WDR Asian expert forum on investment and regulation Rohan Samarajiva Executive Director, LIRNEasia

Importance of investment  Biggest surprise as an academic playing the role of regulator: importance placed on regulator by potential investors

Sector performance  More connectivity  Lower prices  Higher quality  Greater choice  None possible without investment

Private investment in telecom on the decline

Infrastructure investments in Asia

Asia’s requirements: small example from post-conflict Sri Lanka  From the needs assessment submitted to Tokyo Conference on Reconstruction and Development in Sri Lanka: “If we again make the modest assumption that the North and East must have the same teledensity as the country as a whole, we would require a total of 786,000 connections in this region in the coming five years. This would require the addition of approximately 700,000 connections in the next five years.” At USD 150/line, investment required is USD 105 million (MIN); at USD 500/line USD 350 million (MAX) Total for whole country less than USD 100m in 2002

What is coming in...

Design of the Forum  Day 1: Intensive discussion of three Asian case studies + one from Africa Bangladesh India Sri Lanka South Africa  Day 2: Focus on data collection including investment & regulatory efficacy  continuing research by LIRNEasia

Logistics  Fill the response form fully & return to Sabrina of Gullivers Airline reconfirmations Look at the brochure in the folder Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya tour Restaurant reservations; taxis; out of per diems  Look for Pradeep Fernando in afternoon Per diems Reimbursements in a few cases  Gala dinner tonight—invitations in folder Location?