Improving IP Connectivity in the Least Developed Countries

Improving IP Connectivity in the Least Developed Countries: Regulatory barriers to satellite-based services Martin Jarrold Director, International Programme Development

The GVF Defined n n n Global Association Comprising International VSAT Community Non-Profit Non-Partisan 130 Members/38 Countries/Every Continent Serving as Industry’s Unified Voice

The GVF Brain Trust

GVF Offices Worldwide Headquarters Affiliate Offices

The Shared Objective n Facilitate VSAT-Based System and Service Provision Worldwide: è Liberalisation Initiatives è Regulatory Programs è Technical Co-ordination è Heightened Awareness

The Challenge “… universal access is now not so much an engineering or supply-side problem but rather a regulatory and policy challenge. ” - ITU World Telecommunication Development Report (March 1998)

VSAT: The Supply Side 1980 1990 2000 First Generation: $10 -20 K, C, Data Second Generation: $5 -10 K, C/Ku, V+D Third Generation (<$2. 5 K, C/Ku/Ka, Multimedia)

As VSAT Pricing Gets Smaller* Source: COMSYS *TDMA, US$

The Big Networks Get Bigger n n n 45 Contracts Greater Than 500 Sites in 2000 76, 000 Sites Far Greater Number Outside the U. S. Recently Source: COMSYS

Internet Satellite Use* Goes Up Source: DTT Consulting *36 MHz Equivalent

VSATs Help Fulfill Mandates n Public Sector: – – – Rural Telecoms Telemedicine Distance Learning Disaster Recovery Ministerial Links: • • Mail Rail Water Etc. n Private Sector: – – – – Banking Stock Exchanges Mining/Oil-Gas Retail Pharmaceutical Automotive ISPs Etc.

Strategic VSAT Liberalisation Has Begun Worldwide: Uganda n Botswana n Zambia n Malawi n Mozambique n Lesotho n Swaziland n Kenya n South Africa n Namibia? n TRASA/EAC

Strategic VSAT Liberalisation Has Begun Worldwide, Cont’d: Uruguay n Venezuela n Chile n Mexico n Brasil n Peru n Costa Rica n Argentina n CITEL

Strategic VSAT Liberalisation Has Begun Worldwide, Cont’d: Singapore n Indonesia n Philippines n Australia/NZ n Myanmar! n S. Korea n Japan n Taiwan n Hong Kong n China-WTO! n APT, APEC, ASEAN

Strategic VSAT Liberalisation Has Begun Worldwide, Cont’d: Bangladesh n Pakistan n India n Sri Lanka n Bhutan n Nepal n SATRA

Strategic Liberalisation: Nepal “Nepal’s international interconnectivity rose five-fold in a few months after the VSAT market was liberalised. ” ITU Telecommunication Indicators 2000

Nepal: VSATs for ISP International Connectivity n n n May 1999 - 320 Kbps available bandwidth end 1999 - over 1 Mbps available bandwidth in 2001 - 10 Mbps (downlink)

Immediate Results: ISP Via Satellite Source: DTT Consulting

VSAT Regulatory Reform: Thinking Regionally, Acting Nationally 1. Transparency 2. Streamlined Licensing 3. Harmonising Fees 4. Satellite Access (Open Skies) 5. Type Approvals 6. Independent Regulator

1. TRANSPARENCY (One Stop Shops)

The ‘One Stop Shop’ Concept n Uphold National Sovereignty While: n Providing Access to Licensing Data n For Each Country in a Region n Via a Single URL

Europe’s One Stop Shop Service Provider SHOP • Screens application form(s) • Sends to NRAs Note: See WWW. ETO. DK NRA • Examination • Final answer NRA

Meanwhile in the Americas. . . n n Regional VSAT Licensing Database Established Online by CITEL* Includes 16 Nations So Far With Hotlinks to Regulators’ Sites *www. citel. oas. org/pcc 3/vsat/vs at_information_of_licensing. htm

Meanwhile in Asia. . . n n n APT Website Established Licensing Database Created Satellite Section Planned

Meanwhile in Africa. . . n Discussions Underway With: – TRASA – WATRA – ATRN

And Globally… now 1 n n n GVF VSAT Licensing Portal Directs Applicants to Regional Sites From WWW. GVF. ORG Which Receives 6, 000 Hits Per Day From Every World Region

And Globally… now 2 n n Global Regulators Symposium, December 2001 ITU Arab States Centre of Excellence, February 2002 WTDC, March 2002 Future. . .

And Globally… next 1 n n WTDC Study Question on satellite regulation (2002 -2006 study cycle) 1. Examine regulatory treatment of satellite services, operators, end-users 2. Identify best approaches 3. Provide guidance to developing countries

And Globally… next 2 n n n GVF New Regulatory Database - going “live” - www. gvf. org £/$/CHF/etc >> facilitate other sites to hotlink to GVF; interactive feed for local information/updates to GVF £/$/CHF/etc. >> dedicated personnel for Database maintenance Hotlinked to WWW. ITU. INT LDCs/Pan-African portal

And finally “We are committed to facilitating the ITUs LDC connectivity programme and all associated satellite regulation initiatives. ” - The GVF