International Telecommunication Union Harmonized Policies & Legislations for the ICT in ACP countries Sandro BAZZANELLA ITU-EC-ACP Project Manager Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Legal Frameworks for ICTs Building Capacity and Implementing Regulation 11 – 16 June 2012: St Julian’s Malta

Committed to Connecting the World A global Project for the ACP countries  An effectively functioning ICT sector is a key driver for development, growth and employment  ITU and European Commission signed a global project to provide “Support for the establishment of harmonized policies for the ICT market in the ACP states” end 2007  Component of “ACP-Information and Communication Technologies” programme within the framework of the 9 th European Development Fund  3 regional sub-projects addressing specific needs of each region HIPCAR Enhancing competitiveness in the Caribbean through the harmonization of ICT Policies, Legislation and Regulatory Procedures (3 years) HIPSSA Support for harmonization of the ICT Policies in Sub-Saharan Africa (3years) ICB4PAC Capacity Building and ICT Policy, Regulatory and Legislative Frameworks Support for Pacific Countries (2 years)

Committed to Connecting the World Harmonisation Cycle National implementation Review and update Development & adoption of regional acts Monitoring and evaluation  The ITU-EC Project focuses on stage 1, 2  Stage 3 and 4 will need to be considered over the time to ensure quality and update

Committed to Connecting the World Priorities 4 8 priorities Licensing Universal service Cross Border Frequency Management - HCM Numbering Interconnection – Cost Modeling Sub Marine Cable Cybersecurity ADBM Statistics 9 priorities 1) Information Society Issues - e-Commerce (Transactions) - e-Commerce (Evidence) - Privacy and Data Protection - Interception of Communications - Cybercrime - Access to Public Information (Freedom of Information) 2) Telecommunications - Universal Service - Interconnection - Licensing HIPCAR HIPSSA ICB4PAC 7priorities Licensing Universal service National ICT Policy Numbering Interconnection Cybercrime International Roaming

Committed to Connecting the World 5  Assessment current situation in all the countries.  Identification of regional best practices and failures.  Comparison with international best practices.  Open discussion on the pros and cons of each model (stakeholders deciding on the best model suited for their region).  Definition of Policies (building blocks).  Drafting Legislative Guidelines.  A first raw of institutional and human capacity building. Stage 1: Regional Level

Committed to Connecting the World 6 Further to the completion of the Regional Guidelines the project moves to In-Country Support (National Transposition)  Transposition into national frameworks of beneficiary countries in coherence with the national strategies of each of them  An opportunity to expose a larger audience to the provisions of the new draft policy & legislation and to receive press coverage:  Representatives from ICT ministry and regulator.  Representatives from various other ministries (home affairs, finance, etc.) and AG’s office.  Police.  Parliamentarians and magistrates, etc.  Civil society among them consumers associations, NGOs, etc.  Private sector among them business council, professional associations, operators and internet service providers, etc. Stage 2: National Level

Committed to Connecting the World 7 The philosophy of a National Transposition (to be adapted to each country)  Pairing of national expert (local knowledge) with international expert (regional Guidelines know-how) ;  Comparison of the national legislation with the regional Guidelines;  Drafting by a national team with the support of the experts:  Preparation of a first draft for comments;  Second draft taking into account relevant amendments;  Validation workshop where controversial amendments are discussed;  A second raw of institutional and human capacity building Stage 2: National Level

Committed to Connecting the World Hetereogeneity of Sub-Regions HIPSSA first initiative targeting the whole Sub Sahara Africa take into account previous Regional Harmonisation Efforts 8 Regional Telecommunications Restructuring Program (RTRP) funded by USAID Regional ICT Support Program (RICTSP) funded by EU ECOWAS Supplementary Acts ITU-EC Project funded by EU and ITU UMA harmonization study 2010 funded by AfDB UEMOA Directives ECCAS reference framework initiated with UNECA Telecoms Harmonization funded by USAID/REDSO CEMAC Directives funded by OIF Additional Challenge in Africa

Committed to Connecting the World ICB4PAC - Pacific  Stage 1- Knowledge Based Reports and regional trainings – Completed  National ICT Policy  Cyber Crime  Licensing  Universal Service / Access  Numbering  Interconnection  International Roaming  Stage 2 - In country Support:  On going - available for all interested countries  Targeting National ICT Policy – Cyber Crime – Licensing  Troika team 9 Where do we stand now?

Committed to Connecting the World HIPCAR - Caribbean  Stage 1- Regional Texts – One text per topic - Completed  Universal Service  Licensing  Interconnection  Cybercrime  Electronic Transactions  Electronic Evidence in e-commerce  Privacy and Data Protection  Interception of Communications  Access to Public Information (Freedom of Information)  Stage 2 - In country Support:  On going - available for all interested countries 10 Where do we stand now?

Committed to Connecting the World HIPSSA – Sub Sahara Africa  Comparative Assessment and SWOT of all current regional frameworks  Stage 1 – Regional Texts – One package - completed:  Telecom: Southern Africa (SADC) – Central (ECCAS) – Western Africa (ECOWAS)  Cyber Security (Cyber Crime, Data Protection, e-Commerce): Southern Africa (SADC) – Central (ECCAS / CEMAC)  Universal Service/Access Guidelines & Toolkit  Open Access to Sub Marine Cables  Stage 2 - In Country Support on Telecoms & Cyber Security Texts  West Africa: on-going  Central (ECCAS/CEMAC) – Eastern (COMESA/EAC) – Southern (SADC): information letter being issued  Other Sub Saharan activities under finalisation:  Cross Border Frequency Mgt (HCM): assessment done  Interconnection and Cost Modelling: assessment done – 4 workshops by year end  Analogue to Digital Migration: guidelines in French – Assessment of Policies in all RECs  Regional Statistical Portals for each RECS – a comparative set of 10 indicators  Monitoring and evaluation in West Africa 11 Where do we stand now?

Committed to Connecting the World  Bottom up approach. Robust regional deliverables:  Assessment of the current situation in all the countries to identify regional best practices and past errors;  Comparison with international best practices;  Regional policy Guidelines;  Regional legislative Guidelines;  In Country support: transposition into individual countries;  Link substance of policy and legislation to human & institutional capacity building  Incorporation of past and current projects of other international and regional organizations (synergies)  …is progressively creating a harmonisation dynamism and improve exchanges of best practices The Global ITU-EC-ACP Project is a Platform for Sustainable Harmonisation Conclusions

13 Thank you for your attention Sandro BAZZANELLA Phone: