African Telecommunications Union
APM19-1 (1st African Preparatory Meeting for WRC-19)
1 – 5 August 2016, Cameroun
The USAID Sessions
Monday 01 August, Opening Session,9:00-10:00
Opening Ceremonies
Monday 01 August, 10:00-10:30
Coffee Break
Monday 01 August, Session 1,10:30-11:45
Spectrum policy and economic regulation for Africa
Overview: The broadband ICT revolution has been fueled largely by the explosion of high-end wireless mobile communications: 3rd Generation (3G) and 4th Generation/Long-Term Evolution (4G-LTE) standards, Wi-Fi which deliver high-speed, full-service voice, text, and Internet services to advanced “smart phones” and other mobile devices. These services all depend upon use of designated frequencies within the limited electromagnetic spectrum, which must be assigned and managed by public regulatory agencies, following agreed international standards.
As more services and greater demand for spectrum capacity have proliferated, national regulators have struggled to adapt. Meanwhile constantly changing technologies and new innovations in the use of radio spectrum are creating both opportunities and challenges among operators, investors, and governments to enhance the benefits of this scarce resource for all citizens. Wireless broadband can be the most cost-effective means for delivering services to remote, rural locations, and for providing affordable ICT access to low income users. African regulatory agencies need the knowledge, skills, tools, and authority to pursue new, forward-looking policies that maximize economic and social benefits of spectrum use.
Facilitator: Prof. H Nwana
Key topics: Radio spectrum is worth multi-billions of USA dollars to OECD economies unlike for most African countries. Every spectrum regulator is statutorily mandated to maximize the nation’s spectrum assets for the benefits of their consumers and citizens – and good economic regulation is at the heart of this. This session offers presentation and discussion concerning economic regulation and good spectrum policy. Discussion of economic regulation principles for delivering broadband connectivity urban areas (i.e. maximizing private value), but also to unserved/under-served populations including the importance of broadcasting, (i.e., maximizing broader social value). Examples from our experience working with African partners.
Monday 01 August, Session 2,11:45-12:30
The role of Broadband in the development of the digital economy
Overview: In recent years, development specialists have come to recognize the growing importance of the broadband digital revolution to economic and social development opportunities. Virtually every sector of any country’s economy, from agriculture and manufacturing, to retail and public services, to international trade, can be made more efficient through use of digital media, data management, end-user applications, and on-line connectivity.
In many countries, however, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, access to the most advanced broadband information and communication technologies (ICTs) remains severely limited, both geographically and economically. Policies that promote more widespread, equitable, and affordable access to broadband ICTs – especially mobile broadband – can yield critical, sustainable growth and more effective delivery of other vital development objectives, in health, education, infrastructure, security, and many other areas. The impacts and opportunities in this area are still being examined, even as the technologies and applications continue to evolve rapidly.
Facilitator: David N. Townsend
Key topics: Presentation and discussion concerning emerging ideas and experience relating to the importance and impact of Broadband ICTs in socio-economic development. Discussion of the broadband “ecosystem”, including supply and demand side factors, and the roles of public and private sector stakeholders. Review of studies and research relating to broadband impacts, with key case study examples.Examples from USAID’s experience working with African partners.
Monday 01 August, 12:30-14:00
Lunch
Monday, 01 August, Session 3,14:00-15:30
Balancing licensed spectrum policy, unlicensed spectrum policyand spectrum sharing - as a driver for economic growth and social well-being - evolve the spectrum policy that works for your own country!
Overview: Among the more recent and innovative approaches to revising spectrum policies is to move somewhat away from the traditional model of assigning specific designated frequency bands exclusively to individual licensed operators. New and experimental policies are being introduced which rely on more open principles of spectrum allocation and use. These include greater options for unlicensed use of certain frequencies – as has been successfully adopted for WiFi systems, for example. Other options involve “dynamic sharing” of spectrum, whereby multiple network operators can utilize the same frequencies via advanced technical monitoring and deployment systems.
Implementing and overseeing these types of innovations requires increasingly sophisticated resources and training for regulatory personnel, but the benefits can be dramatic. African countries, in particular, which often feature large open areas with very underutilized frequency bands, can be prime candidates to test and adopt some of these new models.
Facilitator: Prof. H Nwana
Key topics: High level challenges in meeting future spectrum demand and how various spectrum licensing models are key to meeting such challenges including licensed, unlicensed and sharing models. The critical role of unlicensed spectrum, and competition from alternative technologies including WiFi, and more generally the importance of alternative but complementary ecosystems. Discussion on 3G/4G, of sub-1GHz spectrum (700MHz, 800MHz, 900MHz), of LTE in 450MHz, of TV whitespaces, of GSM Whitespaces (low cost community 2G networks), and other sharing examples. Discussion on innovations like LTE-Unlicensed (LTE-U) and LAA and the need for more Wi-Fi spectrum allocation in the 5 GHz bands. Implications for WRC-19.
Monday 01 August, 15:30-16:00
Coffee Break
Monday 01 August, Session 4,16:00-17:00
National Broadband Strategies and Universal Service and Access Funds
Overview: Two policy areas in which USAID’s GBI program has been most active and effective have been in providing support for development and implementation of National Broadband Strategies (NBS) and Universal Service and Access Funds (USAFs). NBS’s are broad, national plans that identify the full range of infrastructure, service, financial, technological, and capacity elements needed for a country to expand and adopt broadband ICTs as a core component of overall development goals. Such strategies involve bringing together key stakeholders from industry, government, civil society, and the general public to coordinate ambitious new investments in infrastructure, policy and regulatory reforms, public service initiatives, and capacity building and awareness programs. Effective NBS’s, such as those adopted in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and many countries outside Africa, can be the catalyst for rapid broadband ICT growth and adoption.
USAFs can represent one critical mechanism for achieving the target objectives of an NBS. These Funds collect mandatory contributions from the (highly profitable) private telecom operators, and redirect these resources toward investments in infrastructure, equipment, facilities, applications, training, and other critical needs. The Funds typically focus on rural and high cost geographic areas, where the private operators are reluctant to invest on their own. Fund management and project planning requires considerable expertise. With technical assistance from USAID, the Funds in countries such as Nigeria have dramatically improved their effectiveness, while allocating tens of millions of dollars to new investments.
Facilitator: David N. Townsend
Key topics: Presentation and discussion on National Broadband Strategies, as well as Universal Service and Access Funds, as key policy mechanisms to promote broadband development. Case examples and recommendations regarding the process for developing, and contents of, NBS’s. Principles and requirements for effective USAFs, with case examples of key methods and practices, such as Gap analysis and strategic planning.Examples from USAID’s experience working with African partners.
Tuesday, 02 August, Session 5,09:00-10:30
Panel discussion on real-world examples of innovative African Spectrum projects
Facilitator: Prof H Nwana
Brief presentations and discussion of key examples of innovative broadband access projects involving new approaches to spectrum policy. Representatives of investors, project implementers, and multilateral and public sector partners, e.g. Kenya (Mawingu), Botswana (BIH), Microsoft4Africa, South Africa (Project Isizwe), community low cost 2G networks, LTE in 450MHz, and more.
Tuesday02 August, 10:30-11:00
Coffee Break
Tuesday, 02 August, Session 611:00-11:45
Priorities for African countries at WRC-19
Facilitators: Prof. H Nwana
Key topics: Based upon the presentations and issues discussed in previous sessions, open group discussion of the key priorities, needs, and concerns of African regulators regarding the international policy agreements to be addressed at WRC-19. Group discussion and debate regarding plans for 5G architectures, unlicensed spectrum, spectrum sharing, satellite frequency allocations, TVWS, and any other priorities of the region.
Tuesday, 02 August, Session 7,11:45-12:30
Shared spectrum issues and opportunities
Facilitator:Kelly O’Keefe,FCC
Key topics: Presentation and discussion on emerging spectrum policy innovations from the FCC covering the 600MHz incentive auction, other recent spectrum auctions /awards, WRC-15 and WRC-19 preparations, spectrum sharing (TVWS, 3.5GHz), 5G and 5 GHz proceedings in the USA.
Tuesday 02 August, 12:30-14:00
Lunch
Tuesday, 02 August, Session 814:00-15:00
Licensing reform options and examples
Overview:Licensing of telecommunications operators represents one of the most important functions of national regulatory authorities, as the licensing framework ultimately determines the potential size and configuration of the market. Traditionally, regulators issued licenses for specific types of networks and services: fixed telephone, mobile telephone, broadcasting, Internet Service Provider, etc. Where spectrum was involved, a license would typically come together with a specific frequency authorization, and the licensee would be permitted to provide only the designated category of technology and service described in its license.
More recently, many countries have moved toward new, more open licensing regimes which allow for “converged” or “unified” licenses, on a technology-neutral basis. Under these approaches, operators may receive authorizations to provide a wider range of services, fixed and mobile, voice and data, etc., while deploying whatever technology platforms they choose. Such licensing reforms are meant to encourage greater innovation and competition in the sector. There are a variety of different models and options to consider, and African regulators are at varying stages of considering or implementing reforms in this area. As technology continues to evolve, and spectrum policy undergoes important changes, the role and scope of telecommunications licensing is becoming an increasingly important area of focus.
Facilitator: David N. Townsend
Key topics: Presentation and discussion on key issues involved in reform and restructuring of licensing regimes in Africa. Consideration of issues such as facilities versus service licensing, geographic divisions, fee structure and levels, unlicensed services, treatment of frequencies in the licensing process, transition of licenses to new frameworks. Case examples and discussion of options, pros and cons, with contributions from participating regulators.
Tuesday02 August, 15:00-15:30
Coffee Break
Tuesday, 02 August, Session 9,15:30-17:00
Panel discussion on spectrum policy and broadband development
Facilitators: David N. Townsend, Prof. H Nwana
Key topics: Group discussion on experiences, needs, opportunities, challenges with respect to the role of spectrum policy to promote broadband development, and related issues discussed over the previous sessions.Panelists from regulators of selected countries, e.g., Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, other?