ITU CoE/ARB Initiative and Activities 5/18/2018 Abdelfattah ABUQAYYAS Coordinator Arab Centre of Excellence Abdelfattah.abuqayyas@ties.itu.int ITU BDT 5th Annual Meeting for Telecommunication Development in the Arab Region, Beirut, Lebanon, 28-31 May 2003

Background Changing environment Main interactive forces underlying change in the Telecom Industry sector : restructuring (liberalization/competition), globalization, technology,convergence of telecom with IT & multimedia, growing customer demands. The presence of highly qualified staff at key levels in telecom organizations becomes a critical factor for a smooth transition to the current telecom environment. The regional Center of Excellence initiative: A mechanism aimed at offering a greater and better range of training products for high-level staff in all telecom-related organizations. Also, to serve as a regional focal point for training, professional development, research and information. 5th Annual Meeting for Telecommunication Development in the Arab Region, Beirut, Lebanon, 28-31 May 2003

Role and Objectives Target population Policy makers, regulators and managers, in charge of the development of national policies and regulations for the telecommunication sector. Senior corporate executives and managers, responsible for aspects related to management of telecommunication networks and services. Purpose of the Center of Excellence: To establish a regional mechanism aimed at strengthening the capacity, within the region, to develop high-level know-how and expertise in telecommunication policy, regulatory matters, corporate management and advanced telecommunication technology. The ultimate objective is to better meet some of the priority training and human resource development needs of the telecommunication sector in the concerned region. 5th Annual Meeting for Telecommunication Development in the Arab Region, Beirut, Lebanon, 28-31 May 2003

Organization and Financing Training activities (face-to-face/distance-learning) are conducted from the institutions that constitute the CoE network. A coordination office to plan, organize and follow-up the activities to be carried out in the region. A Steering Committee, which is responsible for setting policies, strategies and approving the CoE’s action plan and budget. Financing Achieve self-financing through cost recovery mechanisms. Seed fund granted by the ITU through the Telecom Surplus program. Programs supported by different players. 5th Annual Meeting for Telecommunication Development in the Arab Region, Beirut, Lebanon, 28-31 May 2003

Structure and Partnerships A network of existing telecommunication training, educational and/or research centers in the Region, together with public and private sector players. Foster greater synergy by pooling available resources and expertise, develop new areas of expertise, facilitate interaction and exchange of information/experiences. Potential Partners Partnerships Objectives To establish collaborative and exchange relationships with other Centres and other bodies, within the Region and abroad, which are engaged in similar or related endeavors. The purpose is to increase the capabilities of the CoEs and to keep them up-to-date with modern technology and best practices. The relationship with Partners providing in-kind or in-cash contributions will be governed by appropriate Memoranda of Understanding and relevant project documents. The partners can include: Existing telecommunication training centers; educational and/or research centers; universities; governments and regulatory organs; operators and service providers; regional organizations and industry players. 5th Annual Meeting for Telecommunication Development in the Arab Region, Beirut, Lebanon, 28-31 May 2003

A ‘win A ‘win-win proposal’ Governments, regulators, operators and all other stakeholders in the telecom sector who would gain access to a range of training and professional development products which have so far not existed or have been limited and expensive. Content providers who would reach the widest possible audience at regional level and worldwide, providing valid training alternatives to meet the increasingly demanding needs of the telecom sector. Industry sponsors who would be supporting telecom development in the region and stimulating the emergence of an even more attractive regional telecommunication market. 5th Annual Meeting for Telecommunication Development in the Arab Region, Beirut, Lebanon, 28-31 May 2003

The ITU CoE Network Center of Excellence for Western and Central Africa Major Node: Dakar Center of Excellence for Eastern and Southern Africa Major Node: Nairobi Center of Excellence for Asia Pacific Major Node: Bangkok Center of Excellence for the Americas Major Node: Cordoba Center of Excellence for the Arab Region Major Nodes: Damascus, Cairo , Amman, Tunis, Khartoum, Manama Center of Excellence for EUR and CIS Countries Major Node: Moscow 5th Annual Meeting for Telecommunication Development in the Arab Region, Beirut, Lebanon, 28-31 May 2003

CoE/ARB Project Strategy The introduction to new technologies, the move towards corporatisation and competition and the separation of regulation from operations of telecommunications cannot be easily achieved without the necessary technological, managerial, policy and regulatory expertise All countries need highly trained human resources to facilitate the transition to the new telecommunications environment. ITU Arab Centre of Excellence project aims to facilitate the sharing of expertise and provide assistance with the planning, organization and implementation of high quality training and development programs to improve human capacity building in telecommunications, especially for senior government officials, and executive managers from the private and public sectors and regulatory organs. This high-level human capacity building project aims to implement innovative and relevant training programs (face – to – face and distance learning) developed in close collaboration with the users, their organizations and other key stakeholders. 5th Annual Meeting for Telecommunication Development in the Arab Region, Beirut, Lebanon, 28-31 May 2003

CoE/ARB Main functions To assess priority training and HRD needs for policy makers, regulators and operators To establish cooperation agreements between governments, regulators, operators, service providers, financing and development bodies and regional and international organizations aimed at mobilizing resources To promote the use of IT and telecommunications for distance learning and tele-working To plan, organize and implement the activities to be carried out in the region To maintain an inventory of existing facilities and expertise in the participating institutions 5th Annual Meeting for Telecommunication Development in the Arab Region, Beirut, Lebanon, 28-31 May 2003

ARB CoE Programs Telecom Policies Program, In Cooperation with the National Telecommunications Institute (NTI) Regulatory Issues Program, In Cooperation with Jordan Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) Business Management Program, In Cooperation with Bahrain Telecommunications Company (BATELCO) New Technologies Program, In Cooperation with the National Telecommunications Institute (NTI) IP Awareness Program, In Cooperation with the Centre d”Etudes et de Recherches des Télécommuunications (CERT). Rural Connectivity Program, In Cooperation with the Sudan Telecom (SUDATEL). 5th Annual Meeting for Telecommunication Development in the Arab Region, Beirut, Lebanon, 28-31 May 2003

Why to develop Arab CoE Networking Process ? To maximize the synergy between the concerned Training Providers and neighboring Subject Matter Experts of the Administrations/Operators for the design and implementation of the selected programs. To match diversified training needs of the Sector Members, while developing new training materials and optimizing the use of existing training resources: Let’s be prepared for Replication and Adaptation To develop the use of electronic resources in the implementation of the Capacity Building Process To promote Train-the-Trainers actions in virtual mode as well as in face-to-face mode when using Partnerships Opportunities 5th Annual Meeting for Telecommunication Development in the Arab Region, Beirut, Lebanon, 28-31 May 2003

Achievements in 2001 The steering committee conducted two meetings in 2001 in Tunis and Damascus for launching the CoE/ARB project and approving the its action plan for 2002. The CoE started its functionality in the 4th Quarter 2001in Damascus. During the 2001 the ARB CoE organized two regional activities: Regional Workshop on “Marketing & Revenue Forecasts for Telecom Operators in a Competitive environment”, held in Manama. Regional Seminar on “Telecommunication Policies", held in Cairo. 5th Annual Meeting for Telecommunication Development in the Arab Region, Beirut, Lebanon, 28-31 May 2003

Training Activities 2002 Program Name Activity Place and date Regulatory Issues Workshop on Regulatory issues Amman 11 – 14 February Workshop on Interconnection Principles and practices Rabat 2 – 5 September Telecom Policies Forum on Telecom Policies & International Standards: Impacts and Implications Cairo 19 -21 May New Technologies and Services Workshop on New Trends in Telecommunications Damascus 15 – 17 July Internet and Information Technologies Workshop on IP Technologies and Applications Tunis !7 – 19 June Business Management Virtual Forum on Business Drivers and Data Collection 4 Weeks, starting 24 June Rural Connectivity Rural Connectivity and Universal Access Khartoum 10 – 12 December 5th Annual Meeting for Telecommunication Development in the Arab Region, Beirut, Lebanon, 28-31 May 2003

Output Place Workshop Participants Lecturers Countries Organizations Bahrain 01 Revenue Forecasting 43 4 14 2 Cairo 01 Telecom. Policies 82 11 5 Amman Regulatory Issues 124 21 16 12 Cairo Standardization 105 13 Tunisia IP Technologies 111 24 8 6 Damascus Telecom. Trends 123 20 9 Morocco Interconnection Khartoum Universal Service 50 10 Cairo 03 DSL Applications 88 TOTAL/AVG 769 125 5th Annual Meeting for Telecommunication Development in the Arab Region, Beirut, Lebanon, 28-31 May 2003

CoEs Comparison 5th Annual Meeting for Telecommunication Development in the Arab Region, Beirut, Lebanon, 28-31 May 2003

Participation per Country Algeria 14 Mauritania 4 Bahrain 17 Oman 13 Comoros 2 Palestine 7 Djibouti 3 Qatar 1 Egypt 176 Saudi Arabia 25 Iraq Somalia 5 Jordan 104 Sudan 46 Kuwait Syria 99 Lebanon Tunisia 93 Libya UAE Morocco Yemen 11 5th Annual Meeting for Telecommunication Development in the Arab Region, Beirut, Lebanon, 28-31 May 2003

Training Program Training Activity Place and Date Regulatory Issues TRC Licensing 2-4/9 Amman Spectrum Management 30/8 – 1/9 Amman Interconnection 1-3/12 Tunis Spectrum Management Virtual Forum Quarter 4 Telecommunication Policies NTI Sector Reform Liberalization 21-23/10 Rabat Competition Policies 16-18/12 New Technologies DSL Tech. and Services 4-6/3 Cairo NGN 18-21/8 Damascus Migration towards 3rd Gen. Mobile To be Defined Business Management BATELCO VSAT Business Applications 11-13/11 Manama COSITU Business Management Virtual Forum IP Technologies CERT Internet Applications. And Digital Divide 17-19/6 Tunisia Networks Security 21-23/7 Amman Rural Connectivity SUDATEL USO and Funding 7-9/10 Sana'a 5th Annual Meeting for Telecommunication Development in the Arab Region, Beirut, Lebanon, 28-31 May 2003

Distance Learning Approach The new approach will be available to train managers in various issues Two activities will be organized: Frequency Spectrum Management Virtual Forum Business management Virtual Forum In cooperation with CoE for Americas a set of distance learning sessions will be available for the Arab Region through CoE ARB Available On-line modules: Introduction to Regulation Interconnection Licensing Spectrum Management Regulation of new services and IP applications Internet and e-commerce Human Recourses are required to act as facilitators/instructors for the distance learning activities. 5th Annual Meeting for Telecommunication Development in the Arab Region, Beirut, Lebanon, 28-31 May 2003

Future Steps A set of CoEs network will be established. New more proactive role of the Leading party. Workshop and distance learning approaches will be emphasized. Limited number of lecturers and more specialized topics will be approached. Increased role of the Instructors from the Region. Data base of Regional Experts and trainers is required. Support to be provided by existing Subject Matter Experts. Availability of data, case-studies, tools, etc,. for Working Group activities within the workshop 5th Annual Meeting for Telecommunication Development in the Arab Region, Beirut, Lebanon, 28-31 May 2003

We are Looking for: Nomination of a focal point from each Regulatory Office A list of experts and trainers in the various fields of interest More active role on hosting the CoE activities More contributions: Presentations, case studies.. Financial support to insure the sustainability and self standing of the CoE Potential partners from the Region 5th Annual Meeting for Telecommunication Development in the Arab Region, Beirut, Lebanon, 28-31 May 2003

ITU CoE/ARB Initiative and Activities Thank You abdelfattah.abuqayyas@ties.itu.int 5th Annual Meeting for Telecommunication Development in the Arab Region, Beirut, Lebanon, 28-31 May 2003