Mario Maniewicz

Global Trends in Telecommunications/ICT Regulatory Policy: 

Global Trends in Telecommunications/ICT Regulatory Policy 2nd Black Sea & Caspian Regulatory Conference Istanbul, Turkey, 22-23 June 2007 Mario Maniewicz Chief, Policies and Strategies Department International Telecommunication Union The views expressed in this presentation are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the ITU or its Membership.

Agenda: 

Agenda Brief introduction to the ITU & its role in promoting a sound regulatory framework The telecom sector worldwide Global telecom market trends Regulatory challenges ahead

Introduction to ITU: 

Introduction to ITU International organization where governments and private sector coordinate global telecom networks and services Central role helping the world communicate Founded in 1865, it is the oldest specialized agency of the UN system Organized in three sectors Radiocommunications, Standards and Development 191 Member States, 611 Sector Members, 142 Sector Associates Headquarters Geneva, 11 regional offices

ITU Mission: 

ITU Mission Maintain and extend international cooperation in telecommunications To harmonize actions of Member States – e.g., standards and spectrum – and promote cooperation between Member States and Sector Members Technical and regulatory assistance to developing countries Development agenda set by World Telecommunication Development Conference, most recently at Doha -- WTDC-06 Central role in organizing WSIS targets

WTDC-06 Outcomes: 

WTDC-06 Outcomes Doha Declaration ITU-D Strategic Plan Doha Action Plan 6 Programmes 2 Activities 5 Global Initiatives Regional Initiatives Two study groups

Doha Action Plan  SIX PROGRAMMES: 

Doha Action Plan SIX PROGRAMMES Prog 1 Regulatory Reform Prog 2 Inf. & Com. Infrastructure & Tech. Dev. Prog 4 Economics and Finance Prog 3 E‑strategies and ICT applications Prog 5 Human Capacity Building Prog 6 LDCs, SIDS & Emergency Telecom. Six-point development strategy

Telecom/ICT sector in transition – the challenges: 

Telecom/ICT sector in transition – the challenges from (relatively) static market environments to dynamic fast-paced innovation from heavy-handed regulation to light-touch regulation from narrowband to broadband from fixed to mobile (mobile pervasiveness) + fixed-mobile convergence from wired to wireless from distinct to converged from sometimes-on to always-on from PSTN to IP (NGN)

Today’s trends: 

Today’s trends Growth in mobile networks, both in terms of outreach and capacities Mobile overtook fixed in 2002 Rise of broadband Broadband on the way to overtake dial-up in the next 2 years Convergence of IP-based networks with telephone, mobile and TV networks N-play: towards bundling and flat-rate pricing Always on: anywhere, anytime, anything Increased competition Will voice remain the main driver?

Structure of the telecom sector, 2007: 

Structure of the telecom sector, 2007 Source: ITU World Telecommunication Regulatory Database The designations employed and the presentation of material in this map do not imply any opinion whatsoever on the part of the ITU concerning the legal or other status of any country, territory or area or any endorsement or acceptance of any boundary. Public/private ownership of main fixed-line operators

Private ownership worldwide, 2007: 

Private ownership worldwide, 2007 Source: ITU World Telecommunication Regulatory Database

Level of competition: 

Level of competition Source: ITU World Telecommunication Regulatory Database

Regulatory authorities establish a sound enabling environment: 

Regulatory authorities establish a sound enabling environment Source: ITU World Telecommunication Regulatory Database

GSR 2004 Best Practice Guidelines on Promotion of Low Cost Broadband: 

GSR 2004 Best Practice Guidelines on Promotion of Low Cost Broadband We encourage regulators to: set policies to stimulate competition among various technologies and industry segments that will lead to the development and deployment of broadband capacity. This includes addressing barriers or bottlenecks that may exist with regard to access to essential facilities on a non-discriminatory basis. allocate adequate spectrum to facilitate the use of modern, cost effective broadband radiocommunications technologies. We further encourage innovative approaches to managing the spectrum resource such as the ability to share spectrum or allocating on a license-exempt non-interference basis. We recommend that the promotion of access to low cost broadband interconnectivity should be integrated from “grass-roots” efforts to identify local needs all the way through to the “tree tops” of international law. Governments, businesses and non-governmental organizations should be involved.

GSR 2007 Best Practice Guidelines for Next-Generation Networks Migration: 

GSR 2007 Best Practice Guidelines for Next-Generation Networks Migration We encourage regulators to adopt a coherent approach to regulating the converged information and communication technology (ICT) sector. One approach could be through the establishing of converged ICT regulatory authorities. We encourage regulators to adopt licensing frameworks which are flexible and technology neutral, recognizing that these attributes are vital for the transition towards an NGN world, characterized by the decoupling of service/application provision from the underlying infrastructure. We believe that the security of communications will become increasingly important in a new IP based communication environment, and therefore encourage regulators to follow developments of security issues, and implement appropriate measures such as, for example consider requiring reports from relevant service providers on security incidents and failures.

What are NGNs? : 

What are NGNs? Faced with separate infrastructures for voice and data businesses, convergence and growing competition, almost all telecommunication operators and equipment manufacturers are making substantial investments in what can be referred to as IP-Enabled Next Generation Networks (NGNs). IP-based NGNs represent the “marriage” of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) with the world of the Internet An extensive area of standardization within ITU In the coming years, IP-enabled NGNs will be deployed by numerous service providers around the globe NGN also means new services & new business models

Major ICTs by income group of economies: 

Major ICTs by income group of economies Source: World Information Society Report 2007: Beyond WSIS, using data from the ITU World Telecommunication Indicators Database

ICTs become more available: 

ICTs become more available Source: ITU World Telecommunication Indicators Database But disparities between regions persist

Comparing the Black Sea & Caspian region with Europe: 

Comparing the Black Sea & Caspian region with Europe Source: ITU World Telecommunication Indicators Database

ICT become more affordable…: 

ICT become more affordable… Source: ITU World Telecommunication Indicators Database

Fixed-line Broadband grows worldwide…: 

Fixed-line Broadband grows worldwide… Source: ITU World Telecommunication Indicators Database

Take-up of 3G mobile worldwide: 

Take-up of 3G mobile worldwide Internet goes mobile but the global distribution has been very uneven Source: ITU Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2007: The Road to NGN The designations employed and the presentation of material in this map do not imply any opinion whatsoever on the part of the ITU concerning the legal or other status of any country, territory or area or any endorsement or acceptance of any boundary.

Take-up of 3G mobile worldwide: 

Take-up of 3G mobile worldwide Internet goes mobile but the global distribution has been very uneven Source: ITU Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2007: The Road to NGN The designations employed and the presentation of material in this map do not imply any opinion whatsoever on the part of the ITU concerning the legal or other status of any country, territory or area or any endorsement or acceptance of any boundary.

Regulate the telecom market: how?: 

Regulate the telecom market: how? Universal service and access Quality of services & Consumer protection Investment incentives and specific tools to boost development New issues: Cybersecurity and privacy Convergence changes the game Flexibility & forward-looking approach are needed One size does not fit all across different economies because of different starting conditions and different priorities

Key principles of sound regulation: 

Key principles of sound regulation Focus on market liberalization and competition encourage network deployment with incentives support small-scale deployment in rural areas Encourage deployment of a full-range of broadband access technologies (from FTTH to WiMax) co-ordinated frequency plans and technology neutrality Encourage build-out of backbone networks and regulate access to existing networks Develop awareness/understanding of broadband & new technologies & services (WiMax, etc.) Encourage the migration to converged IP environment

Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2007: The Road to NGN: 

Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2007: The Road to NGN For more information on regulatory policy issues (research, data, publications), please visit: www.itu.int/ITU-D/treg Forthcoming!

Slide27: 

Thank you! mario.maniewicz@itu.int