1. TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY IN A RAPIDLY EVOLVING MARKET CTO conference on implementing the WSIS Action Plan, NAIROBI, 25-26 th March,2004. Presented by Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaah Minister of Communications Ghana

2. Role of Government Role of Government  Previous role: - supplying telecom services - albeit through public sector telecos. - procuring ICT equipment, etc.  Today’s role: - development of forward-looking policies - encouraging competitive regulatory environment - promoting investment in the sector.

3. Ghana’s Accelerated Programme 1994/95  Objectives -bringing about a sustained improvement in availability and quality service to meet demand. -improve public access in rural and urban areas, -expand coverage of mobile services, -promote Ghanaian ownership and control of telecommunications companies -public regulatory control of sector through the creation of a single agency, NCA.

4. Accelerated Programme - Features  Authorisation of two national network operators: Ghana Telecom and new independent operator,  Privatisation of GT through sale of a strategic stake.  Liberal policy towards authorisation of value-added services such as payphone, mobile services and data,  Removal of restrictions on private network construction,  Creation of a single regulatory agency: the NCA.

5. Outcome of Liberalisation  Licence obligations were not met  Failure of Duopoly to introduce effective competition,  Long waiting periods for new applicants for service,  High access charges and corruption,  Poor quality of service  Weak Regulatory Agency  Poor interconnection and spectrum management

6. Post-Exclusivity Development- Priorities  The development of countrywide broadband infrastructure,  Promotion of competition,  Revision of licensing requirements,  Attraction of investors, and  Development of Human Resource capacity.

7. New Telecommunications Policy  Context  To develop infrastructure to improve universal access and service and the creation of necessary legal and regulatory and institutional enabling environment.

8. WSIS Targets  To connect villages with ICTs etc  To connect Universities, colleges, schools with ICTs,  To connect Health Centres and hospitals with ICTs  To connect all local and central government depths.  To ensure access to TV and radio for the population, etc etc etc

9. Sector Strategy To review current status of sector and prepare on that basis, a sector diagnostic identifying the bottlenecks and opportunities

10. Objectives of Policy  Promote development of reliable and robust national ICT infrastructure  Encourage the development of infrastructure to promote access to ICTs for the whole community  Define Universal Service  Promote competition  Stimulate local content development

11. Contentious Issues in Policy  How Policy will provide risk/reward approach to regulation to facilitate infrastructure development  How to establish effective interconnection in the absence of credible information.  How to establish an optimum number of players.  What guarantees are required to persuade the private sector to play expected role.

12. Contentious Issues (contd)  Introducing transparency to the management of Spectrum.  Treatment of VoIP.  Who manages Universality Funds for telecom development.  How can the industry strengthen R & D  Protection of national defence and security interests.

13. Conclusion  Telecommunications Policy is regarded as “Works-in-Progress”  Telecom Policy should be made within the wider context of national ICT Policy and Plan  Policy should help develop Information Society and Economy  Pursue Multi-sectoral ICT development Goal  Develop ICT sector to use ICT as broad- based enabler of Development Goals

14. THANK YOU