Doc. Com-ITU(13) 0XX
ComITU
March 2013
Date issued:
8 April 2013
Sources:
Sweden
Subject:
Preparation for the WTDC-14
Password protection required? (Y/N)
N
Summary:
Proposed amendments to the “Proposals of CEPT strategic priorities for WTDC-14” presented in
document Com-ITU (13)025
Proposal:
For consideration
Background:
CEPT general principles and list of priorities for the World
Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-14)
1.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
1.1. ITU-D should engage on those priorities that are strictly connected to
development and accessibility of telecom services.
Support efforts to bridge the digital divide and increase the penetration of basic
affordable services for all, with a focus on poor and marginalised groups, should be
the mandate for the work of ITU-D.
Europe should actively support the proposal strictly connected to the core mandate of
ITU-D that are proven to bring added value.
ITU-D should avoid duplicating the work done in the other ITU sectors and other
organisations.
1.2. ITU-D should focus on a limited number of priorities with clear and measurable
impact on the developing world
ITU should focus on those activities that can bring maximum benefits for end-users in
comparison with the incurred costs.
The ITU-D planning needs to be shaped in providing reliable and measurable
indicators for the impact of each activity. The information should be used for
management purposes in deciding the future projects and allocation of funds. The
result oriented planning will increase donors trust, including EU as the world`s major
donor. In this concern, continued application of results-based budgeting and resultsbased management and evaluation of performance against identified Key
Performance Indicators should be encouraged. Nonetheless, ITU-D should continue
current BDT programmes, defining possible overlap amongst them and acting in
close cooperation with the activities of Study Groups.
1.3. Europe should promote an enhanced relationship between budgetary planningprojects/actions - results
Lack of resources is becoming a reality in every national or international sector. The
development sector makes no difference. During new economic constraints, ITU
Member States should increase attention to the financial and budgetary planning.
Using information gathered, Member States should decide on the allocation of fund
in relation to the results of each activity (elaborating processes for ITU-D project
approval e.g. ending by the Council´s approval of the projects exceeding 100
thousand CHF). Member States should analyse the results of the ITU-D components
(study groups, offices, projects etc.) and invest more resources in the components
that are the most efficient (the results achieved by the regional offices should be
evaluated with the corresponding regional programmes). Moreover, further
virtualization of ITU meetings should be considered.
In terms of structure, Europe should support maintaining the current structure of two
ITU-D Study Groups.
1.4. The European proposals for the work of WTDC should reflect good practice in
the field of telecommunications development
In the preparatory process for the WTDC, Europe should promote the measures that
are at the base of policy making in the region, measures that have proven to be
successful and rendered Europe as the most telecom inclusive and developed telecom
societies in the world, such as market access and competition. Europe should promote
good practices and knowledge sharing.
Moreover, Europe should actively support proposals that contribute to the freedom of
expression. Networks developed with the help of the ITU shall not be subject to
censorship or other forms of intervention in the free flow of information.
2.
MAIN PRIORITIES
2.1. Deployment of networks
The deployment of networks is the precondition for bridging the digital divide between
regions and continents. Providing the possibility of accessing telecommunication services to
all should be the priority for the ITU-D. Even if the mobile telephony became almost
ubiquitous with 6.8 billion subscriptions, Internet access, especially broadband at affordable
prices, remains a problem to be resolved, as only 40% of global population is online.
Connecting the rest of the globe would constitute a big boost to world economy. Therefore,
WTDC should make this a number one priority when setting the working plan of ITU-D
with concrete and practical solutions to be implemented in the next following years.
Areas of work:
-
Financial mechanisms
-
Capacity building and knowledge sharing, especially for developing and less developed
countries, on important aspects of international telecommunications as robustness,
availability, accessibility and also on awareness, education and aware raising measures
regarding safer use of Internet, complying with the general principles
-
Spectrum policies for wireless broadband (innovative measures for boosting wireless
broadband in rural and remote areas should be prioritized)
-
Assistance for the transition to IPv6
-
Assistance for the transition to digital broadcasting
-
Assistance to Land Locked Countries
-
Development of national and regional Internet Exchange Points (IXPs)
All the activities should be reported using KPI`s in direct relation to the activities: e.g.
number of lines/ subscriptions, coverage of networks, freedom of networks.
2.2. Regulatory measures for the development of telecommunication
One of the most important problems in the developing world is the high price of
telecommunication services and lack of affordability. In the majority of the cases this
situation is connected to lack of competition in different markets, especially fixed and
mobile broadband. It has been shown than competition and open markets are the main
factors behind successful transformation of telecommunication services. Competitive
markets and a stable regulatory framework would bring new investments in the sector and
assure the protection of end-users.
WTDC should highlight the importance of regulatory harmonization and the promotion of
competitive markets. ITU-D should implement practical and measurable activities in
promoting best practices in the field.
Areas of work:
- Regulatory Frameworks
- Institutional capacity building
KPI`s: Penetration of services, Prices/affordability of services, Market Competition
2.3. ICTs for Society
Empowering people to access telecommunications services and using ICTs for the support
of basic human needs is the third objective that ITU-D should follow. The possibility of
being connected to others and share the benefits of the global economy means the
accomplishment of the ITU mission. ITU-D should increase the cooperation with other
entities and learn from the successful policies and projects developed around the world.
Areas of work:
- Human capacity building
- Green ICT (e-waste)
- Improved accessibility of websites of public institutions, including at local level
- Emergency communication
- Improving robustness of networks
KPI`s: Number of people with e-skills, number of functional e-government service/user,
number of people with ICT terminals etc.
2.4. Participation and involvement (vertical priority)
Activities under this priority should promote involvement and participation all stakeholders
from developing countries in t ITU-D projects and activities.
Areas of work:
- Support the extension of electronic working methods, in order
participation
to facilitate remote
- Increase the transparency and public access to documents within the ITU-D processes
- Support international cooperation for development, increasing the number of involved
partners
- Encourage external financial support participation in ITU-D activities
- Support cooperation of telecommunications sector with energy sector
- Support close cooperation with ITU-T in order to ensure that capacity building work in
both Sectors is properly coordinated (clear distinguishing lines of responsibilities) and
that there is no overlap
KPI`s: Participation in the international organizations, increasing the number of involved
partners, External Funds in ITU-D activities.
Regulatory
measures
Deployment
of Networks
Participation and
Involvement
ICT for
Society