Regional Initiatives on ICT: The ASEAN Institutional Framework Nur Sulyna Abdullah Director ASEAN ICT Centre Regional Workshop on Community-based ICT Integration: Lessons and Possibilities March 2008

What to expect... 1.ASEAN An ASEAN Economic Community 3.What is ICT in ASEAN? 4.The ICT Players: TELMIN, TELSOM, ATRC 5.Five Strategic Pillars for ICT 6.Other institutional initiatives 7.Initiatives for Rural Communities

ASEAN The Association of Southeast Asian Nations 2.Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam 3.ASEAN is 40 years old 4.Robust economic growth, healthy trade and investment flows due to regional integration

An ASEAN Economic Community 1.Target A region with free movement of goods, services, investment, skilled labour, and freer flow of capital 3.Series of economic integration measures – fast-track of 12 priority sectors including agriculture, electronics and ICT 4.Developed a suite of Action Plans as ICT acknowledged as a crucial factor to realise the ASEAN Vision 5.To realise the ASEAN Vision, ICT sector’s target is to create a “connected, vibrant and secure ASEAN Community.”

What is ICT in ASEAN? 1.Infrastructure, hardware and software systems, needed to capture, process and disseminate information to generate information-based products and services. 2.For society, ICT is the development of the information society which constitutes all information entities, their properties, interactions, processes and mutual relations. 3.For the commercial sector, ICT represents the form in which business operates.

Enter the players … 1.In May 2000, the ASEAN telecommunications ministers agreed to strengthen cooperation in telecoms and IT and address the digital divide within ASEAN 2.Hence the establishment of the ASEAN TELMIN and TELSOM (Senior Officials) 3.The ASEAN Telecommunications Regulators’ Council was set up in 1995 and “adopted” by TELMIN in 2001 at the 1 st TELMIN 4.One significant undertaking is to promote and enhance cooperation platforms for ICT policy makers and regulators

Our efforts are targeted at … 1.Establishing an advanced information infrastructure with a variety of cross-border online applications and services 2.Why? Because ICT is a prime enabler for economic development 3.Need to enhance the competitiveness of ASEAN’s ICT sector and reduce the digital divide within the region 4.Initiatives were first laid down in the e-ASEAN Framework Agreement of 2000 which called for cooperation between public and private sectors and for a common e-ASEAN market 5.The e-ASEAN market is defined broadly to encompass goods, services and investment

The Five Strategic Pillars for ICT 1.The establishment of an ASEAN information infrastructure; 2.The facilitation of electronic commerce and ICT trade; 3.Establishing an e-society and capacity building; 4.E-government, universal access and bridging digital divide; and 5.ICT regulation for economic development and integration with liberalized trade in ICT goods, service and investment

Network Security Resources The Institutional Framework

Other Institutional Initiatives 1.The e-ASEAN Business Council – platform for CEO- level industry players to engage with TELMIN and advise on latest trends and technology 2.The ASEAN ICT Centre – virtual centre established in March 2007 to implement the TELMIN projects 3.The ASEAN ICT Fund – set up in a dedicated, fast-track funding mechanism to accelerate the implementation of TELMIN programs; initial funding base of USD 5 million - equal contributions by all ASEAN members over 5-year period

Network Security Resources The Institutional Framework The AICTC

Intiatives for Rural Communities (1/5) 1.Projects are undertaken annually 2.Based on recommendation of the TELSOM Working Groups (WGs) and ATRC 3.TELSOM WGs are on: a. ASEAN Information Intrastructure b. e-Commerce and ICT Trade Facilitation c. e-Society and ICT Capacity Building d. Universal Access, Digital Divide & e-Govt (Note: List of projects from 2005 – 2008)

Intiatives for Rural Communities (2/5) 1.ATRC WGs are on: a.Workplan Implementation b.Mutual Recognition Arrangements for Telecoms Equipment c.Network Security d.Resource Planning and Management – RFID, WiMax, etc. e.Technology Trends - Broadband, NGN, 3G, WiMax, etc. f.Economic Regulation – Competition, Access g.Rural Communications – Universal Service h.International Engagement - WTO, Internet Governance i.Consumer Protection j.Others – prepaid registration, public consultation, implementation of national strategies

Intiatives for Rural Communities (3/5) WG on Universal Access, Digital Divide & e-Govt Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) Distribution Kiosk e-Learning and e-Learning Technologies Digital Divide Database The ASEANconnect website ASEAN-China Universal Service Forum Use of Wireless Technology to Bridge the Digital Divide Satellite Based Tele-Education System For ASEAN Countries e-Procurement and e-Government systems in ASEAN Establishment of ASEAN USO Forum Framework of indicators to measure Universal Access &DD ASEAN Cyberkids Camp Study on Information Usage and ICT Adoption in Rural Areas

Intiatives for Rural Communities (4/5) WG on e-Society and ICT Capacity Building EURO-SEA Information And Communications Technology Forum 2006 ASEAN-India Seminar on e-Learning & e-Learning Technologies ASEAN-China Seminar on Universal Services & Rural Communications VSAT based Tele-education & Tele-Medicine Network for Connecting CLMV Countries (India) ASEAN Network For Software Multi-Lingualization (Japan) Rural Knowledge Management System (RKMS) ASEAN Workshop on Public Domain and Content Development

Intiatives for Rural Communities (5/5) WG on e-Society and ICT Capacity Building (cont.) Empowering Home-workers in ASEAN countries through the usage of ICT ASEAN Teacher Capacity Development Focusing on ICT – Pedagogy Integration: University Facilitating Models ASEAN-India Seminar on e-Learning & e-Learning Technologies Digitization of ASEAN Cultural Content: E-culture/E- heritage for Youth ASEAN ICT Skills Standard Development Studying the Dynamics of Women in the ASEAN ICT sector International Domain Name at the ccTLD Project Strategic Study to Promote ICT R&D in ASEAN

Conclusion 1.ASEAN TELMIN institutional framework provides platform for development of rural communities within ASEAN 2.Engagement with Dialogue Partners, International Organisations, private sector and other stakeholders is important to leverage on strengths and avoid duplication 3.Cooperation among ICT stakeholders will maximise PPPs towards a vibrant, innovative and sustainable ICT sector and bridging the digital divide in ASEAN

Thank You