We offer our warmest congratulations to Malathy on achievement of the highest degree and wish her the very best in her future scholarly endeavors.

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

The WDR Expert Forum, held in association with the Institute of South East Asian Studies (ISEAS), took place at the Changi Village Hotel, Singapore from March 2-3, 2007. The Forum focused on ICT sector and regulatory performance indicators and discussed the issues that NRAs and NSOs face with regards to data collection and definitions.

The presentations made are available for download below:

March 2, 2007

1. Introduction

Rohan Samarajiva | Download Speech

2. Overview of Regulatory Performance in Six South & South East Asian Countries: TRE Methodology and Results

Rohan Samarajiva | Download Presentation

3. Problems & Prospects for Standardizing Sector Performance by NRAs

Helani Galpaya and Sriganesh Lokanathan | Download Presentation

4. Integrating ICT Questions in the Work of NSOs

Harsha de Silva | Download Presentation

5. Challenges of High AMPU in a Low ARPU World

Mahinda Herath | Download Presentation

6. Fixed & Mobile Indicators: Definitions and Regional Illustration/Case Study

Malathy Knight-John | Download Presentation

7. Internet & ICT Indicators: Definitions and Regional Illustration/Case Study

Divakar Goswami | Download Presentation

8. Price/Affordability Indicators: Definitions and Regional Illustration/Case Study

Harsha de Silva | Download Presentation

9. Digital Divide and Demographic Indicators: Definitions and Regional Illustration/Case Study

Joseph Wilson | Download Presentation

March 3, 2007

1. Traffic (Utilization) and Revenue Indicators: Definitions and Regional Illustration/ Case Study

Lorraine Carlos Salazar | Download Presentation

2. Industry Structure and Industry Impact Indicators: Definitions and Regional Illustration/Case Study

Payal Malik | Download Presentation

English Press release: Systematic use of telecom franchisees can help tap fortune at the bottom of the pyramid – Lessons from Grameen

More information about the project: Replicability of a Microfinance Approach to Extending Telecom Access

LIRNEasia showcased its research from the past year on the 19^th December 2005 at the Palm Lounge, Galle Face Hotel. CEO’s and Managing Directors of local telecom operators attended, in addition to the regulator and representatives of donor agencies, investment analysts and the media.

The presentations are available below. The highlights of LIRNEasia’s first year of Research are available HERE.

1. Introducing LIRNEasia and its 2005 research program
   Rohan Samarajiva
2. Telecom use on a shoestring: Findings from a survey of Sri Lankan and Indian users on less than USD 100 a month
   Ayesha Zainudeen & Ayoma Abeysuriya (TNS Lanka); a report on the ‘strategies’ of the financially constrained in the use of telecom services is available on the project page.
3. WiFi Innovation in Indonesia
   Divakar Goswami. More information is available on the project page.
4. Microfinance and the creditworthiness problem: Lessons from Grameen
   Malathy Knight-John (IPS), Abu Saeed Khan & Ayesha Zainudeen. The complete report is available HERE
5. Universal service funds and access deficit charges: How to do it right
   Payal Malik (UoD) & Harsha de Silva. The complete report is available HERE
6. The importance of backbone
   Rohan Samarajiva. More information is available on the project page.
7. Least cost subsidy auctions: Getting the conditions right
   Harsha de Silva. More information is available on the project page.
8. Assessing regulation: First cut
   Chanuka Wattegama (UNDP); The complete report is available HERE

See Photos from the evening HERE

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]

The salient features of the Concept Paper were presented to the Commission, in addition several other research findings relevant to the Commission. The importance of an all-hazards approach was stressed and governance model options were discussed. Recommendations on actions that are needed by government were made and intended actions by the Vanguard Foundation were presented.

Commission members, retired Supreme Court Judge H.S. Yapa (chairman) and retired Court of Appeal Judge P.H.K. Kulatilaka took great interest in the presentation made by authors, Rohan Samarajiva and Malathy Knight John and Vanguard Services Managing Director, Lakshaman Bandaranayake.

Copies of the final Concept Paper were provided to the Commission, and supplementary material and contacts were also provided.

Presentation slides: NEWS:SL Presentation to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry

Four presentations were made, providing a broad framework for discussion with participants, to provide input for a concept paper that Vanguard Foundation and LIRNEasia will produce, with recommendations for such a system. This draft concept paper will be available on the web for public comment in the first week of February.

The presentations can be viewed by following the links:

What Lessons from the 2004 Tsunami?
Dr Harsha de Silva, LIRNEasia

National Warning System Parameters
Prof. Peter Anderson, Simon Fraiser University, Canada

Governance and Implementation of a National All Hazards Warning System
Malathy Knight-John, LIRNEasia/Institute of Policy Studies

The Role of the Communications Industry in a National All Hazards Warning System
Prof. Rohan Samarajiva, LIRNEasia

Summary
Dr. Catherine Hickson, Geological Survey of Canada

Rohan observed that a good research organization and a consulting firm has a common culture, values and quality standards. This is not the case for “bodyshops” and hence their output was unpredictable, varying from mediocre to excellent. LIRNEasia will not be a bodyshop but will build a common organizational culture, value and standards using multiple methods, the colloquium being one. We will experiment with various formats and themes until we get it right, he said. The previous colloquium discussed “practical” aspects whereas today’s colloquium examines the abstract question of conducting research and the relationship organizations like LIRNEasia have with the policymaking process.

The article under discussion was the previously distributed Nicolas Garnham’s Euro CPR keynote address in March 2004 titled Contradiction, Confusion and Hubris: A Critical Review of European Information Society Policy. Rohan’s short response to this piece had also been distributed beforehand.

According to Rohan, Garnham seemed to suggest that one of the aims of research geared for policy makers should be based on “dispassionate” analysis, free from the “crude” interplay of economic and political interests. Rohan started out the discussion by asking whether it was possible to conduct research which was free from political or economic interests. Especially, in the context of organizations like LIRNEasia that were actively intervening in the policy process.

Harsha de Silva found Garnham’s article confused and according to him the author seemed bent on debunking different economic theories without proffering anything of his own.

Discussion then moved to the three seemingly contradictory theoretical approaches, highlighted by Garnham, that economists were using to analyse the information society—Neoclassical, Schumpterian and Hayekian. Rohan added a fourth: the Madisonian approach which saw the world as a series of unstable equilibriums, each with a concentration of power (market and political). Human action could undermine and topple a concentration of power (example AT&T), but there was no guarantee that another concentration would not appear (example Regional Bell Operating Companies, now consolidated into Verizon, SBC, etc.).

Amal Sanderatne said that bringing about policy change while being part of government was one thing, but how does an organization like LIRNEasia intervene in the policy process from the outside? Is it through the media? And if the political doors were still open and intervention could happen during informal interactions with decision-makers, would it make sense to air one’s views to the media when behind the scenes activity was taking place? Harsha thought that the credibility of the academic made a big difference on whether he/she would be heard in the media and if the public pronouncements could have any impact on the government.

Rohan recounted his memorable anecdote of Eli Noam, Columbia Professor and former Commissioner of the State of New York regulatory agency, and how he pointed to Rohan as an example of someone who made a submission to a proceeding held by the New York Public Service Commission that resulted in the defeat of a proposal made by billion dollar telecom companies. Rohan hastened to add that one couldn’t generalize from this incident but participation by LIRNEasia in public consultation process was a must.

Malathy Knight-John mentioned that Rohan had written somewhere that in the ocean of bad governance one could create small islands of good governance which could seed change. Rohan mentioned that the creation of new organizations was done with the optimistic hope that they would somehow escape the failings of the existing organizations, especially when the old organizations were perceived to be unfixable.

The discussion moved to LIRNEasia and its mission. Rohan read out the organization’s provisional mission statement and its provisional organizational mission statement. After extensive discussion, it was agreed that the mission statement would be put up on LIRNEasia’s website and the views sought from the LIRNEasia community of researchers and consultants to improve it. Amal suggested that a strategy statement should also be developed.

Chanuka Wattegama then gave a summary of recent discussions that took place about the merits of having a bidding process for deployment of VSATs to connect VGKs (telecenters).

Colloquium attendees were suitably rewarded for their participation by what followed next—colorful sandwiches, rich chocolate cake and strong coffee, thanks to Sabina Fernando’s intricate, logistical exercises of the evening.

(2nd colloquium notes as Word/OpenOffice document)

1. WDR Expert Forum 2004

• September’s WDR Expert Forum at Mount Lavinia was a success
• Next expert forum in Sri Lanka: Sept. 30 , Oct 1 and 2 [half day], 2005
• Sector and Regulatory Performance Indicators: may be WDR theme for
  2005/6; proposed workshop for this in early 2005 ? Pondicherry.

2. Funding

• We don’t have institutional funding, only project-based.
• This will be a challenge, but I’m (Rohan) confident we’ll pull it off. We spent under budget for the forum.

3. Projects

• IDRC wants us to study ‘diversity of participation in networks.’ Currently, demand side info/knowledge is lacking.
• Supply side: Nepal, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh

i. Assessment of Asia’s first least-cost subsidy auction in Eastern Nepal, and comparison with the Sri Lanka least-cost subsidy auction design. Team: Rohan Samarajiva, Harsha de Silva (B.R. Pandey)

ii. Assessment of the design and implementation of India’s universal service levies, fund and associated policy and regulatory instruments including the Access Deficit Charge (ADC). Team: Harsha de Silva,Payal Malik

iii. Evaluation of the replicability of the WiFi based access innovations in Indonesia, looking at both the scalability of the WiFi based expansion of access at the margins and the impact of the availability and pricing of broadband capacity to link to the Internet backbone. Team: Sabina Fernando, Onno Purbo

iv. Study of the conditions for replicating the Grameen Telecom of Bangladesh, approach of extending access to telephone services through microfinance mechanisms. Team: Malathy Knight-John, Abu Saeed Khan, Ayesha Zainudeen