging from Moldova to the Philippines have already registered. The speakers are confirmed as are the arrangements to visit the InfoComm Development Authority. Just over a month to go, preparations are on course for an exceptional event.
Mr Satish Ranade, Secretary to the Board and Vice President (Legal) of VSNL, the Indian multinational operator that has been much in the news recently with its acquisition of Tyco and Teleglobe and its role in the South African Second Network Operator (SNO), will deliver the keynote address at the opening session. His topic is Effective regulation from the perspective of an Asian telecom multinational. Mr Leong Keng Thai, Deputy Chief Executive and Director General (Telecommunications), InfoComm Development Authority of Singapore will deliver his talk on Catalyzing change: Reflections on the evolution of IDA and IDA’s role in the ICT sector in Singapore at the awards ceremony on the penultimate day of the course, the 29th of September.
In addition to Professors Melody and Samarajiva who will be managing the course in addition to teaching, the faculty include Professor Jens Arnbak, Professor Ewan Sutherland, Mr Rajendra Singh, and Mr Andrew Haire. Professor Arnbak was the founding Chair of the Dutch Posts and Telecom Regulatory Authority from 1997, reverting to his professorial position at the Delft University of Technology only in mid 2005. He also chaired the European Regulators’ Group and the Independent Regulators’ Group, both of which played major roles in advancing Europe’s regulatory reforms. Professor Sutherland has been Executive Director of the International Telecom Users’ Group, INTUG, since 1999. Prior to that he taught at several UK universities, including a stint as a Dean at the University of Wales. Mr Singh serves as Advisor to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, with special responsibility for mobile networks. Mr Haire, who will be coordinating the program at the IDA, is Assistant Director General (Telecoms) at the InfoComm Development Authority of Singapore.
Registration is encouraged for the remaining seats. Course information is available here.

LIRNE Course on Telecom Reform

Divakar Goswami — Mon, 30 May 2005 19:37:41 +0000

On behalf of LIRNEasia, LIRNE.NET and the School of Communication and Information at the Nanyang Technological University, it is our pleasure to extend to you a special invitation to participate in the 7th LIRNE.NET course on Telecom Reform in Singapore, September 25-30, 2005. The course, Catalyzing change: Strategies to achieve connectivity and convergence, is designed to enhance the strategic thinking of a select group of senior decision makers in the telecom and related sectors in Asia and elsewhere. Previous Telecom Reform courses have been offered in Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. This is the first time one is being offered in Asia.

The focus will be more on the most current strategic issues than on nuts and bolts knowledge. A day will be set apart for discussion of cutting-edge research on diverse approaches to network extension commissioned as part of the 2005-06 World Dialogue on Regulation. An opportunity will also be provided to visit the InfoComm Development Authority of Singapore, a leading regulatory agency that has been recognized for its efficacy internationally.

Attendance at Telecom Reform courses is capped at 40. Attendees will include regulators and senior officials of regulatory agencies; senior regulatory staff at operators; and leaders of consumer and other organizations participating in reform processes. In addition to Professors William Melody and Rohan Samarajiva who designed and led the previous Telecom Reform courses, Professor Jens Arnbak ( Chair of OPTA, the telecom and posts regulatory body in the Netherlands and Delft University of Technology), Dr Harsha Vardhana Singh, Secretary of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (on leave), Dr Ewan Sutherland (Executive Director of INTUG, the international telecom user?s organization), and Ms Malathy Knight John (Head of the Public Enterprise Reform, Competition and Regulatory Policy Unit of the Institute of Policy Studies in Sri Lanka) are expected to lecture.

The following documents provide more information on the course:

Draft agenda [WORD] [PDF]
Logistical information and course fees [WORD] [PDF]
Course registration & hotel reservation [WORD] [PDF]
Invitation letter [WORD] [PDF]